Indenyl Catalysts for Olefin Polymerisation - Isis Project No 4296

A catalyst for polyethylene production with high activity and desirable polymer properties.

Marketing Opportunity

Polyolefins are the most widely used thermoplastic materials. According to Frost and Sullivan the 2007 annual global production polyethylene (below) was 60 million tonnes, with most being used in packing and construction applications. Proprietary catalysts and processes tightly control the polyolefin market.  Therefore, new highly active metallocene catalysts, which produce polyethylene with desirable properties is therefore highly attractive.

The Oxford Invention

Polymers are hugely important materials in our daily lives. Their synthesis could be compared to molecular Lego® - even though the individual pieces are identical, they can be combined to build completely different structures. Catalysts not only accelerate polymerisation, but also are the most important tools that chemists have at their disposal. Catalysts control polymer structure, the length of the polymer chains, how they are entangled and cross-linked; these influence polymer properties and in turn the value of the product. Metallocene catalysts are preferred over earlier Ziegler Natta catalysts for their improved yield, reduced operating costs and for producing polymers with favourable properties.

Scientists working at Oxford University have developed a series of early transition metal metallocene catalysts (left) based on linked alkyl indenyl ligand. This new catalyst is one of the most active in the open literature and has been found to produce commercially attractive linear high-density polyethylene (LHDPE) with a relatively narrow dispersion in polymer chain length.

Patent Status

The Oxford Invention is the subject of a UK patent application. Isis would like to talk to companies interested in developing the commercial opportunity. Please contact the Isis Project Manager.

Request Further Information: Project Number 4296 - Indenyl Catalysts for Olefin Polymerisation