Abstract

Polymers play a key role in our modern life full of technical advances and a continuous request for new materials with tailored properties for a low price. Their excellent mechanical properties, good processability, chemical stability and low price make polyolefins the polymers of choice for most commodity and some more specialized applications. As a result, polyolefins account for over 65% of the total world demand of plastic materials. However, the major drawback of polyolefins is their lack of functionality, which results in low adhesion with other materials such as inorganic fillers, metals or other polymers. The availability of well-defined functionalized polyolefins will certainly increase the application window of polyolefins even more. Incorporation of polar functionalities into the polyolefins is believed to enhance the adhesive properties of the polymers and numerous reports describe the synthesis of such products either by reactive extrusion or by catalysis.[1] Yet, little is known about the actual properties of these materials and their potential applications. Many questions remain, like: Do functionalized polyolefins indeed show improved adhesion to polar substrates or improved paintability? What functionality level is required to obtain satisfying adhesive properties? How do these functionalities affect the polyolefin properties? Are there other applications for functionalized polyolefins than just improved adhesion? Over the last years, our group has evaluated the synthesis and material properties of functionalized polyolefins prepared by both catalysis and reactive extrusion and we have explored potential applications of such materials. This contribution will give a clear overview of the potential of functionalized polyolefins and the various challenges that have to be overcome to produce these products in a commercially viable manner. Issues like potential catalyst poisoning by functionalized comonomers and reactor fouling during in-reactor functionalization and differences in material properties of functionalized polyolefins obtained by reactive extrusion and in-reactor functionalization will be addressed. With some striking examples, it will be demonstrated that functionalized polyolefins can be used in applications usually reserved for specialty polymers.

Authors (3)