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 thermoformable film comprises a polyethylene composition. The polyethylene composition comprises a first polyethylene which is an ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 70,000 to 250,000 and a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n of <2.3, a second polyethylene which is an ethylene copolymer or homopolymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 15,000 to 100,000 and a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n of <2.3, and a third polyethylene which is an ethylene copolymer or homopolymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 70,000 to 250,000 and a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n of >2.3, where the first polyethylene has more short chain branching than the second polyethylene or the third polyethylene. The polyethylene composition has a melt flow ratio (I.sub.21/I.sub.2) of ≤50 and an area Dimensional Thermoformability Index (aDTI) at 105° C. of less than 15.

A production method for a cyclic olefin copolymer which is capable of efficiently producing a cyclic olefin copolymer by copolymerizing monomers including a norbornene monomer and ethylene while suppressing the formation of a polyethylene-like impurity, and a catalyst composition for the copolymerization of a norbornene monomer and ethylene. Monomers including a norbornene monomer and ethylene are polymerized in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst, and the metal-containing catalyst has a structure in which a nitrogen atom is bonded to a transition metal of Group 4 of the periodic table and an atom of Group 15 of the periodic table.

The present invention relates to an EPDM resin blend composition, which includes a first EPDM resin matrix and a second EPDM resin, wherein a ratio (M.sub.w1/M.sub.w2) of a weight average molecular weight of the first EPDM resin matrix to a weight average molecular weight of the second EPDM resin ranges from 0.75 to 1.33, and the second EPDM resin has a narrower molecular weight distribution (M.sub.w/M.sub.n) than the first EPDM resin matrix, and to a method for preparing the same.

Provided in this disclosure are titanium complexes that contain 1) a cyclopentadienyl ligand; 2) an adamantyl-phosphinimine ligand; and 3) at least one activatable ligand. The use of such a complex, in combination with an activator, as an olefin polymerization catalyst is demonstrated. The catalysts are effective for the copolymerization of ethylene with an alpha olefin (such as 1-butene, 1-hexene or 1-octene) and enable the production of high molecular weight copolymers (Mw greater than 25,000) at high productivity under solution polymerization conditions.

Novel catalytic compositions are disclosed comprising novel unsymmetrical metallocene catalytic compounds. Also disclosed are uses of such catalytic compositions in olefin polymerisation reactions, as well as processes of polymerising olefins. When compared with the prior art compositions, the catalytic compositions of the invention are markedly more active in the polymerisation of olefins.

The present invention relates to a catalyst mixture containing at least one metal complex according to the formula (1)

CyLMZ.sub.p  (1), and at least one metal complex according to the formula (2)

InLMZ.sub.p  (2), wherein Cy is a substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand that contains the substituents R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and 3 additional methyl groups, wherein R.sup.1 means H, halogen or a C.sub.3-C.sub.20 substituent and R.sup.2 means a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 substituent, In is an indenyl ligand, optionally substituted with one or more substituents R.sup.3, wherein the one or more substituents R.sup.3 mean independently C.sub.1-C.sub.20 hydrocarbyl substituents, and independently for each formula (1) and (2) M is a group 4 metal Z independently is an anionic ligand, p is number of 1 to 2, preferably 2, and L is an amidinate ligand of the formula (3)

##STR00001## wherein the amidine-containing ligand is covalently bonded to the metal M via the imine nitrogen atom, and Sub1 is a substituent comprising a group 14 atom through which Sub1 is bonded to the imine carbon atom and Sub2 is a substituent comprising a heteroatom of group 15, through which Sub2 is bonded to the imine carbon atom.

Ethylene copolymers made in the gas phase using a phosphinimine based single site catalyst supported on a passivated inorganic oxide support. The ethylene copolymers have a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution and good rheological parameters.

A metal complex of the formula (1) CyLMZ.sub.p(A).sub.n (1), wherein M is a group 4 metal Z is an anionic ligand, p is number of 1 to 2, preferably 2, Cy is a cyclopentadienyl-type ligand substituted with at least one aliphatic C.sub.3-C.sub.20 hydrocarbyl group, which is bonded to the cyclopentadienyl-type ligand, in particular to its cyclopentadienyl ring, via a secondary, a tertiary or quaternary carbon atom and, L is an amidinate ligand of the formula (2), wherein the amidine-containing ligand is covalently bonded to the metal M via the imine nitrogen atom, and Sub1 is a substituent comprising a group 14 atom through which Sub1 is bonded to the imine carbon atom and Sub2 is a substituent comprising a heteroatom of group 15, through which Sub2 is bonded to the imine carbon atom and A is a neutral Lewis base ligand selected from the list consisting of ether, thioether, amine, tertiary phosphane, imine, nitrile and isonitrile, wherein the number of said metal ligands “n” is in the range of 0 to the amount that specifies the 18-electron rule.

##STR00001##

Embodiments of the invention described herein relate to a polyethylene polymer composition suitable for use in the manufacture of packaging articles, flexible films and/or sheets. In one embodiment, the copolymer comprises a polyethylene resin with density 0.918 g/cm.sup.3 to about 0.935 g/cm.sup.3, G′ at G″.sub.(500 Pa) value, as determined from Dynamic Mechanical Analysis at 190° C., of less than 40 Pa, M.sub.z/M.sub.w of greater than 2, CDBI.sub.50 of greater than 60. Other embodiments relate to polymer compositions with defined molecular characteristics and formulations suitable for use in the manufacture of articles including films, sheets, bags and pouches with improved creep resistance and high toughness and a good balance of film stiffness and processability in monolayer and/or multi-layer film structures.