Processes of polymerizing olefin monomers using catalyst systems and catalysts systems that include a procatalyst having a structure according to formula (I):

##STR00001##

To provide a catalyst composition having high polymerization activity. To provide a polymer manufacturing method. To provide a polymer manufactured by the polymer manufacturing method. To provide a rubber composition including the polymer. To provide a tire using the rubber composition. A catalyst composition including a compound represented by Structural Formula I below, wherein the compound has an OH group at at least one position of the bipyridyl ring; M is a transition metal, a lanthanoid, scandium, or yttrium; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are a hydrocarbon group having one or more carbon atoms or a halogen atom; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different from each other. A polymer manufacturing method including a step of polymerizing one or more selected from the group consisting of a conjugated diene compound and a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond in the presence of the catalyst composition. A polymer manufactured by the manufacturing method. A rubber composition including the polymer. A tire using the rubber composition. ##STR00001##

To provide a catalyst composition having high polymerization activity. To provide a polymer manufacturing method. To provide a polymer manufactured by the polymer manufacturing method. To provide a rubber composition including the polymer. To provide a tire using the rubber composition. A catalyst composition including a compound represented by Structural Formula I below, wherein the compound has an OH group at at least one position of the bipyridyl ring; M is a transition metal, a lanthanoid, scandium, or yttrium; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are a hydrocarbon group having one or more carbon atoms or a halogen atom; and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different from each other. A polymer manufacturing method including a step of polymerizing one or more selected from the group consisting of a conjugated diene compound and a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond in the presence of the catalyst composition. A polymer manufactured by the manufacturing method. A rubber composition including the polymer. A tire using the rubber composition. ##STR00001##

The present disclosure provides methods for producing an olefin polymer by contacting a C.sub.3-C.sub.40 olefin, ethylene and a diene with a catalyst system including an activator and a metallocene catalyst compound comprising a substituted or unsubstituted indacenyl group and obtaining a C.sub.3-C.sub.40 olefin-ethylene-diene terpolymer typically comprising from 1 to 35 mol % of ethylene, from 98.9 to 65 mol % C.sub.3-C.sub.40 olefin, and, optionally, from 0.1 to 10 mol % diene. Preferably, a propylene-ethylene-ethylidene norbornene is obtained.

The present disclosure provides methods for producing an olefin polymer by contacting a C.sub.3-C.sub.40 olefin, ethylene and a diene with a catalyst system including an activator and a metallocene catalyst compound comprising a substituted or unsubstituted indacenyl group and obtaining a C.sub.3-C.sub.40 olefin-ethylene-diene terpolymer typically comprising from 1 to 35 mol % of ethylene, from 98.9 to 65 mol % C.sub.3-C.sub.40 olefin, and, optionally, from 0.1 to 10 mol % diene. Preferably, a propylene-ethylene-ethylidene norbornene is obtained.

Disclosed are ethylene polymer compositions containing a homogeneously-branched first ethylene polymer component and 15-35 wt. % of a homogeneously-branched second ethylene polymer component of higher density than the first ethylene polymer component. The ethylene polymer composition can be characterized by a density from 0.912 to 0.925 g/cm.sup.3, a ratio of Mw/Mn from 2 to 5, a melt index less than 2 g/10 min, and a CY-a parameter at 190° C. from 0.35 to 0.7. These polymer compositions have the excellent dart impact strength and optical properties of a metallocene-catalyzed LLDPE, but with improved machine direction tear resistance, and can be used in blown film and other end-use applications. Further, methods for improving film Elmendorf tear strength also are described.

Disclosed are ethylene polymer compositions containing a homogeneously-branched first ethylene polymer component and 15-35 wt. % of a homogeneously-branched second ethylene polymer component of higher density than the first ethylene polymer component. The ethylene polymer composition can be characterized by a density from 0.912 to 0.925 g/cm.sup.3, a ratio of Mw/Mn from 2 to 5, a melt index less than 2 g/10 min, and a CY-a parameter at 190° C. from 0.35 to 0.7. These polymer compositions have the excellent dart impact strength and optical properties of a metallocene-catalyzed LLDPE, but with improved machine direction tear resistance, and can be used in blown film and other end-use applications. Further, methods for improving film Elmendorf tear strength also are described.

This invention relates homogeneous (typically solution) polymerization of propylene and optional olefin comonomer using metallocene catalyst compounds having a 1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-s-indacenyl moiety bridged to another indacenyl moiety or bridged to a substituted or unsubstituted indenyl moiety.

This invention relates homogeneous (typically solution) polymerization of propylene and optional olefin comonomer using metallocene catalyst compounds having a 1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-s-indacenyl moiety bridged to another indacenyl moiety or bridged to a substituted or unsubstituted indenyl moiety.

Catalyst system for producing ethylene copolymers in a high temperature solution process, the catalyst system comprising

(i) a metallocene complex of formula (I)

##STR00001## 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.5-C.sub.10 aryl, 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.20-aryl, which can be unsubstituted or substituted by one or up to 5 linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group(s) R.sup.2 is a saturated linear or cyclic C.sub.3-C.sub.20 alkyl group or a branched CR.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 group, wherein R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are the same or are different and can be an C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and (ii) a boron containing cocatalyst.