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Polymers
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Catalytic Olefin Polymerisation and Polyolefins
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Catalytic Olefin Polymerisation and Polyolefins

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2020) | Viewed by 20110

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sara Ronca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK
Interests: polymer; catalysis; polyolefins; organometallic chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

More than 60 years have passed since the discovery of the catalytic systems for olefin polymerisation—which nowadays include Ziegler-Natta, Phillips and metallocene/post-metallocene catalysts—used in plants around the world to produce different grades of polyolefins.

Despite the high efficiency reached by the industrial processes, the research in this field shows no sign of decreasing and has indeed expanded into a plethora of new applications, thanks to the tunability of the molecular architectures and functionalities that have been made available by various catalytic systems.

With the current social view of plastic as the ‘bogeyman’ of all man-made materials, it is extremely important to discuss and highlight the pivotal role that polyolefins can and should play in a circular economy, thanks to their inherent low toxicity, low environmental impact at the production stage and good recyclability.

This Special Issue wants to bring the attention of the academic community to the latest developments that are happening in this field, and connect them to the possibility of creating a more sustainable future through plastic, not without it.

Dr. Sara Ronca
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Polyolefins
  • Homogeneous catalysis
  • Heterogeneous catalysis

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1939 KiB  
Article
Roles of Salicylate Donors in Enhancement of Productivity and Isotacticity of Ziegler–Natta Catalyzed Propylene Polymerization
by Manussada Ratanasak, Jun-ya Hasegawa and Vudhichai Parasuk
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 883; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12040883 - 10 Apr 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3615
Abstract
Roles of internal salicylate donors (SID) in enhancing activity and stereoselectivity of Ziegler–Natta catalyzed propylene (PP) polymerization were examined using DFT calculations. Five salicylate donors were studied. The chelate mode is the preferred adsorption mode. The linear relationship (R2 = 0.96) between [...] Read more.
Roles of internal salicylate donors (SID) in enhancing activity and stereoselectivity of Ziegler–Natta catalyzed propylene (PP) polymerization were examined using DFT calculations. Five salicylate donors were studied. The chelate mode is the preferred adsorption mode. The linear relationship (R2 = 0.96) between calculated adsorption energies (Eads) of five SIDs and the experimental PP activities was observed. Thus, the SID with the strongest adsorption energy will provide the highest activity in agreement with our previous studies. Compared with diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), which is the industrial electron donor, SID has stronger Eads. The insertion step, which involves the π-complex formation (∆Eπ) and the insertion activation or intrinsic activation energy (Ea) for PP polymerization was also examined. The relation between ln(activity) and apparent activation energy (Ea(app)), which is ∆Eπ + Ea for the primary(1,2)-re insertion with R2 = 0.99, was observed. The salicylate donor also has a lower Ea(app) than that of DIBP. This explains the better catalytic performance of SID. Our results also demonstrated that the size and the type of hydrocarbon substituents play a key role in controlling stereoselectivity and activity. In addition, we found a good relationship between Eads and both intrinsic (Ea) and apparent (Ea(app)) activation energies of five salicylate donors with R2 of 0.90 and 0.97, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Olefin Polymerisation and Polyolefins)
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14 pages, 1378 KiB  
Article
Polystyrene Chain Growth Initiated from Dialkylzinc for Synthesis of Polyolefin-Polystyrene Block Copolymers
by Tae Jin Kim, Jun Won Baek, Seung Hyun Moon, Hyun Ju Lee, Kyung Lee Park, Sung Moon Bae, Jong Chul Lee, Pyung Cheon Lee and Bun Yeoul Lee
Polymers 2020, 12(3), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030537 - 2 Mar 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3820
Abstract
