Metallocene catalysts are a newer class of catalysts based on transition metals such as zirconium or titanium, often sandwiched between two cyclopentadienyl anions. These catalysts offer greater control over the polymerization process, allowing for the precise tuning of polymer properties such as molecular weight distribution and branching. Metallocene-catalyzed HDPE can have superior clarity, toughness, and processability compared to Ziegler-Natta catalyzed HDPE.
