3D Printing Of Star-Shaped Polyetylene Macromonomers

Abstract

Late transition metal catalytic systems, such as Pd α-diimine complexes are well established for the synthesis of high molecular weight polyethylene. In addition to insertion polymerization, these catalysts undergo so-called chain walking, allowing the formation of highly branched polymers from only ethylene as feedstock. Furthermore, owing to the low oxophilicity of the late transition metal, they offer remarkable tolerance towards polar comonomers. Herein, such a catalytic system is used to copolymerize ethylene with epoxide-containing comonomers yielding hyperbranched, functionalized polyethylene. On the one hand, these polyethylene macromonomers can be crosslinked via photopolymerization of the epoxide moieties, essentially facilitating light-based 3D printing of polyethylene. On the other hand, they may be used as toughening agents for other polymeric materials in 3D printing.