Precise
Polyolefins Through Single-Site Catalysts
(Seed Project)
A revolution is underway in the catalysis
of polymerizations that produce the
dominant class of semicrystalline
polymers, the polyolefins. However,
the fundamental understanding needed
to enable rational use of these new
synthetic capabilities is lacking.
The relationship between molecular
structure and final properties remains
elusive because of the highly nonlinear
effects of molecular structure and
thermal/flow history on material properties.
The interplay of these aspects can
only be understood by integrating
catalysis, macromolecular dynamics,
and nucleation. This Seed Project
brings to bear the required breadth
of expertise. Our team includes two
of the world's leaders (Bercaw, Grubbs)
in the development and fundamental
understanding of catalysts to control
stereoregularity, comonomer incorporation
and macromolecular architecture. To
make the connection between the structure
of the polymer molecules and the semicrystalline
morphology that they assemble, we
will establish the effects of molecular
structure on nucleation (Flagan) and
on the dramatic changes in crystallization
kinetics and morphology induced by
flow (Kornfield). Industrial collaborators
bring expertise that helps us provide
the bridge from fundamental materials
chemistry and physics to solid-state
material properties.
