Branching Design in Polyolefins by Catalyst Variation. Theory meets experiment

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Albena Lederer; Professor Dr. Jens-Uwe Sommer
• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Physics of Polymers ; Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 267690214

The branching topology is an essential parameter for tailoring physical properties of polyolefins. This joint project will give an insight into the synthetic mechanism of polyolefins varying catalyst and reaction conditions, leading to a defined branching topology. Novel nickel and palladium complexes with alpha-diimine, beta-diimine and imine-amine ligands displaying both chain-walking mechanism and living polymerization behavior will be synthesized and used for preparation of precise olefin homo- and copolymers with well-defined branching, topology and blocks lengths. In depth characterization of the molecular characteristics in solution using light scattering and SANS will enable an insight into segmental density and molecular structure. Essential is the theoretical understanding of these phenomena using a multi-scaling approach for simulation of the branching generation and the polymer properties and to compare them to the experiment. The aim of the project is deeper insight into the relationships between (i) mechanism of polyolefin formation under action of chain-walking catalysts, (ii) molecular structure of branched polymers formed and (iii) theoretical model simulating the branching generation and the polymer properties.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Czech Republic
• Partner Organisation: Czech Science Foundation
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Jan Merna