The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing high-reactivity isobutene homo- or copolymers with a content of terminal vinylidene double bonds per polyisobutene chain end of at least 80 mol %. The present invention further relates to novel isobutene polymers.

An olefin-based copolymer and a method of making the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an olefin-based copolymer has a density (d) of 0.85 to 0.89 g/cc, a melt index (MI), measured at 190° C. and 2.16 kg load, of 15 g/10 min to 100 g/10 min, a number of unsaturated functional groups (total V) per 1,000 carbon atoms of 0.8 or less, a vinylene content, and a vinyl content, wherein the vinylene content, the vinyl content and the total V satisfy (a) vinylene content/total V=0.1 to 0.7 and (b) vinylene content/vinyl content=0.8 to 1.6. The olefin-based copolymer has controlled content and kind of an unsaturated functional group in the olefin-based copolymer and thus, has high flowability, and may show improved physical properties of hardness, flexural strength and tensile strength.

An olefin-based copolymer and a method of making the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an olefin-based copolymer has a density (d) of 0.85 to 0.89 g/cc, a melt index (MI), measured at 190° C. and 2.16 kg load, of 15 g/10 min to 100 g/10 min, a number of unsaturated functional groups (total V) per 1,000 carbon atoms of 0.8 or less, a vinylene content, and a vinyl content, wherein the vinylene content, the vinyl content and the total V satisfy (a) vinylene content/total V=0.1 to 0.7 and (b) vinylene content/vinyl content=0.8 to 1.6. The olefin-based copolymer has controlled content and kind of an unsaturated functional group in the olefin-based copolymer and thus, has high flowability, and may show improved physical properties of hardness, flexural strength and tensile strength.

The present disclosure provides a process. In an embodiment, the process includes contacting ethylene and butene under polymerization conditions at a temperature greater than 125C with a catalyst system. The catalyst system includes (i) a first polymerization catalyst having the structure of Formula (III), (ii) a second polymerization catalyst having the structure of Formula (I), and (iii) a chain shuttling agent. The process includes forming an ethylene/butene multi-block copolymer having LCB/1000C greater than or equal to 0.06. The present disclosure provides the resultant composition produced by the process. In an embodiment, the composition includes an ethylene/butene multi-block copolymer having LCB/1000C greater than or equal to 0.06.

The present disclosure provides a process. In an embodiment, the process includes contacting ethylene and butene under polymerization conditions at a temperature greater than 125C with a catalyst system. The catalyst system includes (i) a first polymerization catalyst having the structure of Formula (III), (ii) a second polymerization catalyst having the structure of Formula (I), and (iii) a chain shuttling agent. The process includes forming an ethylene/butene multi-block copolymer having LCB/1000C greater than or equal to 0.06. The present disclosure provides the resultant composition produced by the process. In an embodiment, the composition includes an ethylene/butene multi-block copolymer having LCB/1000C greater than or equal to 0.06.

A thermoformable film comprises a polyethylene composition. The polyethylene composition comprises a first polyethylene which is an ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 70,000 to 250,000 and a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n of <2.3, a second polyethylene which is an ethylene copolymer or homopolymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 15,000 to 100,000 and a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n of <2.3, and a third polyethylene which is an ethylene copolymer or homopolymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 70,000 to 250,000 and a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n of >2.3, where the first polyethylene has more short chain branching than the second polyethylene or the third polyethylene. The polyethylene composition has a melt flow ratio (I.sub.21/I.sub.2) of ≤50 and an area Dimensional Thermoformability Index (aDTI) at 105° C. of less than 15.

A thermoformable film comprises a polyethylene composition. The polyethylene composition comprises a first polyethylene which is an ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 70,000 to 250,000 and a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n of <2.3, a second polyethylene which is an ethylene copolymer or homopolymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 15,000 to 100,000 and a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n of <2.3, and a third polyethylene which is an ethylene copolymer or homopolymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 70,000 to 250,000 and a molecular weight distribution M.sub.w/M.sub.n of >2.3, where the first polyethylene has more short chain branching than the second polyethylene or the third polyethylene. The polyethylene composition has a melt flow ratio (I.sub.21/I.sub.2) of ≤50 and an area Dimensional Thermoformability Index (aDTI) at 105° C. of less than 15.

A process for making a poly alpha-olefin (PAO) having a relatively high vinylidene content (or combined vinylidene and tri-substituted vinylene content) and a relatively low vinyl and/or di-substituted vinylene content, as well as a relatively low molecular weight. The process includes: contacting a feed containing a C.sub.2-C.sub.32 alpha-olefin with a catalyst system comprising activator and a bis-cyclopentadienyl metallocene compound, typically a cyclopentadienyl-benzindenyl group 4 transition metal compound.

A process for making a poly alpha-olefin (PAO) having a relatively high vinylidene content (or combined vinylidene and tri-substituted vinylene content) and a relatively low vinyl and/or di-substituted vinylene content, as well as a relatively low molecular weight. The process includes: contacting a feed containing a C.sub.2-C.sub.32 alpha-olefin with a catalyst system comprising activator and a bis-cyclopentadienyl metallocene compound, typically a cyclopentadienyl-benzindenyl group 4 transition metal compound.

This invention relates homogeneous (solution) polymerization of propylene at higher temperatures (80° C. or more) using bisindenyl metallocene catalyst compounds having long (at least 4 carbon atoms) linear alkyl groups substituted at the 2-position and substituted or unsubstituted aryl groups at the 4-position.