Application of temperature rising elution fractionation in polyolefins

In this paper, the applications of temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) in polyolefins, including conventional ethylene copolymers, polypropylene, propylene copolymers, polyolefin alloys and metallocene-based polyolefins were reviewed. TREF is helpful for the better understanding of the microstructure of polyolefins, polymerization mechanisms and the nature of catalysts. The microstructural characteristics of metallocene-based polyolefins and fractionation mechanisms were also discussed. In addition, preparative TREF can also be used to obtain polymer fractions with homogeneous structure to facilitate the study of polymer physics.