Basell's new succinates catalyst family significantly expands PP properties
Basell has developed a new proprietary Ziegler-Natta catalyst family – called succinates – that significantly expands the product properties of homopolymer and heterophasic copolymer polypropylene materials by broadening the molecular weight distribution.
The new advanced 5th generation catalysts were recently demonstrated in Basell’s commercial polypropylene plants in Italy and The Netherlands and are expected to be in regular commercial use early next year.
"The new catalysts have enormous potential," said Michael Mulrooney, vice president of Basell’s Catalyst Business. "They are able to produce new advanced polypropylene resins as well as most standard grades. With them we have produced heterophasic copolymers with unprecedented stiffness/impact balances."
He added, "These new succinate catalysts will be useful in improving stiffness and processability for applications such as pipes, BOPP film and injection moulded grades."
The new family of catalysts will extend the range of offerings marketed by Basell under the Avant trade name. These advanced catalyst systems include:
Avant ZN - Ziegler-Natta catalysts for polypropylene Avant Z - Ziegler catalysts for polyethylene Avant C - Chromium catalysts for polyethylene Avant M - Metallocene catalysts for polypropylene
Avant catalysts are manufactured in Europe in Ferrara (Italy), Seneffe (Belgium), Frankfurt and Ludwigshafen (Germany) and in the US in Edison, New Jersey. Basell also maintains regional technical and distribution centers to support a global customer base.
In the production of Ziegler-Natta polypropylene catalysts, internal electron donors are added to improve the catalysts’ ability to control molecular weight distribution, isotacticity and oligomer content. As a result, the selection and use of internal donors have a strong influence on polymer mechanical and rheological properties. Most Ziegler-Natta polypropylene catalysts in use today are 4th generation catalysts using phthalates as internal donors.
In 1999 Basell introduced new 5th generation catalysts based on diethers as internal donors. The discovery by Basell of diethers as an internal donor was a breakthrough which increased yield, improved hydrogen response, and expanded product capability through the production of high melt flow and narrow molecular weight distribution products needed for specialty fiber and thin wall injection molding grades.
With the introduction of succinate catalysts, Basell is the only company offering all three polypropylene catalyst families: phthalate, diether and succinate. Avant ZN catalysts are the most widely used in the polypropylene industry, including gas phase, slurry and various bulk polymerization technologies.
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