A Hemi-metallocene Chromium Catalyst with Trimethylaluminum-Free Methylaluminoxane for the Synthesis of Disentangled Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene

Polymer Physics behind the Gel-Spinning of UHMWPE Fibers

Gel-spinning of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers has attracted great interest in academia and industry since its birth and commercialization in the 1980s, due to unique properties such as high modulus, low density, and excellent chemical resistance. However, the high viscosity and long relaxation time greatly complicate processing. In industry, solvents, like decalin and paraffin oil, usually disentangle the physical networks and promote final drawability. From extruding the polymer solution to post-solid-stretching, many polymer physics problems that accompany high-modulus fiber gel-spinning should be understood and addressed. In this review, by detailed discussions about the effect of entanglements and intracrystalline chain dynamics on the mechanical properties of UHMWPE, theoretical descriptions of the structure formation of disentangled UHMWPE crystals, and the origin of high modulus and strength of final fibers are provided. Several physical intrinsic key factors are also discussed, revealing why UHMWPE is an ideal material for producing high-performance fibers.

Nanoscale effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on the rheological behaviors of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)

Considering the molar mass between entanglements to be an intrinsic property of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), the number of entanglements per chain increases with increasing molar mass, correspondingly making the UHMWPE intractable. Herein, we dispersed TiO₂ nanoparticles with different characteristics into UHMWPE solutions to disentangle the molecular chains. Compared with the UHMWPE pure solution, the viscosity of the mixture solution declines by 91.22%, and the critical overlap concentration increases from 1 wt% to 1.4 wt%. A rapid precipitation method was utilized to obtain UHMWPE and UHMWPE/TiO₂ composites from the solutions. The melting index of UHMWPE/TiO₂ is 68.85 mg, which is in sharp contrast to that of UHMWPE which is 0 mg. We characterized the microstructures of UHMWPE/TiO₂ nanocomposites using TEM, SAXS, DMA, and DSC. Accordingly, this significant improvement in processability contributed to the reduction of entanglements and a schematic model was proposed to explain the mechanism by which nanoparticles disentangle molecular chains. Simultaneously, the composite demonstrated better mechanical properties than UHMWPE. In summary, we provide a strategy to promote the processability of UHMWPE without sacrificing its outstanding mechanical properties.

Access to Disentangled Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene via a Binuclear Synergic Effect

Disentangled ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (dis-UHMWPE) has excellent processability but can be achieved under extreme conditions. Herein, we report ethylene polymerization with the binuclear half-sandwich scandium complexes C1-Sc₂ and C2-Sc₂ to afford UHMWPE. C1-Sc₂ bearing a short linker shows higher activity and gives higher molecular weight PEs than C2-Sc₂ containing a flexible spacer and the mononuclear Sc₁ . Strikingly, all UHMWPEs isolated from C1-Sc₂ under broad temperature range (25-120 °C) and wide ethylene pressures (2-13 bar) feature very low degree of entanglement as proved by rheological test, DSC annealing study and SEM. These dis-UHMWPEs are facilely mediated solid-state-process at 130 °C and their tensile strength and modulus reach up to 149.2 MPa and 1.5 GPa, respectively. DFT simulations reveal that the formation of dis-UHMWPE is attributed to the binuclear synergic effect and the agostic interaction between the active center and the growing chain.

A Series of Green Oxovanadium(IV) Precatalysts with O, N and S Donor Ligands in a Sustainable Olefins Oligomerization Process

