This invention relates to polyolefin. More specifically, this invention relates to polyolefin that has small copolymer content, but exhibits excellent mechanical properties.

This invention relates to polyolefin. More specifically, this invention relates to polyolefin that has small copolymer content, but exhibits excellent mechanical properties.

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 $Z=\frac{M_w}{M_e}$
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, $\frac{M_w}{M_n},$
from about 1.7 to about 25 and a Composition Distribution Breadth Index (CDBI.sub.50) from about 1% to about 98%.

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 $Z=\frac{M_w}{M_e}$
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, $\frac{M_w}{M_n},$
from about 1.7 to about 25 and a Composition Distribution Breadth Index (CDBI.sub.50) from about 1% to about 98%.

Methods to produce heterogeneous polyethylene granules, the method including: contacting first olefin monomers and second olefin monomers with a catalyst system in a single reaction zone to produce heterogeneous polyethylene granules and recovering the heterogeneous polyethylene granules; wherein the catalyst system includes a product of a combination including: one or more catalysts having a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom or lanthanide metal atom; at least one activator; and optionally, one or more support material compositions; and wherein the heterogeneous polyethylene granules include a product of a combination of: a first portion comprising a first polyethylene including the first olefin monomers and the second olefin monomers; a second portion including a second polyethylene including the first monomers and the second monomers; and wherein the first polyethylene has a higher second monomer weight percent than the second polyethylene, are provided.

Methods to produce heterogeneous polyethylene granules, the method including: contacting first olefin monomers and second olefin monomers with a catalyst system in a single reaction zone to produce heterogeneous polyethylene granules and recovering the heterogeneous polyethylene granules; wherein the catalyst system includes a product of a combination including: one or more catalysts having a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom or lanthanide metal atom; at least one activator; and optionally, one or more support material compositions; and wherein the heterogeneous polyethylene granules include a product of a combination of: a first portion comprising a first polyethylene including the first olefin monomers and the second olefin monomers; a second portion including a second polyethylene including the first monomers and the second monomers; and wherein the first polyethylene has a higher second monomer weight percent than the second polyethylene, are provided.

A process for preliminary polymerization may include washing a catalyst mud comprising a supported metallocene catalyst with at least one saturated hydrocarbon at a temperature from 0° C. to 40° C., a pressure from 20 to 40 kgf/cm.sup.2, and a residence time of at least 30 minutes; continuously feeding the washed catalytic mud to a continuous pre-polymerization reactor; and pre-polymerizing, in the continuous pre-polymerization reactor, ethylene and at least one C.sub.4 to C.sub.10 α-olefin as comonomer, with the washed catalytic mud, to produce a pre-polymer; wherein an average residence time in the continuous pre-polymerization reactor is more than 90 minutes and less than 240 minutes, a reactor temperature is from 10° C. to 50° C., and a reactor pressure from 20 to 40 kgf/cm.sup.2.

A process for preliminary polymerization may include washing a catalyst mud comprising a supported metallocene catalyst with at least one saturated hydrocarbon at a temperature from 0° C. to 40° C., a pressure from 20 to 40 kgf/cm.sup.2, and a residence time of at least 30 minutes; continuously feeding the washed catalytic mud to a continuous pre-polymerization reactor; and pre-polymerizing, in the continuous pre-polymerization reactor, ethylene and at least one C.sub.4 to C.sub.10 α-olefin as comonomer, with the washed catalytic mud, to produce a pre-polymer; wherein an average residence time in the continuous pre-polymerization reactor is more than 90 minutes and less than 240 minutes, a reactor temperature is from 10° C. to 50° C., and a reactor pressure from 20 to 40 kgf/cm.sup.2.

What is disclosed is a Ziegler-Natta catalyzed ethylene and alpha-olefin LLDPE copolymer having a unique composition distribution and long chain-branching. The polymers of the present invention inherently exhibit outstanding melt strength with great bubble stability, sufficient flexibility, excellent gel performance, as well as desirable mechanical properties such as balanced toughness and stiffness, which are desirable properties for thick gauge film applications. Specifically, the polymers of the present invention.

What is disclosed is a Ziegler-Natta catalyzed ethylene and alpha-olefin LLDPE copolymer having a unique composition distribution and long chain-branching. The polymers of the present invention inherently exhibit outstanding melt strength with great bubble stability, sufficient flexibility, excellent gel performance, as well as desirable mechanical properties such as balanced toughness and stiffness, which are desirable properties for thick gauge film applications. Specifically, the polymers of the present invention.