Accessing Degradable Polyethylenes via Catalytic Ethylene Copolymerization

As one of the most extensively produced synthetic polymers, polyethylenes play a vital role in diverse industrial applications. However, their exceptional chemical stability has led to significant environmental issues related to plastic persistence. To address this issue, catalytic copolymerization of ethylene with comonomers has been developed for installing low-content cleavable functional groups in the backbone of polyethylenes. This approach affords polyethylene materials possessing both desirable material properties and accessible degradability. This review aims to give an overview of the recent advances in this emerging research area.