Mathematical modelling of the microstructure of polyolefins made by coordination polymerization: a review

It is surprising that polymers such as polyolefins, composed only of carbon and hydrogen atoms in very simple configurations, can be used in so divers e applications as human bone prosthetic implants, gas pipelines, car bumper s, synthetic fibers, and plastic films. The reason for such versatility is that microstructural. characteristics of polyolefins, such as distributions of molecular weight, chemical composition (or short-chain branching), and long-chain branching, have an enormous impact on their macroscopic properti es and applications. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that these micro structural. details be well understood and properly described with fundamen tal models. This manuscript reviews the state-of-the-art mathematical model ling techniques for describing the microstructure of polyolefins produced b y coordination polymerization. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.