Historical and Philosophical Remarks on Ziegler-Natta Catalysts. A Discourse on Industrial Catalysis

Part 1 outlines the complex, parallel historical evolution of Ziegler-Natta catalysts and related problems. In Part 2, as a general method of inquiry, chemical language and discourse are analyzed, at first to clarify chemists' epistemic views and the ontological status of catalysts. After analyzing contrasting definitions of 'catalyst' and the chemical properties of catalysts, a suitable metaphor is suggested for catalytic activity, and then 'applied' to different cases of industrial catalysis (incl. Ziegler-Natta). The last two sections deal with intellectual attitudes to industrial catalysis and the makeup of industrial catalysis as academic discipline. In conclusion, I suggest that references to the economic level of reality (the industrial production) serve both a better understanding of the microscopic level of reality (the chemical process), and a higher status at the social level of reality (the chemical community).