Propylene homo- or copolymer composition comprising an in-situ reactor blend of a Ziegler-Natta catalysed, nucleated polypropylene (znPP) and a metallocene catalysed polypropylene (mcPP), in a weight ratio in the range of 6:94 to 50:50 (wt % znPP:wt % mcPP), preferably in the range of 10:90 to 44:56 (wt % znPP:wt % mcPP), having an excellent balance between optical properties, mechanical properties, thermal properties and processing properties; a process for its production and the use of a mixture of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system and a metallocene catalyst system.

The present disclosure provides copolymers comprising from about 0.5 wt % to about 25 wt % cyclic olefin content and films comprising the copolymers. In one embodiment, a copolymer includes a C.sub.2-C.sub.40 monomer content of from about 75 wt % to about 99.5 wt %; and a C.sub.5-C.sub.40 cyclic olefin comonomer content of from about 0.5 wt % to about 25 wt %. The copolymer has a density of about 0.91 g/cm.sup.3 to about 0.933 g/cm.sup.3. Films of the present disclosure can have advantageous mechanical properties (such as melt strength) and optical properties (such as haze %).

A method may include polymerizing ethylene in a tubular reactor, where the polymerization is substantially free of a chain transfer agent. A method may include polymerizing ethylene in a tubular reactor, the ethylene having a specific delivery pressure and the polymerization having one or more specific peak temperatures. The molecular weight of the resulting polyethylene may be controlled by the selection of the delivery pressure and the one or more peak temperatures.

A method may include polymerizing ethylene in a tubular reactor, where the polymerization is substantially free of a chain transfer agent. A method may include polymerizing ethylene in a tubular reactor, the ethylene having a specific delivery pressure and the polymerization having one or more specific peak temperatures. The molecular weight of the resulting polyethylene may be controlled by the selection of the delivery pressure and the one or more peak temperatures.

The present invention relates to a polyethylene resin prepared using a continuous process having and at least one metallocene catalyst composition:

a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n lower than 6.5;

a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n of at least 3.5;

a melt index ranging from an HLMI of at least 1.20 g/10 min to an MI.sub.2 of at most 6.0 g/10 min wherein MI.sub.2 is determined according to ISO 1133:1997 at a temperature of 190° C. and under a load of 2.16 kg, and HLMI is determined according to ISO 1133:1997, at a temperature of 190° C. and under a load of 21.6 kg;

melt index ratio HLMI/MI.sub.2 below or equal to 30; and

a melt strength of X in Newtons, as determined by Göttfert Rheotens Melt Strength Apparatus, 190° C., as described in the Experimental section, satisfying the following equations (1) and/or (2)

X is greater than −0.026 ln(MI.sub.2)+0.0498   (1)

X is greater than −0.026 ln(HLMI)+0.1334   (2)

with M.sub.w being the weight-average molecular weight and M.sub.n being the number-average molecular weight.

The present invention also relates to articles comprising said polyethylene resin as well as process for preparing said resin.

The present invention relates to a polyethylene resin prepared using a continuous process having and at least one metallocene catalyst composition:

a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n lower than 6.5;

a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n of at least 3.5;

a melt index ranging from an HLMI of at least 1.20 g/10 min to an MI.sub.2 of at most 6.0 g/10 min wherein MI.sub.2 is determined according to ISO 1133:1997 at a temperature of 190° C. and under a load of 2.16 kg, and HLMI is determined according to ISO 1133:1997, at a temperature of 190° C. and under a load of 21.6 kg;

melt index ratio HLMI/MI.sub.2 below or equal to 30; and

a melt strength of X in Newtons, as determined by Göttfert Rheotens Melt Strength Apparatus, 190° C., as described in the Experimental section, satisfying the following equations (1) and/or (2)

X is greater than −0.026 ln(MI.sub.2)+0.0498   (1)

X is greater than −0.026 ln(HLMI)+0.1334   (2)

with M.sub.w being the weight-average molecular weight and M.sub.n being the number-average molecular weight.

The present invention also relates to articles comprising said polyethylene resin as well as process for preparing said resin.

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.

A bimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer composition consisting of a higher molecular weight component and a lower molecular weight component and, when in melted form at 190 degrees Celsius, is characterized by a melt property performance defined by a combination of melt index (5 kg), melt strength, and, optionally, shear thinning properties, and, when in solid form, is characterized by a slow crack growth property performance defined by a combination of strain hardening modulus and accelerated full-notch creep test performance. A pipe consisting of the bimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer composition. A method of synthesizing the bimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer composition. A method of making the pipe. A manufactured article, which is not a pipe, comprising the bimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer composition.

A bimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer composition consisting of a higher molecular weight component and a lower molecular weight component and, when in melted form at 190 degrees Celsius, is characterized by a melt property performance defined by a combination of melt index (5 kg), melt strength, and, optionally, shear thinning properties, and, when in solid form, is characterized by a slow crack growth property performance defined by a combination of strain hardening modulus and accelerated full-notch creep test performance. A pipe consisting of the bimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer composition. A method of synthesizing the bimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer composition. A method of making the pipe. A manufactured article, which is not a pipe, comprising the bimodal ethylene-co-1-hexene copolymer composition.