This disclosure relates to a continuous solution polymerization process wherein production rate is increased. Process solvent, ethylene, optional comonomers, optional hydrogen and a single site catalyst formulation are injected into a first reactor forming a first ethylene interpolymer. Process solvent, ethylene, optional comonomers, optional hydrogen and a heterogeneous catalyst formulation are injected into a second reactor forming a second ethylene interpolymer. The first and second reactors may be configured in series or parallel modes of operation. A third ethylene interpolymer is formed in a third reactor, wherein an optional heterogeneous catalyst formulation may be employed. In a solution phase, the first, second and optional third ethylene interpolymers are combined, the catalyst is deactivated, the solution is passivated and following a phase separation process an ethylene interpolymer product is recovered.

The invention relates to a metallocene complex according to formula A, wherein R1-R10 are independently selected from H, C1-C10 alkyl, C7-C20 Aralkyl groups, and C1-C10 alkoxy groups; wherein R11 is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, phenyl; wherein R1 and R2, R3 and R4, R4 and R5, R5 and R6, R7 and R8, R8 and R9, and/or R9 and R10 can be connected to form a ringstructure; wherein R0 is selected from a C1-C10 alkyl group or an aryl group wherein M is selected from Ti, Zr and Hf, X is an anionic ligand to M, z is the number of X groups and equals the valence of M minus 2. The invention further relates to a catalyst for preparing polyolefins, a process for polymerizing olefins and to polymers prepared by said catalyst system.

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Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same are described. A method includes selecting a catalyst blend using a blend polydispersity index (bPDI) map. The polydispersity map is generated by generating a number of polymers for at least two catalysts. Each polymer is generated at a different hydrogen to ethylene ratio. At least one catalyst generates a higher molecular weight polymer and another catalyst generates a lower molecular weight polymer. A molecular weight for each polymer is measured. The relationship between the molecular weight of the polymers generated by each of the catalysts and the ratio of hydrogen to ethylene is determined. A family of bPDI curves for polymers that would be made using a number of ratios of a blend of the at least two catalysts for each of a number of ratios of hydrogen to ethylene. A ratio for the catalyst blend of the catalysts that generates a polymer having a bPDI that matches a polymer fabrication process is selected, and the product specific polyolefin is made using the catalyst blend.

Catalyst system for producing ethylene copolymers in a high temperature solution process, the catalyst system comprising (i) a metallocene complex of formula (I) wherein: M is Hf or a mixture with Zr, provided that more than 50% by moles of the complex of Formula (I) has M=Hf; X is a sigma ligand; R are the same or different from each other and can be saturated linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.10 aryl, C.sub.4-C.sub.10 heteroaryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20 alkylaryl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 arylalkyl groups, which can optionally contain up to 2 heteroatoms or silicon atoms; R.sup.1 is a C.sub.6-C.sub.10 aryl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 alkylaryl group optionally containing up to 2 heteroatoms or silicon atoms or a C.sub.4-C.sub.10 heteroaryl group; R.sub.2 is a C.sub.4-C.sub.20 cycloalkyl group, optionally carrying alkyl substituents in beta-positions, of formula (II) in which R can be the same or can be different from each other and can be hydrogen or is defined as R and n is 1 to 17 (ii) a boron containing cocatalyst

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The present invention concerns a process for the preparation of a copolymer comprising the steps of copolymerizing under suitable reaction conditions at least one first type of olefin monomer and at least one second type of functionalized olefin monomer using a catalyst system to obtain a polyolefin main chain having one or multiple functionalized short chain branches, the catalyst system comprising: i) a single-site catalyst or catalyst precursor comprising a metal selected from Ti3+ or Cr3+; ii) a co-catalyst; iii) optionally a scavenger.

This disclosure relates to ethylene interpolymer compositions. Specifically, ethylene interpolymer products having: a Dilution Index (Y.sub.d) greater than 0; total catalytic metal 3.0 ppm; 0.03 terminal vinyl unsaturations per 100 carbon atoms, and; optionally a Dimensionless Modulus (X.sub.d) greater than 0. The disclosed ethylene interpolymer products have a melt index from about 0.3 to about 500 dg/minute, a density from about 0.869 to about 0.975 g/cm.sup.3, a polydispersity (M.sub.w/M.sub.n) from about 2 to about 25 and a CDBI.sub.50 from about 20% to about 97%. Further, the ethylene interpolymer products are a blend of at least two ethylene interpolymers; where one ethylene interpolymer is produced with a single-site catalyst formulation and at least one ethylene interpolymer is produced with a heterogeneous catalyst formulation.

This disclosure relates to ethylene interpolymer compositions. Specifically, ethylene interpolymer products having: a Dilution Index (Y.sub.d) greater than 0; total catalytic metal 3.0 ppm; 0.03 terminal vinyl unsaturations per 100 carbon atoms, and; optionally a Dimensionless Modulus (X.sub.d) greater than 0. The disclosed ethylene interpolymer products have a melt index from about 0.3 to about 500 dg/minute, a density from about 0.869 to about 0.975 g/cm.sup.3, a polydispersity (M.sub.w/M.sub.n) from about 2 to about 25 and a CDBI.sub.50 from about 20% to about 97%. Further, the ethylene interpolymer products are a blend of at least two ethylene interpolymers; where one ethylene interpolymer is produced with a single-site catalyst formulation and at least one ethylene interpolymer is produced with a heterogeneous catalyst formulation.

A continuous solution polymerization process is disclosed wherein at least two catalyst formulations are employed. A first homogeneous catalyst formulation is employed in a first reactor to produce a first ethylene interpolymer and a first heterogeneous catalyst formulation is employed in a second reactor to produce a second ethylene interpolymer. Optionally a third ethylene interpolymer is formed in a third reactor. The resulting ethylene interpolymer products possess desirable properties in a variety of end use applications, for example in film applications. A means for increasing the molecular weight of the first ethylene interpolymer is disclosed and/or a means for increasing the temperature of the first reactor, relative to a third homogeneous catalyst formulation. A means for reducing the (-olefin/ethylene) weight ratio in the first reactor is disclosed and/or reducing the density of the first ethylene interpolymer, relative to a third homogeneous catalyst formulation.

Methods for treating solid metallocene compounds that are exposed to air are disclosed. These methods include a step of contacting the exposed solid metallocene compound with a purging gas stream containing an inert gas, and optionally, subjecting the exposed solid metallocene compound to a sub-atmospheric pressure.

A homopolypropylene has i) a molecular weight distribution of less than 2.4; ii) a melt index (measured at 230 C. under a load of 2.16 kg in accordance with ASTM D1238) of 5 to 3000 g/10 min; iii) a remaining stress ratio of 0.5% or less; and iv) a complex viscosity of 5 to 600 Pa.Math.s at an angular frequency of 1 rad/s and a complex viscosity of 5 to 300 Pa.Math.s at an angular frequency of 100 rad/s. A method for preparing the homopolyproylene is also provided. A molded article and a non-woven fabric are also provided.