Karl Ziegler Young Polymer Scientists Scholarship

Karl Ziegler is most renowned for the development of the the Ziegler-Natta process for the production of polyolefins via coordinative insertion polymerization with an organometallic catalyst forms the basis for the mass production of plastics such as polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (i-PP). Ziegler firstly discovered a titanium-catalyst, inserting ethylene and so generating linear chains with a lower degree of branching. The most effective Ziegler catalysts were obtained from titanium and zirconium compounds in combination with organoaluminum compounds. The titanium salts, in particular titanium(IV) chloride with triethylaluminum, were so reactive that the reaction pressure and temperature could be lowered to atmospheric pressure and room temperature to generate HDPE. You can find his articles here and here. 

Together with Guido Natta he received the Nobel Price for Chemistry 1963.

In memory of his outstanding achievements in polymer science, the “Karl Ziegler Young Polymer Scientists Scholarship” is awarded to outstanding students.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Eligibility criteria

• Applicants must be currently registered in the international Master course “Polymer Materials Science” at MLU
• Applicants must have successfully passed the 1st semester with at least 30 CPs

Selection is based on

• Top-rank grade point average
• Excellent academic performance and active participation in class
• Intention and documented potential for doctoral research

What to submit

The applications have to include the following information

• Letter of motivation (up to one page)
• Curriculum vitae
• Official transcript of records of the last semesters

Selection commitee