C08F2/001

Bimodal polyethylene resins and pipes produced therefrom

Disclosed herein are ethylene-based polymers generally characterized by a density of at least 0.94 g/cm.sup.3, a high load melt index from 4 to 20 g/10 min, a zero-shear viscosity at 190° C. from 20,000 to 400,000 kPa-sec, and a relaxation time at 190° C. from 225 to 3000 sec. These ethylene polymers can be produced by peroxide-treating a broad molecular weight distribution Ziegler-catalyzed resin, and can be used in large diameter, thick wall pipes and other end-use applications.

Styrenic polymers having reduced trimer content

Disclosed are styrenic polymers made by a mass or solution process, where the amount of trimer consisting of styrene and/or acrylonitrile is less than about 0.50 weight percent. Also disclosed is a method of minimizing the amount of trimer consisting of styrene and/or acrylonitrile in styrenic polymers made by a mass or solution process. The method includes the steps of lowering the temperature of the polymerization reaction mixture and including more than one initiator in the polymerization reaction mixture.

Styrenic polymers having reduced trimer content

Disclosed are styrenic polymers made by a mass or solution process, where the amount of trimer consisting of styrene and/or acrylonitrile is less than about 0.50 weight percent. Also disclosed is a method of minimizing the amount of trimer consisting of styrene and/or acrylonitrile in styrenic polymers made by a mass or solution process. The method includes the steps of lowering the temperature of the polymerization reaction mixture and including more than one initiator in the polymerization reaction mixture.

Ethylene interpolymer products and films

This disclosure relates to ethylene interpolymer compositions and films prepared therefrom. Specifically: ethylene interpolymer products having: a dimensionless nonlinear rheology network parameter, Δ.sub.int., greater than or equal to 0.01, satisfying 0.01×(Z−50).sup.0.78≤Δ.sub.int.≤0.01×(Z−60).sup.0.78 inequality wherein Z is a normalized molecular weight defined by Z = M w M e
where M.sub.w and M.sub.e are the weight average and entanglement molecular weights, and; a residual catalytic metal of from ≥0.03 to ≤5 ppm of hafnium. The disclosed ethylene interpolymer products have a melt index from about 0.3 to about 500 dg/minute, a density from about 0.855 to about 0.975 g/cc, a polydispersity, M w M n ,
from about 1.7 to about 25 and a Composition Distribution Breadth Index (CDBI.sub.50) from about 1% to about 98%.

Ethylene interpolymer products and films

This disclosure relates to ethylene interpolymer compositions and films prepared therefrom. Specifically: ethylene interpolymer products having: a dimensionless nonlinear rheology network parameter, Δ.sub.int., greater than or equal to 0.01, satisfying 0.01×(Z−50).sup.0.78≤Δ.sub.int.≤0.01×(Z−60).sup.0.78 inequality wherein Z is a normalized molecular weight defined by Z = M w M e
where M.sub.w and M.sub.e are the weight average and entanglement molecular weights, and; a residual catalytic metal of from ≥0.03 to ≤5 ppm of hafnium. The disclosed ethylene interpolymer products have a melt index from about 0.3 to about 500 dg/minute, a density from about 0.855 to about 0.975 g/cc, a polydispersity, M w M n ,
from about 1.7 to about 25 and a Composition Distribution Breadth Index (CDBI.sub.50) from about 1% to about 98%.

Polymerization catalyst composition and method of employing same

Without significantly impacting monomer conversion, the cis-1,4 mer content of conjugated diene mer in polymers can be increased by adding one or more Lewis bases to a catalyst composition that includes a Group 3 metal atom-containing carboxylate. This effect can be seen even at above average monomer concentrations.

Polymerization catalyst composition and method of employing same

Without significantly impacting monomer conversion, the cis-1,4 mer content of conjugated diene mer in polymers can be increased by adding one or more Lewis bases to a catalyst composition that includes a Group 3 metal atom-containing carboxylate. This effect can be seen even at above average monomer concentrations.

