1. Advanced Molecular Polyolefin Catalysis: Enabling Growth and Sustainability
Philip Fontaine
Performance Plastics R&D, Dow Chemical Company, Lake Jackson, TX
2019 SPE International Polyolefin Conference
Houston, TX
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2. R&D in Packaging & Specialty Plastics (P&SP)
Topics
future Dow
R&D in Packaging & Specialty Plastics (P&SP)
advantages of molecular polyolefin catalysis
recent success stories
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3. Future Dow – The Premier Materials Solutions Provider
The future Dow will be the premier materials science solution provider, focused on three high-growth market verticals: packaging, infrastructure and consumer.
Built on a foundation of the strongest and deepest chemistry and polymers toolkit, the intended Company will have robust technology and asset integration, scale and cost-competitive capabilities to enable truly differentiated and sustainable solutions for customers.
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4. Packaging & Specialty Plastics
Segment Overview
Packaging & Specialty Plastics represents one of the world’s broadest and most differentiated plastics portfolios with a robust suite of high performing polyethylene resins, adhesives and specialties. The solutions and technologies in this segment address increased consumer and brand owner demand for sustainable applications in food packaging, industrial packaging, personal hygiene, infrastructure, telecommunications, sporting goods, and transportation.
Key Market Drivers
Performance
Materials &
Coatings
Industrial
Intermediates &
Infrastructure
Packaging
& Specialty
Plastics
Global GDP
New auto builds
Growing middle class in emerging economies
Increased non-durable consumer spending
Oil-to-gas spread
Value chain collaboration: Pack Studios
Sustainability
Key Innovations
AGILITY™
INTUNE™
AFFINITY™ GA
MOR-FREE™
ASPUN™
NORDEL™
DOWLEX™
PACXPERT™
ELITE™
RETAIN™
ENGAGE™
SYMBIEX™
INFUSE™
VERSIFY™
INNATE™
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5. Focused on Strategic Markets
Growth portfolio of innovative adhesives and binders for packaging, tapes and labels, and textiles
Adhesives
Versatile specialty copolymers for applications in construction, infrastructure and consumer goods
Industrial & Consumer
One of the world’s largest polyethylene producers for flexible food packaging
Packaging
Leveraging capabilities in elastomers, fibers, and polyolefin technology
Health &
Hygiene
Broad portfolio of solutions for automotive and construction applications
Elastomers
Durable resin technology for pressure pipe, rotomolding, and other non-packaging applications
Pipes &
Durables
Tailored solutions for growing power and telecom sectors
Wire & Cable
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™ Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company & its affiliates

6. Investing to Support Customer Growth
U.S. Gulf Coast
1535 kta
Sadara
1300 kta
EUROPE
USA / CANADA
CHINA
REST of ASIA
INDIA
CENTRAL AMERICA
MEAF
SOUTH AMERICA
DOW RESTRICTED
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7. R&D in P&SP
Marketing / technical development teams identify market needs
R&D projects typically comprised of materials, catalyst, and process scientists
Interface with manufacturing to ensure scalability of new materials
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8. Delivering Sustainable Impact
Leading the Blueprint
Increasing Confidence
Valuing Nature
Circular Economy
Breakthrough Innovations
World Leading Operations
Engaging Employees
Downgauging /
Improved Impact
Recyclable Solutions
PacXpert™
Energy Bag
Pilot Program
Retailer & Consumer
Brand Owner
Converter
Resin
Manufacturer
Recycle
Compatilibizers
Catalyst Breakthroughs
Process Innovation
Energy Efficiency
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9. Research Capabilities
synthetic horsepower
computational modeling
Organometallics
2013, 32, 6488.
Org. Process Res. Dev. 2015, 19, 463.
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10. Advanced Molecular Catalysis
Increased thermal stability
Wider range of important kinetic features
New product design space, improved production capability
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11. The Benefits of Molecular Catalysis
Classic Ziegler-Natta PE: broad compositions
Low MW / Low Density
High MW / High Density
Molecular PE: more tunability in the design space
Homogeneous Compositions
Bimodal Compositions
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12. Controllable Microstructures
long chain branches
copolymers of ethylene and α-olefins
short chain branches
The type and amount of short chain branching (SCB) and long chain branching (LCB) have a tremendous impact on the polymer properties
Tunable Branching Distributions
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13. Chain Shuttling and Olefin Block Copolymers (OBCs)
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14. High Throughput Approaches
X Ligand
Activity
(g polymer / mmol cat)
MW (kg/mol)
Octene Incorp. (mol%)
methyl
129,000
647
7.2
imidazol-imine
25,000
317
0.6
phosphinimide
245,000
704
1.3
phenoxy
1,200
100
4.1
alkoxy
78,500
128
5.6
amidinate 80
199
6.3
Facile synthetic methods employed to generate libraries of candidates
High-throughput screening expedites discovery
Organometallics
2013, 32, 6488.
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15. Deeper Understanding Via Modeling
structure-activity relationships to tune catalyst properties
wide angle here
contraction here bridge flexibility is key
Mw = 87 kg/mol
395 kg/mol
1031 kg/mol
Increasing MW Capacity
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16. Success Story: INNATETM High Performance PE
Advanced Molecular Catalysis (AMC) enables superior resin design and industry leading performance
2016 Ringier Award in APAC
2017 R&D100 Award
Dow’s 2025 Sustainability Goals are a collection of best practices and effective collaborations to address the most pressing global challenges
INNATE™ enables reduction of material use while maintaining performance
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17. Success Story: INTUNETM Olefin Block Copolymers
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18. Success Story: NORDELTM Hydrocarbon Rubber
property
performance
Heat resistance
***
Weather resistance
Ozone resistance
Water resistance
Advanced Molecular Catalysis an enabler for:
polymer design flexibility, new materials
Clean, low gel, reliable production
Low energy input and low emissions
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19. A Proven Track Record of Market & Customer-Driven Innovation
1990
1993
1995
1997
2000
2005
2008
2012
2013
2015
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20. Conclusion
Molecular catalysis will continue to have huge impact on the PE industry
Fundamentally new microstructures possible
High thermal stability  cost effective, large scale production
High performance PE at commercial scale
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