ZIEGLER-NATTA CATALYSIS FOR THE POLYOLEFIN INDUSTRY - PRESENT STATUS AND PERSPECTIVES

Ziegler-Natta catalysis is still playing an innovative role in the pol yolefin industry. New catalysts, advanced polymerization technologies, improved product grades and a broader range of applications have been developed in recent years. Intensive studies on the chemistry and on the physics of heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts have contributed to a further reduction of the residual areas of empiricism in catalyst design. However, theoretical studies of the mechanism of the polymeri zation reaction and structural investigations of the catalyst are stil l in progress. From these studies and the exploitation of the last gen eration of metallocene based homogeneous catalysts, a new breakthrough in Ziegler-Natta catalysis is expected in the coming years.