Aqueous dispersion of multistage polymer

An aqueous dispersion of a hydrophobically-modified alkali-soluble multistage polymer useful as a thickener affording high thickening efficiency and an aqueous coating composition comprising such aqueous dispersion showing good stability after heat aging without compromising stability upon addition of colorants.

CATALYSTS

A metallocene complex of formula (I): each X is a sigma-ligand; in the group R.sub.2Si— at least one R is methyl or ethyl, and the other R is selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl or isobutyl, pentyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl and phenyl; each R.sup.1 independently is the same or can be different and are a CH.sub.2—R.sup.7 group, with R.sup.7 being H or linear or branched C.sub.1-6-alkyl group, C.sub.3-8 cycloalkyl group, or C.sub.6-10 aryl group; each R.sup.2 is independently a —CH═, —CY═, —CH.sub.2—, —CHY— or —CY.sub.2— group, wherein Y is a C.sub.1-6 hydrocarbyl group and where n is 2-6; each R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently the same or can be different and are hydrogen, a linear or branched C.sub.1-6-alkyl group, a C.sub.7-20 arylalkyl, C.sub.7-20 alkylaryl group, C.sub.6-20 aryl group, or an —OY group, wherein Y is a is a C.sub.1-6 hydrocarbyl group; R.sup.5 is a linear or branched C.sub.1-6-alkyl group, C.sub.7-20 arylalkyl, C.sub.7-20 alkylaryl group or C.sub.6-20-aryl group; and R.sup.6 is a C(R.sup.8).sub.3 group, with R.sup.8 being a linear or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl group; (A) wherein at least one R.sup.3 per phenyl group and at least one R.sup.4 is not hydrogen, and wherein at least one R.sup.3 per phenyl group and at least one R.sup.4 is hydrogen; or (B) wherein one R.sup.3 is an —OY group, wherein Y is a is a C.sub.1-6 hydrocarbyl group, in 4 position of each phenyl group and the two other R.sup.3 groups are tert-butyl groups; and/or (C) wherein one R.sup.4 is an —OY group, wherein Y is a is a C.sub.1-6 hydrocarbyl group, in 4-position of the phenyl ring and the two other R.sup.4 groups are tert-butyl groups.

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CATALYSTS

A metallocene complex of formula (I): each X is a sigma-ligand; in the group R.sub.2Si— at least one R is methyl or ethyl, and the other R is selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl or isobutyl, pentyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl and phenyl; each R.sup.1 independently is the same or can be different and are a CH.sub.2—R.sup.7 group, with R.sup.7 being H or linear or branched C.sub.1-6-alkyl group, C.sub.3-8 cycloalkyl group, or C.sub.6-10 aryl group; each R.sup.2 is independently a —CH═, —CY═, —CH.sub.2—, —CHY— or —CY.sub.2— group, wherein Y is a C.sub.1-6 hydrocarbyl group and where n is 2-6; each R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently the same or can be different and are hydrogen, a linear or branched C.sub.1-6-alkyl group, a C.sub.7-20 arylalkyl, C.sub.7-20 alkylaryl group, C.sub.6-20 aryl group, or an —OY group, wherein Y is a is a C.sub.1-6 hydrocarbyl group; R.sup.5 is a linear or branched C.sub.1-6-alkyl group, C.sub.7-20 arylalkyl, C.sub.7-20 alkylaryl group or C.sub.6-20-aryl group; and R.sup.6 is a C(R.sup.8).sub.3 group, with R.sup.8 being a linear or branched C.sub.1-6 alkyl group; (A) wherein at least one R.sup.3 per phenyl group and at least one R.sup.4 is not hydrogen, and wherein at least one R.sup.3 per phenyl group and at least one R.sup.4 is hydrogen; or (B) wherein one R.sup.3 is an —OY group, wherein Y is a is a C.sub.1-6 hydrocarbyl group, in 4 position of each phenyl group and the two other R.sup.3 groups are tert-butyl groups; and/or (C) wherein one R.sup.4 is an —OY group, wherein Y is a is a C.sub.1-6 hydrocarbyl group, in 4-position of the phenyl ring and the two other R.sup.4 groups are tert-butyl groups.

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