Polyolefins (POs) are the most abundant polymers. However, synthesis of PO-based block copolymers has only rarely been achieved. We aimed to synthesize various PO-based block copolymers by coordinative chain transfer polymerization (CCTP) followed by anionic polymerization in one-pot via conversion of the CCTP [...] Read more.
Polyolefins (POs) are the most abundant polymers. However, synthesis of PO-based block copolymers has only rarely been achieved. We aimed to synthesize various PO-based block copolymers by coordinative chain transfer polymerization (CCTP) followed by anionic polymerization in one-pot via conversion of the CCTP product (polyolefinyl)2Zn to polyolefinyl-Li. The addition of 2 equiv t-BuLi to (1-octyl)2Zn (a model compound of (polyolefinyl)2Zn) and selective removal or decomposition of (tBu)2Zn by evacuation or heating at 130 °C afforded 1-octyl-Li. Attempts to convert (polyolefinyl)2Zn to polyolefinyl-Li were unsuccessful. However, polystyrene (PS) chains were efficiently grown from (polyolefinyl)2Zn; the addition of styrene monomers after treatment with t-BuLi and pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDTA) in the presence of residual olefin monomers afforded PO-block-PSs. Organolithium species that might be generated in the pot of t-BuLi, PMDTA, and olefin monomers, i.e., [Me2NCH2CH2N(Me)CH2CH2N(Me)CH2Li, Me2NCH2CH2N(Me)Li·(PMDTA), pentylallyl-Li⋅(PMDTA)], as well as PhLi⋅(PMDTA), were screened as initiators to grow PS chains from (1-hexyl)2Zn, as well as from (polyolefinyl)2Zn. Pentylallyl-Li⋅(PMDTA) was the best initiator. The Mn values increased substantially after the styrene polymerization with some generation of homo-PSs (27–29%). The Mn values of the extracted homo-PS suggested that PS chains were grown mainly from polyolefinyl groups in [(polyolefinyl)2(pentylallyl)Zn]−[Li⋅(PMDTA)]+ formed by pentylallyl-Li⋅(PMDTA) acting onto (polyolefinyl)2Zn. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Olefin Polymerisation and Polyolefins)
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13 pages, 1471 KiB  
Article
Methylene-Bridged Tridentate Salicylaldiminato Binuclear Titanium Complexes as Copolymerization Catalysts for the Preparation of LLDPE through [Fe]/[Ti] Tandem Catalysis
by Yani Luo, Jian Li, Derong Luo, Qingliang You, Zifeng Yang, Tingcheng Li, Xiandan Li and Guangyong Xie
Polymers 2019, 11(7), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11071114 - 1 Jul 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3144
Abstract
A novel tandem catalysis system consisted of salicylaldiminato binuclear/mononuclear titanium and 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron complexes was developed to catalyze ethylene in-situ copolymerization. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with varying molecular weight and branching degree was successfully prepared with ethylene as the sole monomer feed. The [...] Read more.
A novel tandem catalysis system consisted of salicylaldiminato binuclear/mononuclear titanium and 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron complexes was developed to catalyze ethylene in-situ copolymerization. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with varying molecular weight and branching degree was successfully prepared with ethylene as the sole monomer feed. The polymerization conditions, including the reaction temperature, the Fi/Ti molar ratio, and the structures of bi- or mononuclear Ti complexes were found to greatly influence the catalytic performances and the properties of obtained polymers. The polymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), high temperature gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and high temperature 13C NMR spectroscopy, and found to contain ethyl, butyl, as well as some longer branches. The binuclear titanium complexes demonstrated excellent catalytic activity (up to 8.95 × 106 g/molTi·h·atm) and showed a strong positive comonomer effect when combined with the bisiminopyridyl Fe complex. The branching degree can be tuned from 2.53 to 22.89/1000C by changing the reaction conditions or using different copolymerization pre-catalysts. The melting points, crystallinity and molecular weights of the products can also be modified accordingly. The binuclear complex Ti2L1 with methylthio sidearm showed higher capability for comonomer incorporation and produced polymers with higher branching degree and much higher molecular weight compared with the mononuclear analogue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Olefin Polymerisation and Polyolefins)
