Polyolefins with cyclic comonomers

Highly active metallocenes and other single-site catalysts have opened
up the possibility to polymerize cycloolefins or to copolymerize them with ethene
or propene. The polymers obtained show interesting structures and properties. The
cycloolefins such as cyclopentene, norbornene, and their substituted derivatives are
incorporated into the polymer chain either by addition or metathesis. An overview
of copolymers obtained via addition copolymerization is here given. Materials with
elastomeric properties or tactic polymers with high glass transitions and melting
points can be obtained, depending on the wide range of different microstructures.
Cycloolefin copolymers and homo- and copolymers of norbornene, in particula, are
of great academic and industrial interest because of their properties and applications
in optoelectronics, lenses, and coatings