Designing catalyst systems based on transition metal ions and activators using the principles of green chemistry is a fundamental research goal of scientists due to the reduction of poisonous solvents, metal salts and organic ligands released into the environment. Urgent measures to reduce climate change are in line with the goals of sustainable development and the new restrictive laws ordained by the European Union. In this report, we attempted to use known oxovanadium(IV) green complex compounds with O, N and S donor ligands, i.e., [VO(TDA)phen] • 1.5 H₂O (TDA = thiodiacetate), (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), oxovanadium(IV) microclusters with 2-phenylpyridine (oxovanadium(IV) cage), [VOO(dipic)(2-phepyH)] • H₂O (dipic = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate anion), (2-phepyH = 2-phenylpyridine), [VO(dipic)(dmbipy)] • 2H₂O (dmbipy = 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-dipyridyl) and [VO(ODA)(bipy)] • 2 H₂O (ODA = oxydiacetate), (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), as precatalysts in oligomerization reactions of 3-buten-2-ol, 2-propen-1-ol, 2-chloro-2-propen-1-ol and 2,3-dibromo-2-propen-1-ol. The precatalysts, in most cases, turned out to be highly active because the catalytic activity exceeded 1000 g mmol^-1·h^-1. In addition, the oligomers were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI-TOF-MS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques.

Formation of UHMWPE Nanofibers during Solid-State Deformation

A network of nanofibers is formed in situ through solid-state deformation of disentangled ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (dis-UHMWPE) during compounding with a polyolefin elastomer below the melting temperature of dis-UHMWPE crystals. Dis-UHMWPE was prepared in the form of powder particles larger than 50 μm by polymerization at low temperatures, which favored the crystallization and prevention of macromolecules from entangling. Shearing the blend for different durations and at different temperatures affects the extent to which the grains of dis-UHMWPE powder deform into nanofibers. Disentangled powder particles could deform into a network of nanofibers with diameters between 110 and 340 nm. The nanocomposite can be further sheared for a longer time to decrease the diameter of dis-UHMWPE nanofibers below 40 nm, being still composed of ≈70 wt.% of crystalline and ≈30 wt.% of amorphous components. Subsequently, these thinner fibers begin to melt and fragment because they are thinner and also because the amorphous defects locally decrease the nanofibers' melting temperature, which results in their fragmentation and partial loss of nanofibers. These phenomena limit the thickness of dis-UHMWPE nanofibers, and this explains why prolonged or more intense shearing does not lead to thinner nanofibers of dis-UHMWPE when compounded in a polymeric matrix.

Highly efficient terpolymerizations of ethylene/propylene/ENB with a half-titanocene catalytic system

Highly efficient terpolymerization of ethylene, propylene and 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene using a half-titanocene containing iminoimidazolidine with methylaluminoxane/Al(iBu)3/2,6-ditertbutyl-4-methyl-phenol was achieved.

Synthesis of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight PLAs Using a Phenoxy-Imine Al(III) Complex

l- and d-lactide polymerization kinetics using phenoxy-imine ligands of the type Me2Al[O-2-tert-Bu-6-(C6F5N=CH)C6H3] in the presence of n-butanol and benzyl alcohol by ring-opening polymerization into polylactide are investigated. Effects of initiator concentration, catalyst concentration, polymerization temperature, and time on the molecular weight of poly-l-lactide are also investigated. Purification and drying of l-lactide are found to significantly influence the polymerization kinetics and the final molecular weight achieved. Ultrahigh molecular weight poly(l-lactic acid) PLLA (M w = 1.4 × 106 g/mol with Đ = 1.8) and ultrahigh molecular weight poly(d-lactic acid) PDLA (M w = 1.3 × 106 g/mol with Đ = 2.0) are obtained when polymerization is performed with a molar ratio of monomer to catalyst (LA/Al) of 8000 for 72 h at 120 °C in the presence of benzyl alcohol with conversions of 96 and 91%, respectively. We report for the first time the synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight poly-l- and d-lactide using the Me2Al[O-2-tert-Bu-6-(C6F5N=CH)C6H3] catalyst. The identified catalyst is found to be suitable for the synthesis of a broad range of molecular weights.

