A polyethylene composition produced by a loop-slurry process. The process includes contacting a feedstock comprising ethylene with a solid catalyst having a particle size (D.sub.50) of about 5 to about 20 micrometers and comprising a magnesium dihalide support containing a predominantly titanium trichloride species on its crystalline lattice derived by the reaction of magnesium alcoholates with tetravalent, halogen-containing compounds and one or more aluminum alkyl or aluminum alkyl halide components at a temperature of between about 90 to about 105 C. and a residence time of between about 30 to about 60 min. The resulting polyethylene composition has a particle size (D.sub.50) of about 200 to 400 micrometers, with less than 0.05 wt. % of particles being less than 45 micrometers in diameter. A loop-slurry process and a catalyst component are also provided.

A polyethylene composition produced by a loop-slurry process. The process includes contacting a feedstock comprising ethylene with a solid catalyst having a particle size (D.sub.50) of about 5 to about 20 micrometers and comprising a magnesium dihalide support containing a predominantly titanium trichloride species on its crystalline lattice derived by the reaction of magnesium alcoholates with tetravalent, halogen-containing compounds and one or more aluminum alkyl or aluminum alkyl halide components at a temperature of between about 90 to about 105 C. and a residence time of between about 30 to about 60 min. The resulting polyethylene composition has a particle size (D.sub.50) of about 200 to 400 micrometers, with less than 0.05 wt. % of particles being less than 45 micrometers in diameter. A loop-slurry process and a catalyst component are also provided.