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18 pages, 2339 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Half- and Post-Metallocene Hafnium Complexes with Tetrahydroquinoline and Tetrahydrophenanthroline Frameworks for Olefin Polymerization
by Jun Won Baek, Su Jin Kwon, Hyun Ju Lee, Tae Jin Kim, Ji Yeon Ryu, Junseong Lee, Eun Ji Shin, Ki Soo Lee and Bun Yeoul Lee
Polymers 2019, 11(7), 1093; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11071093 - 27 Jun 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4054
Abstract
Hafnium complexes have drawn attention for their application as post-metallocene catalysts with unique performance in olefin polymerization. In this work, a series of half-metallocene HfMe2 complexes, bearing a tetrahydroquinoline framework, as well as a series of [Namido,N,Caryl]HfMe2 [...] Read more.
Hafnium complexes have drawn attention for their application as post-metallocene catalysts with unique performance in olefin polymerization. In this work, a series of half-metallocene HfMe2 complexes, bearing a tetrahydroquinoline framework, as well as a series of [Namido,N,Caryl]HfMe2-type post-metallocene complexes, bearing a tetrahydrophenanthroline framework, were prepared; the structures of the prepared Hf complexes were unambiguously confirmed by X-ray crystallography. When the prepared complexes were reacted with anhydrous [(C18H37)2N(H)Me]+[B(C6F5)4]−, desired ion-pair complexes, in which (C18H37)2NMe coordinated to the Hf center, were cleanly afforded. The activated complexes generated from the half-metallocene complexes were inactive for the copolymerization of ethylene/propylene, while those generated from post-metallocene complexes were active. Complex bearing bulky isopropyl substituents (12) exhibited the highest activity. However, the activity was approximately half that of the prototype pyridylamido-Hf Dow catalyst. The comonomer incorporation capability was also inferior to that of the pyridylamido-Hf Dow catalyst. However, 12 performed well in the coordinative chain transfer polymerization performed in the presence of (octyl)2Zn, converting all the fed (octyl)2Zn to (polyolefinyl)2Zn with controlled lengths of the polyolefinyl chain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Olefin Polymerisation and Polyolefins)
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17 pages, 5094 KiB  
Article
Structure and Properties of a Metallocene Polypropylene Resin with Low Melting Temperature for Melt Spinning Fiber Application
by Renwei Xu, Peng Zhang, Hai Wang, Xu Chen, Jie Xiong, Jinpeng Su, Peng Chen and Zhicheng Zhang
Polymers 2019, 11(4), 729; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11040729 - 22 Apr 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4959
Abstract
An isotactic polypropylene (iPP-1) resin with low melting temperature (Tm) is synthesized by a metallocene catalyst and investigated for melt-spun fiber applications. The structure, thermal and mechanical properties, and feasibility of producing fibers of a commercial metallocene iPP (iPP-2) and [...] Read more.
An isotactic polypropylene (iPP-1) resin with low melting temperature (Tm) is synthesized by a metallocene catalyst and investigated for melt-spun fiber applications. The structure, thermal and mechanical properties, and feasibility of producing fibers of a commercial metallocene iPP (iPP-2) and a conventional Ziegler–Natta iPP (iPP-3) are carefully examined for comparison. Tm of iPP-1 is about 10 °C lower than the other two samples, which is well addressed both in the resin and the fiber products. Besides, the newly developed iPP-1 possesses higher isotacticity and crystallinity than the commercial ones, which assures the mechanical properties of the fiber products. Thanks to the addition of calcium stearate, its crystal grain size is smaller than those of the two other commercial iPPs. iPP-1 shows a similar rheological behavior as the commercial ones and good spinnability within a wide range of take-up speeds (1200–2750 m/min). The tensile property of fibers from iPP-1 is better than commercial ones, which can fulfill the application requirement. The formation of the mesomorphic phase in iPP-1 during melt spinning is confirmed by the orientation and crystallization investigation with wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), which is responsible for its excellent processing capability and the mechanical properties of the resultant fibers. The work may provide not only a promising candidate for the high-performance PP fiber but also a deep understanding of the formation mechanism of the mesomorphic phase during fiber spinning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Olefin Polymerisation and Polyolefins)
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