Homo- and Copolymerization in Solution

Beside the homopolymerization of BD Nd-based Ziegler/Natta catalyst systems are also applied for the homopolymerization of IP, the copolymerization of the dienes BD and IP, the homopolymerization and copolymerization of substituted dienes as well as for the copolymerization of BD with alkenes such as styrene, ethylene and other ethylene derivatives. 

Because of the extraordinarily high cis- 1,4-content of Nd-based IR and the industrial potential of this polymer this aspect is addressed in some detail. 

From an industrial point of view the other aspects dealt with in this section are less exciting. Therefore, the homopolymerization of substituted dienes other than IP, the copolymerization of BD and styrene and the copolymerization of BD with ethylene and higher 1-alkenes are only briefly summarized. The Nd-catalyzed homo- and copolymerization of monomers with polar entities are not dealt with in this review. 

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