Functionalization of olefins with polar monomers using metallocene catalysts

• Grant number: 11/51171-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2011
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Liliane Maria Ferrareso Lona
• Grantee: Mercia Barbosa Cavalcante Fernandes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The need of polyethylene properties improvement has driven a considerable part of the industrial and academic research efforts in last decades. Since the onset of commercialization of PE and PP in the early 1950, the functionalization of polyolefins has lured researchers around the world mainly focused in the necessity to improve their compatibility with others materials. One way to modify the properties of a polymer is the introduction of a functional group into an originally nonpolar material. These functional groups control important polymer properties such as adhesion, barrier properties, surface properties, solvent resistance, miscibility with other polymer and reological properties. The functionalization of polyolefins offers an opportunity to broad application spectrum in areas that has not been explored before. Based on the above information the actual project is focused on the development of new polymerization processes that lead to functionalized polymers. These new polymers will fulfill market requirements and broaden the polyolefins applications fields. (AU)