Polyolefin Catalyst: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application

Dear Colleagues,

Polyolefins are the thermoplastics with the largest volume, and represent a highly topical and important subject in both academia and industry. The early 1950s witnessed an unforgettable boom in polyolefin synthesis. The Nobel Laureates Karl Ziegler (Germany) and Prof. Giulio Natta (Italy) made seminal breakthroughs in the catalytic synthesis of polyethylene and polypropylene, respectively, using organoaluminum-activated titanium chlorides. On the other hand, Standard Oil and Phillips Petroleum researchers independently introduced a chromium catalyst to prepare high-density polyethylene. This transition-metal-catalyzed olefin polymerization route made industrial polyolefin manufacture possible at 15-25 bars and 90-120 °C. The above pioneering catalyst contributions eventually revolutionized the olefin polymerization organometallic catalysis and chemistry that we currently observe, read about, and teach. Their overall impact on polyolefin education, research, training, the manufacturing process, industry, application, and worldwide business is too colossal to report. Polyolefins, as a highly prominent polymer and material science discipline, constitute an unending journey with an unreachable destination. It is, therefore, extremely necessary to share advances and research in this domain with the scientic community, including colleagues and researchers, and future generations. This is how polyolefins (an enduring success story), unlike many other polymers, continue to sustain, expand, and thrive after 90 years. This is a rare scientific and technological example. Today’s polyolefin catalyst family extends to traditional Z-N, chrome, metallocene, post-metallocene, and late-transition metal precatalysts. Therefore, this Special Issue, entitled “Polyolefin Catalysts: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application”, aims to publish high-quality reviews and original research articles addressing topics in this field, with a special emphasis on the following:

• Recent advancements, particularly industrial developments, in the polyolefin catalyst family;
• Olefin polymerization mechanism, kinetics, and processes;
• Polyolefin process and product development;
• Progress in catalyst immobilization and characterization techniques;
• Catalytic synthesis of elastomers, living i-PP, UHMW and branched PEs, polynorbornene, etc.;
• Metallocene synthetic lubricants.

Each contribution will reflect new insights, novel strategies, technical advancements, and valuable directions for future research.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Atiqullah
Guest Editor

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• polyolefin catalyst
• synthesis
• characterization
• application
• oligomeric lubricant
• elastomer
• living i-PP
• branched PE
• polynorbornene