Polyolefin Homopolymers, Copolymers, and Terpolymers

polyolefins and polyolefin-based materials are used in many applications. These applications include transportation (automotive, aerospace), packaging, medical, consumer products (toys, appliances, etc.), electronics, cable and wire coating, thermal and acoustic insulation, and building and constmction. Polyolefins can be extruded as filaments (fibers), films (cast and blown), and pipes/profiles. They can be molded into parts of various shapes. They can be foamed with physical and chemical foaming/blowing or/and can be coated onto other materials. 

The alkenes having one or more unsaturated double bonds in their structures are the monomers used to synthesize polyolefins. They have the general formula C H2 , n 2. Table 1.1 shows the first 10 members of the olefinic monomers with one double bond, which are often called a-olefins. 

The monomers in Table 1.1 form a homologous series of hydrocarbon compounds. Thus, apart from having the same general formula, all compounds in the series have the same functional groups. Each member of the group differs from the next in the series by the CH2 group equivalent to 14 relative molecular mass units. 

of carbon atoms (n) Formula (C H2 , n 2) Name (other name) 

Polyolefin homopolymers include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), poly-butene-1 (PB), polymethylpentene-1 (PMP), and higher polyolefins. Table 1.2 shows the structures of commercial polyolefin homopolymers. 

---