Ziegler catalyst

noun

Zie·​gler catalyst

ˈzēglə(r)-

: a catalyst (as triethyl-aluminum or a complex of a trialkyl-aluminum with titanium tetrachloride) that promotes an ionic type of polymerization of ethylene, propylene, or related olefins at atmospheric pressure with the resultant formation of a relatively high-melting polyethylene, a stereoregular polypropylene, or similar product

Word History

Etymology

after Karl Ziegler, born 1898 German chemistry institute director

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