Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) belongs to an emerging class of high-performance specialty polymers with a unique set of properties and applications. The field has witnessed many scientific and technological advances in recent years. However, synthesis of UHMWPE is not a trivial exercise and presents several challenges. This review addresses these fundamental challenges and provides an overview of recent developments in the field of UHMWPE. The nature of catalysts, reaction conditions that favor its formation, their physical properties, methods of processing them into products, and their applications are discussed. Recent developments in formation of UHMWPE in a disentangled state by use of appropriate catalysts and reaction conditions are also discussed. This has elicited considerable interest as a means of enabling melt processing of UHMWPE. This review provides a comprehensive source of information and understanding of the multifaceted aspects of UHMWPE with specific reference to chemistry, catalysis, processes for manufacturing, and an analysis of catalyst structure-polymer property relationships.

超高分子量聚乙烯（UHMWPE）属于新兴的高性能特种聚合物，具有一系列独特的性能和应用。近年来，该领域见证了许多科学技术进步。但是，UHMWPE的合成并非轻而易举，并且提出了一些挑战。这篇综述解决了这些基本挑战，并概述了UHMWPE领域的最新发展。讨论了催化剂的性质，有利于其形成的反应条件，其物理性质，将其加工成产物的方法及其应用。还讨论了通过使用合适的催化剂和反应条件以解缠状态形成UHMWPE的最新进展。作为引起UHMWPE的熔融加工的手段，这引起了极大的兴趣。这篇综述为UHMWPE的多方面提供了全面的信息和理解，特别涉及了化学，催化，制造工艺以及对催化剂结构-聚合物性质关系的分析。