Can Tosohs homogeneous phosphametallocene-based catalysts claim to offer better polymer properties?
Tosoh of Japan is developing non-metallocene catalysts which are claimed to produce better polymer properties than conventional metallocenes. These new homogeneous phosphametallocene-based catalysts have a similar framework to metallocene catalysts but a unique phospholyl anion ligand. The structure consists of a zirconium-based organometallic complex and is said to offer improved processability, high activity and broader molecular weight distribution polymers than are possible with conventional metallocenes. Tosoh’s announcement follows Canadian company Nova’s launch of its non-metallocene catalysts technology Advanced Sclairtech (ECN 16 December 1996). ‘It is part of a trend,’ said Ronald Schotland, president of Schotland Business Research. ‘The patent logjam between Dow and Exxon has led to the emergence of alternative non-metallocene catalysts capable of producing better properties than those obtainable from metallocene catalysts.’ Processability has been a major problem in the dev
