An activator-nucleator formulation comprising an activating effective amount of (A) an alkylaluminum(chloride) compound (compound (A)); and a nucleating effective amount of a compound (B) selected from at least one of compounds (B1) to (B3): (B1) calcium (1R,2S)-cis-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (1:1); (B2) calcium stearate (1:2), and (B3) zinc stearate (1:2); wherein the compound (A) is effective for activating a Ziegler-Natta procatalyst to give a Ziegler-Natta catalyst; and wherein the compound (B) is effective for lowering isothermal crystallization peak time period of a semicrystalline polyethylene polymer made in a polymerization process by the Ziegler-Natta catalyst. A method of polymerizing ethylene, and optionally 0, 1, or more alpha-olefin comonomers, in a polymerization process conducted in a polymerization reactor, the method comprising contacting ethylene, and optionally 0, 1, or more alpha-olefin comonomers, with the Ziegler-Natta catalyst system to give a semicrystalline polyethylene polymer. The semicrystalline polyethylene polymer made by the method of polymerizing.

An activator-nucleator formulation comprising an activating effective amount of (A) an alkylaluminum(chloride) compound (compound (A)); and a nucleating effective amount of a compound (B) selected from at least one of compounds (B1) to (B3): (B1) calcium (1R,2S)-cis-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (1:1); (B2) calcium stearate (1:2), and (B3) zinc stearate (1:2); wherein the compound (A) is effective for activating a Ziegler-Natta procatalyst to give a Ziegler-Natta catalyst; and wherein the compound (B) is effective for lowering isothermal crystallization peak time period of a semicrystalline polyethylene polymer made in a polymerization process by the Ziegler-Natta catalyst. A method of polymerizing ethylene, and optionally 0, 1, or more alpha-olefin comonomers, in a polymerization process conducted in a polymerization reactor, the method comprising contacting ethylene, and optionally 0, 1, or more alpha-olefin comonomers, with the Ziegler-Natta catalyst system to give a semicrystalline polyethylene polymer. The semicrystalline polyethylene polymer made by the method of polymerizing.

A new olefin polymerization catalyst is ligated with a tetradentate ligand having a phenoxy/amino/ether/phenoxy (O/N/O/O) atom donor set. The new polymerization catalyst which is based on zirconium or hafnium produces an ethylene copolymer with high molecular weight and high comonomer incorporation levels.

A new olefin polymerization catalyst is ligated with a tetradentate ligand having a phenoxy/amino/ether/phenoxy (O/N/O/O) atom donor set. The new polymerization catalyst which is based on zirconium or hafnium produces an ethylene copolymer with high molecular weight and high comonomer incorporation levels.

Embodiments are directed to a metal-ligand complex catalyst precursor, (L.sup.1)(L.sup.2)X(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2), and methods for producing the same from a compound of formula Q.sub.2X(R.sup.1)(R.sup.2). L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 are independently —R.sup.3—Z.sup.1 or —R.sup.4—Z.sup.1. R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, (C.sub.1-C.sub.40)hydrocarbyl and, optionally, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are connected to form a ring having from 3 to 50 atoms in the ring, excluding hydrogen atoms. X is Si, Ge, Sn, or Pb. Each Q is independently Ar.sup.1—Y.sup.1R.sup.3— or Ar.sup.2—Y.sup.2—R.sup.4—. R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently selected from —(CR.sup.C.sub.2).sub.m—, where m is 1 or 2, and where each R.sup.c is independently selected from the group consisting of (C.sub.1-C.sub.40)hydrocarbyl, (C.sub.1-C.sub.40)heterohydrocarbyl, and —H. Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are independently S, Se, or Te. Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are independently (C.sub.6-C.sub.50)aryl. Ar.sup.1—Y.sup.1—R.sup.3— and Ar.sup.2—Y.sup.2—R.sup.4— are not identical. Each Z.sup.1 is independently selected from Cl, Br, and I.

Provided are bimodal linear low density polyethylene copolymers (B-LLDPE copolymers) that have a combination of improved properties comprising at least one processability characteristic similar or better than that of an unblended monomodal ZN-LLDPE and a dart impact property similar or better than that of an unblended monomodal MCN-LLDPE. For the various aspects, the B-LLDPE copolymer has a density from 0.8900 to 0.9300 g/cm.sup.3; a melt index (I.sub.2) from 0.1 g/10 min. to 5 g/10 min.; a M.sub.z from 600,000 to 1,200,000 g/mol; and a hexane extractables content present in a value of up to 2.6 wt. % as measured according to ASTM D-5227:95. The B-LLDPE copolymer can be further characterized by a first melt flow ratio (I.sub.21/I.sub.2) from 25 to 65 and a first molecular weight ratio (M.sub.z/M.sub.w) from 3.5 to 5.5.