A Novel Ziegler⁻Natta-Type Catalytic System-TiCl₄/2,2'-Dimethoxy-1,1'-Binaphthalene/Et₃Al₂Cl₃/Bu₂Mg for Production of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene Nascent Reactor Powders, Suitable for Solvent-Free Processing

A series of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylenes with viscosity-average molecular weights in the range of 1.6⁻5.6 × 10⁶ have been prepared by using a novel Ziegler⁻Natta-type catalytic system-TiCl₄/2,2'-dimethoxy-1,1'-binaphthalene/Et₃Al₂Cl₃/Bu₂Mg at different temperatures (Tpoly) in the range between 10 and 70 °C in toluene. The morphology of the nascent reactor powders has been studied by scanning electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and the DSC melting behavior. Polymers are suitable for the modern processing methods-the solvent-free solid-state formation of super high-strength (tensile strength over 1.8⁻2.5 GPa) and high-modulus (elastic modulus up to 136 GPa) oriented film tapes. With decrease of Tpoly, the drawability of the reactor powders increased significantly.

Tailoring Hydrocarbon Polymers and All-Hydrocarbon Composites for Circular Economy

The world population will rapidly grow from 7 to 9 billion by 2050 and this will parallel a surging annual plastics consumption from today's 350 million tons to well beyond 1 billion tons. The switch from a linear economy with its throwaway culture to a circular economy with efficient reuse of waste plastics is therefore mandatory. Hydrocarbon polymers, accounting for more than half the world's plastics production, enable closed-loop recycling and effective product-stewardship systems. High-molar-mass hydrocarbons serve as highly versatile, cost-, resource-, eco- and energy-efficient, durable lightweight materials produced by solvent-free, environmentally benign catalytic olefin polymerization. Nanophase separation and alignment of unentangled hydrocarbon polymers afford 100% recyclable self-reinforcing all-hydrocarbon composites without requiring the addition of either alien fibers or hazardous nanoparticles. Recycling of durable hydrocarbons is far superior to biodegradation. The facile thermal degradation enables liquefaction and quantitative recovery of low molar mass hydrocarbon oil and gas. Teamed up with biomass-to-liquid and carbon dioxide-to-fuel conversions, powered by renewable energy, waste hydrocarbons serve as renewable hydrocarbon feedstocks for the synthesis of high molar mass hydrocarbon materials. Herein, an overview is given on how innovations in catalyst and process technology enable tailoring of advanced recyclable hydrocarbon materials meeting the needs of sustainable development and a circular economy.

Titanium(III, IV)-Containing Catalytic Systems for Production of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene Nascent Reactor Powders, Suitable for Solventless Processing-Impact of Oxidation States of Transition Metal

Catalytic systems containing TiCl₄ or TiCl₃, THF, organomagnesium (n-Bu₂Mg) and organoaluminum compounds capable of producing ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were developed. The resulting polymers were characterized by a molecular weight in the range of (1.8–7.8) × 10⁶ Da and desirable morphology, suitable for modern methods of polymer processing—the solvent-free solid-state processing of superhigh-strength (tensile strength up to 2.1 GPa) and high-modulus (elastic modulus up to 125 GPa) oriented films and film tapes. The impacts of a THF additive, the oxidation state of the titanium atom, and the composition and nature of the nontransition organometallic compounds on the formation of catalytic systems for UHMWPE production were evaluated. The results indicate the suitability of individual titanium chloride tetrahydrofuran complex application for the formation of THF-containing catalytic systems. This approach also results in a significant increase in the system catalytic activity and mechanical properties of UHMWPE. The catalysts based on Ti(III) were inferior to systems containing Ti(IV) in productivity but were markedly superior in the mechanical properties of UHMWPE.

Molecular weight control in organochromium olefin polymerization catalysis by hemilabile ligand-metal interactions

A series of Cr(III) complexes based on quinoline-cyclopentadienyl ligands with additional hemilabile side arms were prepared and used as single-site catalyst precursors for ethylene polymerization. The additional donor functions interact with the metal centers only after activation with the co-catalyst. Evidence for this comes from DFT-calculations and from the differing behavior of the complexes in ethylene polymerization. All complexes investigated show very high catalytic activity and the additional side arm minimizes chain-transfer reactions, leading to increase of molecular weights of the resulting polymers.