A bimodal poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer comprising a higher molecular weight poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer component and a lower molecular weight poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer component. The copolymer is characterized by a unique combination of features comprising, or reflected in, its density; molecular weight distributions; component weight fraction amount; viscoelastic properties; and environmental stress-cracking resistance. Additional inventive embodiments include a method of making the copolymer, a formulation comprising the copolymer and at least one additive that is different than the copolymer, a method of making a manufactured article from the copolymer or formulation; the manufactured article made thereby, and use of the manufactured article.

A dual reactor solution process gives high density polyethylene compositions containing a first ethylene copolymer and a second ethylene copolymer and which have good processability, stiffness, and environmental stress crack resistance. The polyethylene compositions are suitable for compression molding or injection molding applications and are particularly useful in the manufacture of caps and closures for bottles.

A dual reactor solution process gives high density polyethylene compositions containing a first ethylene copolymer and a second ethylene copolymer and which have good processability, stiffness, and environmental stress crack resistance. The polyethylene compositions are suitable for compression molding or injection molding applications and are particularly useful in the manufacture of caps and closures for bottles.

A bimodal poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer comprising a higher molecular weight poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer component and a lower molecular weight poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer component. The copolymer is characterized by a unique combination of features comprising, or reflected in, its density; molecular weight distributions; component weight fraction amount; and viscoelastic properties; and at least one of environmental stress-cracking resistance and resin swell. Additional inventive embodiments include a method of making the copolymer, a formulation comprising the copolymer and at least one additive that is different than the copolymer, a method of making a manufactured article from the copolymer or formulation; the manufactured article made thereby, and use of the manufactured article.

A bimodal poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer comprising a higher molecular weight poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer component and a lower molecular weight poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer component. The copolymer is characterized by a unique combination of features comprising, or reflected in, its density; molecular weight distributions; component weight fraction amount; and viscoelastic properties; and at least one of environmental stress-cracking resistance and resin swell. Additional inventive embodiments include a method of making the copolymer, a formulation comprising the copolymer and at least one additive that is different than the copolymer, a method of making a manufactured article from the copolymer or formulation; the manufactured article made thereby, and use of the manufactured article.

A Ziegler-Natta catalyzed ethylene/alpha-olefins copolymer is provided having sporadic long chain branches and reversed comonomer composition distribution or short chain branching distribution (SCBD) in the high molecular weight fractions. According to the invention, polyethylene film made with the inventive copolymer has a balance of improved physical, optical, mechanical properties as well as processability. In one aspect, the film includes a 1% secant modulus of greater than 25,000 psi, a film haze of less than 10, a film clarity of greater than 90, a dart impart resistance of greater than 500 g/mil, and a MD tear strength of greater than 500 g/mil.

Catalyst systems and methods for making and using the same. A method of polymerizing olefins to produce a polyolefin polymer with a multimodal composition distribution, includes contacting ethylene and a comonomer with a catalyst system. The catalyst system includes a first catalyst compound and a second catalyst compound that are co-supported to form a commonly supported catalyst system. The first catalyst compound includes a compound with the general formula (C.sub.5H.sub.aR.sup.1.sub.b)(C.sub.5H.sub.cR.sup.2.sub.d)HfX.sub.2. The second catalyst compound comprises the following formula:

##STR00001##

wherein each R.sup.3 or R.sup.4 is independently H, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, or a heteroatom group, wherein each R.sup.3 or R.sup.4 may be the same or different, and each X is independently a leaving group selected from a labile hydrocarbyl, a substituted hydrocarbyl, a heteroatom group, or a divalent radical that links to an R.sup.3 group.

Ethylene-based polymers are characterized by a melt index less than 1 g/10 min, a density from 0.94 to 0.965 g/cm.sup.3, a Mw from 100,000 to 250,000 g/mol, a relaxation time from 0.5 to 3 sec, and an average number of long chain branches (LCBs) per 1,000,000 total carbon atoms in a molecular weight range of 300,000 to 900,000 g/mol that is greater than that in a molecular weight range of 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 g/mol, or an average number of LCBs per 1,000,000 total carbon atoms in a molecular weight range of 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 g/mol of less than or equal to about 5 and a maximum ratio of η.sub.E/3η at an extensional rate of 0.1 sec.sup.−1 from 1.2 to 10. These polymers have substantially no long chain branching in the high molecular weight fraction of the polymer, but instead have significant long chain branching in a lower molecular weight fraction, such that polymer melt strength and parison stability are maintained for the fabrication of blow molded products and other articles of manufacture. These ethylene polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing a single or two atom bridged metallocene compound with two indenyl groups, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group and a cyclopentadienyl group.

Ethylene-based polymers are characterized by a melt index less than 1 g/10 min, a density from 0.94 to 0.965 g/cm.sup.3, a Mw from 100,000 to 250,000 g/mol, a relaxation time from 0.5 to 3 sec, and an average number of long chain branches (LCBs) per 1,000,000 total carbon atoms in a molecular weight range of 300,000 to 900,000 g/mol that is greater than that in a molecular weight range of 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 g/mol, or an average number of LCBs per 1,000,000 total carbon atoms in a molecular weight range of 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 g/mol of less than or equal to about 5 and a maximum ratio of η.sub.E/3η at an extensional rate of 0.1 sec.sup.−1 from 1.2 to 10. These polymers have substantially no long chain branching in the high molecular weight fraction of the polymer, but instead have significant long chain branching in a lower molecular weight fraction, such that polymer melt strength and parison stability are maintained for the fabrication of blow molded products and other articles of manufacture. These ethylene polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing a single or two atom bridged metallocene compound with two indenyl groups, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group and a cyclopentadienyl group.

An ethylene-based polymer composition includes units derived from ethylene, units derived from a comonomer, and an optionally units derived from a termonomer. The comonomer is a monocyclic organosiloxane (MOCOS) of formula (I) [R.sup.1, R.sup.2SiO.sub.2/2].sub.n wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 3, each R.sup.1 is independently a (C.sub.2-C.sub.4) alkenyl or a H.sub.2C═C(R.sup.1a)—C(═O)—O—(CH.sub.2).sub.m— wherein R.sup.1a is H or methyl, m is an integer from 1 to 4, and each R.sup.2 is independently H, (C.sub.1-C.sub.4) alkyl, phenyl, or R.sup.1.