Catalysts, catalysts systems and methods of polymerizing olefins are provided. The catalyst system may contain two catalysts. Polyolefin polymers are also provided.

The present disclosure provides metallocene catalyst compounds including at least one —Si— containing linker, catalyst systems including such compounds, and uses thereof. Catalyst compounds of the present disclosure can be hafnium-containing compounds having one or more cyclopentadiene ligand(s) substituted with one or more silyl neopentyl groups and linked with at least one —Si-containing linker. In another class of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to polymerization processes to produce polyolefin polymers from catalyst systems including one or more olefin polymerization catalysts, at least one activator, and an optional support.

The present disclosure provides metallocene catalyst compounds including at least one —Si— containing linker, catalyst systems including such compounds, and uses thereof. Catalyst compounds of the present disclosure can be hafnium-containing compounds having one or more cyclopentadiene ligand(s) substituted with one or more silyl neopentyl groups and linked with at least one —Si-containing linker. In another class of embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to polymerization processes to produce polyolefin polymers from catalyst systems including one or more olefin polymerization catalysts, at least one activator, and an optional support.

Processes of synthesizing long-chain branched polymers. The processes include contacting together one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.14 alkene monomers, at least one diene, optionally a solvent, and a multi-chain catalyst optionally in the presence of hydrogen, wherein the multi-chain catalyst comprises a plurality of polymerization sites; producing at least two polymer chains of the C.sub.2-C.sub.14 alkene monomers, each polymer chain polymerizing at one of the polymerization sites; synthesizing the long-chain branched polymers by connecting the two polymer chains with the diene, the joining of the two polymer chains being performed in a concerted manner during the polymerization; and producing tri-functional long chain branches from the diene, wherein the tri-functional long chain branches occur at a frequency of at least 0.03 per 1000 carbon atoms. The diene has a structure according to formula (I):

Processes of synthesizing long-chain branched polymers. The processes include contacting together one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.14 alkene monomers, at least one diene, optionally a solvent, and a multi-chain catalyst optionally in the presence of hydrogen, wherein the multi-chain catalyst comprises a plurality of polymerization sites; producing at least two polymer chains of the C.sub.2-C.sub.14 alkene monomers, each polymer chain polymerizing at one of the polymerization sites; synthesizing the long-chain branched polymers by connecting the two polymer chains with the diene, the joining of the two polymer chains being performed in a concerted manner during the polymerization; and producing tri-functional long chain branches from the diene, wherein the tri-functional long chain branches occur at a frequency of at least 0.03 per 1000 carbon atoms. The diene has a structure according to formula (I):

This invention relates to a polyethylene composition, and films therefrom, comprising at least 65 wt % ethylene derived units and from 0.1 to 35 wt % of C.sub.3-C.sub.12 olefin comonomer derived units, where the polyethylene composition has: a) an RCI,m of less than 85 kg/mol; b) a Tw.sub.1−Tw.sub.2 value of from −15 to −40° C.; and c) an Mw.sub.1/Mw.sub.2 value of less than 1.5 where the film has a) a heat seal initiation temperature of X ° C. or less at 5 N of force, where X=0.0015×Y(psi)+62.6 (where Y is the average 1% Secant modulus ((MD+TD)/2)) of the film; b) a dart drop impact of 300 g/mil or more; c) an MD Elmendorf tear of 230 g or more; and d) average 1% Secant modulus ((MD+TD)/2) of 20,000 psi or more.

This invention relates to a polyethylene composition, and films therefrom, comprising at least 65 wt % ethylene derived units and from 0.1 to 35 wt % of C.sub.3-C.sub.12 olefin comonomer derived units, where the polyethylene composition has: a) an RCI,m of less than 85 kg/mol; b) a Tw.sub.1−Tw.sub.2 value of from −15 to −40° C.; and c) an Mw.sub.1/Mw.sub.2 value of less than 1.5 where the film has a) a heat seal initiation temperature of X ° C. or less at 5 N of force, where X=0.0015×Y(psi)+62.6 (where Y is the average 1% Secant modulus ((MD+TD)/2)) of the film; b) a dart drop impact of 300 g/mil or more; c) an MD Elmendorf tear of 230 g or more; and d) average 1% Secant modulus ((MD+TD)/2) of 20,000 psi or more.

A polyethylene composition for producing blow-molded hollow articles, having the following features:

1) a density from 0.945 to 0.958 g/cm.sup.3, determined according to ISO 1183 at 23° C.;
2) a ratio MIF/MI10 from 2 to 10;
3) a η.sub.0.02 from 200,000 to 800,000 Pa.Math.s;
4) a LCBI equal to or lower than 0.80; and
5) a ratio (η.sub.0.02/1000)/LCBI equal to or greater than 350.

A polyethylene composition for producing blow-molded hollow articles, having the following features:

1) a density from 0.945 to 0.958 g/cm.sup.3, determined according to ISO 1183 at 23° C.;
2) a ratio MIF/MI10 from 2 to 10;
3) a η.sub.0.02 from 200,000 to 800,000 Pa.Math.s;
4) a LCBI equal to or lower than 0.80; and
5) a ratio (η.sub.0.02/1000)/LCBI equal to or greater than 350.

A polyethylene composition having from about 0.5 to about 20 wt % of alpha-olefin derived units other than ethyl-ene-derived units, with the balance including ethylene-derived units, total internal unsaturations (Vy1+Vy2+T1) of from about 0.15 to about 0.40 per 1000 carbon atoms, an MI of from about 0.1 to about 6 g/10 min, an HLM1 of from about 5.0 to about 40 g/10 min, a density of from about 0.890 to about 0.940 g/ml, a Tw.sub.1-Tw.sub.2 value of from about −50 to about −23° C., an Mw.sub.1/Mw.sub.2 value of from about 2.0 to about 3.5, an Mw/Mn of from about 4.5 to about 12, an Mz/Mw of from about 2.5 to about 3.0, an Mz/Mn of from about 15 to about 25, and a g′.sub.(vis) greater than 0.90.