A method of making an attenuated-light-off post-metallocene catalyst, the method comprising combining a faster-light-off catalyst with an effective amount of a kinetics modifier compound of formula (A.sup.1), (B.sup.1), or (C.sup.1): R5-C≡C—R.sup.6 (A.sup.1), (R.sup.5).sub.2C═C═C(R.sup.6).sub.2 (B.sup.1), or (R.sup.5)(R.sup.7)C═C(R.sup.6)(R.sup.7) (C.sup.1) as defined herein under effective reaction conditions to give an attenuated post-metallocene catalyst that exhibits an attenuated light-off monomer uptake profile (relative to that of the faster-light-off catalyst); wherein the faster-light-off catalyst has been made by activating a post-metallocene precatalyst of structural formula (I) as defined herein; and related methods, compositions and uses.

To provide an olefin polymerization catalyst having high catalytic activity (polymerization activity), an olefin polymerization catalyst production method, and an olefin polymer production method using the olefin polymerization catalyst. An olefin polymerization catalyst comprising the following components [A], [B] and [C]:

the component [A]: a metallocene complex having a specific indenyl structure,

the component [B]: a solid component containing one or more selected from the group consisting of (b-1) a fine particulate carrier on which an ionic compound or Lewis acid which can convert the component [A] into a cation by reaction with the component [A], is supported, (b-2) solid acid fine particles, and (b-3) an ion-exchange layered compound,

and

the component [C]: a specific silylacetylene compound.

A complex of formula (I): (I′) M is Hf; each X is a sigma ligand; L is a bridge of formula -(ER.sup.8.sub.2).sub.y—; y is 1 or 2; E is C or Si; each R.sup.8 is independently a C.sub.1-C.sub.20-hydrocarbyl, tri(C.sub.1-C.sub.20-alkyl)silyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20-aryl, C.sub.7-C.sub.20-arylalkyl or C.sub.7-C.sub.20-alkylaryl or L is an alkylene group such as methylene or ethylene; Ar and Ar′ are each independently an aryl or heteroaryl group optionally substituted by 1 to 3 groups R.sup.1 or R.sup.1′ respectively; R.sup.1 and R.sup.1′ are each independently the same or can be different and are a linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl group, C.sub.7-20 arylalkyl, C.sub.7-20 alkylaryl group or C.sub.6-20 aryl group with the proviso that if there are four or more R.sup.1 and R.sup.1′ groups present in total, one or more of R.sup.1 and R.sup.1′ is other than tert butyl; R.sup.2 and R.sup.2′ are the same or are different and are a CH.sub.2—R.sup.9 group, with R.sup.9 being H or linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl group, C.sub.3-8 cycloalkyl group, C.sub.6-10 aryl group; each R is a —CH.sub.2—, —CHRx- or C(Rx).sub.2- group wherein Rx is C.sub.1-4 alkyl and where m is 2-6; R.sup.5 is a linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl group, C.sub.7-20 arylalkyl, C.sub.7-20 alkylaryl group or C.sub.6-C.sub.20-aryl group; R.sup.6 is a C(R.sup.10).sub.3 group, with R.sup.10 being a linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl group; and R.sup.6 and R.sup.7′ are the same or are different and are H or a linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl group. Invention relates also to a catalyst in solid form comprising (i) a complex of formula (I) and (ii) a cocatalyst of an aluminium compound and (iii) a cocatalyst of a boron compound. ##STR00001##

Disclosed is a method using a metallocene catalyst system so as to control the polymer structure of a diene-modified polypropylene through process simplification, thereby being capable of preparing a hyperbranched polypropylene resin having a low gel content and improved melt strength. The present invention provides a method using a catalyst so as to polymerize propylene and a diene compound, thereby preparing a diene-modified polypropylene resin having a branching index of 0.95 or less, a gel content of 3 wt % or less and an advanced rheometric expansion system (ARES) melt strength of 5 g or more.