Provided herein are metallocene-catalyzed polymer compositions that exhibit advantageous rheological properties, at least some of which are consistent with long-chain branching, as well as polymerization processes suitable for forming such polymer compositions. The polymer compositions may have both LCB index measured at 125° C. of less than 5; and phase angle δ at complex shear modulus G*=100,000 Pa of less than about 54.5°, as determined at 125° C. The polymer compositions of particular embodiments are reactor blends, preferably of ethylene copolymers (e.g., ethylene-propylene (EP) copolymers and/or ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) terpolymers). The reactor blend may include first and second copolymer components, which may differ in monomer content and weight-average molecular weight (Mw).

Provided herein are metallocene-catalyzed polymer compositions that exhibit advantageous rheological properties, at least some of which are consistent with long-chain branching, as well as polymerization processes suitable for forming such polymer compositions. The polymer compositions may have both LCB index measured at 125° C. of less than 5; and phase angle δ at complex shear modulus G*=100,000 Pa of less than about 54.5°, as determined at 125° C. The polymer compositions of particular embodiments are reactor blends, preferably of ethylene copolymers (e.g., ethylene-propylene (EP) copolymers and/or ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) terpolymers). The reactor blend may include first and second copolymer components, which may differ in monomer content and weight-average molecular weight (Mw).

This disclosure relates to ethylene interpolymer compositions and films prepared therefrom. Specifically: ethylene interpolymer products having: a dimensionless Long Chain Branching Factor, LCBF, greater than or equal to 0.001; a residual catalytic metal of from ≥0.03 to ≤5 ppm of hafnium, and; a dimensionless unsaturation ratio, UR, of from ≥−0.40 to ≤0.06, wherein UR is defined by the following relationship; UR=(SC.sup.U−T.sup.U)/T.sup.U, where SC.sup.U is the amount of a side chain unsaturation per 100 carbons and T.sup.U is amount of a terminal unsaturation per 100 carbons, in said ethylene interpolymer product. 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 (M.sub.w/M.sub.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 Long Chain Branching Factor, LCBF, greater than or equal to 0.001; a residual catalytic metal of from ≥0.03 to ≤5 ppm of hafnium, and; a dimensionless unsaturation ratio, UR, of from ≥−0.40 to ≤0.06, wherein UR is defined by the following relationship; UR=(SC.sup.U−T.sup.U)/T.sup.U, where SC.sup.U is the amount of a side chain unsaturation per 100 carbons and T.sup.U is amount of a terminal unsaturation per 100 carbons, in said ethylene interpolymer product. 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 (M.sub.w/M.sub.n) from about 1.7 to about 25 and a Composition Distribution Breadth Index (CDBI.sub.50) from about 1% to about 98%.

A terpolymer compositions made from or containing: A) From 80 wt % to 97 wt %; of a first propylene, ethylene, 1-butene terpolymer having: i) the content of ethylene derived units ranging from 0.5 wt % to 3.2 wt %; ii) the content of 1-butene derived units ranging from 7.2 wt % to 14.8 wt %; and B) From 20 wt % to 3 wt %; of a second propylene, ethylene, 1-butene terpolymer having: i) the content of ethylene derived units ranging from 0.5 wt % to 3.2 wt %; ii) the content of 1-butene derived units ranging from 14.4 wt % to 26.5 wt %; and the terpolymer composition having the melt flow rate, MFR, measured according to ISO 1133 at 230° C. with a load of 2.16 kg, ranging from 3.0 g/10 min to 20.0 g/10 min; the sum of the amounts of A) and B) being 100 wt %.

A terpolymer compositions made from or containing: A) From 80 wt % to 97 wt %; of a first propylene, ethylene, 1-butene terpolymer having: i) the content of ethylene derived units ranging from 0.5 wt % to 3.2 wt %; ii) the content of 1-butene derived units ranging from 7.2 wt % to 14.8 wt %; and B) From 20 wt % to 3 wt %; of a second propylene, ethylene, 1-butene terpolymer having: i) the content of ethylene derived units ranging from 0.5 wt % to 3.2 wt %; ii) the content of 1-butene derived units ranging from 14.4 wt % to 26.5 wt %; and the terpolymer composition having the melt flow rate, MFR, measured according to ISO 1133 at 230° C. with a load of 2.16 kg, ranging from 3.0 g/10 min to 20.0 g/10 min; the sum of the amounts of A) and B) being 100 wt %.

A method of determining multimodal polyethylene quality comprising the steps of (a) providing a multimodal polyethylene resin sample; (b) determining, in any sequence, the following: that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a melt index within 30% of a target melt index; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a density within 2.5% of a target density; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a dynamic viscosity deviation (% MVD) from a target dynamic viscosity of less than about 100%; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) deviation (% M.sub.wD) from a target M.sub.w of less than about 20%; and that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a gel permeation chromatography (GPC) curve profile deviation (% GPCD) from a target GPC curve profile of less than about 15%; and (c) responsive to step (b), designating the multimodal polyethylene resin sample as a high quality resin.

A method of determining multimodal polyethylene quality comprising the steps of (a) providing a multimodal polyethylene resin sample; (b) determining, in any sequence, the following: that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a melt index within 30% of a target melt index; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a density within 2.5% of a target density; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a dynamic viscosity deviation (% MVD) from a target dynamic viscosity of less than about 100%; that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) deviation (% M.sub.wD) from a target M.sub.w of less than about 20%; and that the multimodal polyethylene resin sample has a gel permeation chromatography (GPC) curve profile deviation (% GPCD) from a target GPC curve profile of less than about 15%; and (c) responsive to step (b), designating the multimodal polyethylene resin sample as a high quality resin.

A heterophasic copolymer composition obtained by a process comprising polymerising in multiple steps and multiple polymerisation reactors propylene monomer and a comonomer selected from ethylene, alpha-olefins having 4 to 10 carbon atoms and their mixtures, in the presence of an olefin polymerisation catalyst comprising a solid catalyst component and a co-catalyst, wherein the solid catalyst component comprises titanium, magnesium, halogen and an internal donor of the formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different being a linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl group and R is hydrogen or a linear, branched or cyclic C.sub.1 to C.sub.12-alkyl.

A heterophasic copolymer composition obtained by a process comprising polymerising in multiple steps and multiple polymerisation reactors propylene monomer and a comonomer selected from ethylene, alpha-olefins having 4 to 10 carbon atoms and their mixtures, in the presence of an olefin polymerisation catalyst comprising a solid catalyst component and a co-catalyst, wherein the solid catalyst component comprises titanium, magnesium, halogen and an internal donor of the formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different being a linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.12-alkyl group and R is hydrogen or a linear, branched or cyclic C.sub.1 to C.sub.12-alkyl.