Heterogeneous single-site catalysts for olefin polymerization

A research into supporting single-site catalysts, tracing the development of homogeneous single-site catalysts as they are supported and used in laboratory reactors, pilot plants, commercial trials, and full commercial production as highly active catalyst systems which operate in many different large-scale industrial polymerization is discussed. One area which continues to attract interest is increasing the activity of single-site catalysts when supported, making up some of the deficit from which they suffer compared to their solution-soluble cousins. The importance of single-site catalysts is the ability to characterize and alter them in a rational fashion in order to enhance desired polymer properties.