Heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalysts: On going progress for the polyolefin industry

A great deal of research and development efforts in Ziegler Natta catalysis has been put within the last ten years into the polyolefin industry. The exploitation of new catalysts, the introduction and consolidation of advanced polymerization process technologies and, finally, the development of a broader range and of a better tailoring of product grades, have made the polyolefin market an expression of a young, dynamic, technology-driven industry. In this context heterogeneous catalysts have played a key role. Many drawbacks of the catalysts of the previous generation have been overcome. However some problems have still to be solved in order to both further improve catalyst performance and reduce the residual areas of empiricism in catalyst design and manufacture.