ETH-Zürich: Catalyst enabling living polymerisation of olefins at high temperatures

Licensing opportunity

Chemists at the ETH-Zürich, Switzerland, have invented a simple catalyst which they say leads to a nearly living polymerisation process that occurs even at high temperatures. ETH transfer, the ETH’s technology transfer office, is now seeking to licence the invention.

The catalyst – a sterically hindered metallocene – can be a activated with non-transfer agents such as borane or borate, or even with MAO (methylaluminoxane) to produce a polyethylene with a controlled molecular sgtructure, a narrow polydispersity and a high linearity. No significant termination process occurs, even at high temperatures.

ETH transfer forsees applications in the polyethylene industry and in specialty chemical industries, producing, for example, laser printer toner, hot adhesives and wax.