A method for producing a propylene-based block copolymer produces a propylene-based copolymer that exhibits excellent stereoregularity, rigidity, and impact resistance in a convenient and efficient manner while achieving high polymerization activity. The method for producing a propylene-based block copolymer includes bringing a catalyst into contact with propylene, or propylene and an ?-olefin, and bringing an electron donor compound into contact with the resulting product to produce a propylene-based block copolymer, the catalyst including a solid catalyst component that includes titanium, magnesium, a halogen, and an internal electron donor compound, a specific organoaluminum compound, and a specific external electron donor compound.

A composition comprising (A) from 10 wt % to 90 wt % of a polymeric ethylene ionomer; (B) from 10 wt % to 40 wt % of a propylene component including at least one propylene based polymer having a propylene content of at least 50.0 wt %, based on the total weight of the propylene based polymer, and a melt flow rate from 0.5 g/10 min to 200.0 g/10 min (according to ASTM D-1238 at 230 C/2.16 kg); and (C) from 5 wt % to 20 wt % of a crystalline block composite.

Reactor grade thermoplastic polyolefins with high flowability and excellent surface quality comprising (A) 40-90 wt % of a propylene homo- or copolymer matrix with an MFR in accordance with ISO 1 133 (230 C., 2.16 kg load) of 200 g/10 min and (B) 2-30 wt % of an elastomeric ethylene-propylene copolymer having an intrinsic viscosity IV (according to ISO 1628 with decalin as solvent) of 2.8 dl/g and an ethylene content of >50 to 80 wt % and (C) 8-30 wt % of an elastomeric ethylene-propylene copolymer having an intrinsic viscosity IV (according to ISO 1628 with decalin as solvent) of 3.0-6.5 dl/g and an propylene content of 50 to 80 wt %, the reactor grade thermoplastic polyolefins being obtainable by a multistage polymerization process with at least 3 polymerization steps in the presence of a catalyst system comprising (i) a Ziegler-Natta procatalyst which contains a trans-esterification product of a lower alcohol and a phthalic ester and (ii) an organometallic cocatalyst and (iii) external donor represented by formula (I) Si(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.3(NR.sup.1R.sup.2) wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 can be the same or different a represent a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, as well as the use of these reactor grade thermoplastic polyolefins and molded articles produced from them.

Reactor grade thermoplastic polyolefins with high flowability and excellent surface quality comprising (A) 40-90 wt % of a propylene homo- or copolymer matrix with an MFR in accordance with ISO 1 133 (230 C., 2.16 kg load) of 200 g/10 min and (B) 2-30 wt % of an elastomeric ethylene-propylene copolymer having an intrinsic viscosity IV (according to ISO 1628 with decalin as solvent) of 2.8 dl/g and an ethylene content of >50 to 80 wt % and (C) 8-30 wt % of an elastomeric ethylene-propylene copolymer having an intrinsic viscosity IV (according to ISO 1628 with decalin as solvent) of 3.0-6.5 dl/g and an propylene content of 50 to 80 wt %, the reactor grade thermoplastic polyolefins being obtainable by a multistage polymerization process with at least 3 polymerization steps in the presence of a catalyst system comprising (i) a Ziegler-Natta procatalyst which contains a trans-esterification product of a lower alcohol and a phthalic ester and (ii) an organometallic cocatalyst and (iii) external donor represented by formula (I) Si(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.3(NR.sup.1R.sup.2) wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 can be the same or different a represent a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, as well as the use of these reactor grade thermoplastic polyolefins and molded articles produced from them.

A resin composition according to an aspect of the present invention comprises: an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A); and a block copolymer (B) having a block (b1) that includes a vinyl aromatic monomer unit, and a block (b2) that includes an isobutylene unit, wherein the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) and the block copolymer (B) form a co-continuous phase structure; and a DSC curve obtained following heating the resin composition up to a melting point and cooling at a rate of 50 C./min in a differential scanning calorimetry analysis shows two peaks, with a higher peak top temperature falling within a range of 130 C. or greater and 170 C. or less, and a lower peak top temperature falling within a range of 100 C. or greater and less than 130 C. A resin composition may thus be obtained that is able to give a molded article that is superior in balance between gas barrier properties and flexibility.

A resin composition according to an aspect of the present invention comprises: an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A); and a block copolymer (B) having a block (b1) that includes a vinyl aromatic monomer unit, and a block (b2) that includes an isobutylene unit, wherein the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) and the block copolymer (B) form a co-continuous phase structure; and a DSC curve obtained following heating the resin composition up to a melting point and cooling at a rate of 50 C./min in a differential scanning calorimetry analysis shows two peaks, with a higher peak top temperature falling within a range of 130 C. or greater and 170 C. or less, and a lower peak top temperature falling within a range of 100 C. or greater and less than 130 C. A resin composition may thus be obtained that is able to give a molded article that is superior in balance between gas barrier properties and flexibility.

A thermoplastic vulcanizate composition includes (a) a crystalline thermoplastic polyolefin comprising alpha-olefin monomers having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, (b) a rubber block interpolymer comprising a first block and a second block having differing chemical or physical properties from the first block, the first block is derived from ethylene, a first alpha-olefin monomer having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and a first diene monomer having from 2 to 25 carbon atoms, the second block is derived from ethylene, a second alpha-olefin monomer having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and optionally a second diene monomer having from 2 to 25 carbon atoms, and an amount of the block interpolymer in the composition being greater than an amount of the thermoplastic polyolefin in the composition, and (c) a curative system.

A thermoplastic vulcanizate composition includes (a) a crystalline thermoplastic polyolefin comprising alpha-olefin monomers having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, (b) a rubber block interpolymer comprising a first block and a second block having differing chemical or physical properties from the first block, the first block is derived from ethylene, a first alpha-olefin monomer having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and a first diene monomer having from 2 to 25 carbon atoms, the second block is derived from ethylene, a second alpha-olefin monomer having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and optionally a second diene monomer having from 2 to 25 carbon atoms, and an amount of the block interpolymer in the composition being greater than an amount of the thermoplastic polyolefin in the composition, and (c) a curative system.

Heterocyclic amido transition metal complexes are disclosed for use in alkene polymerization to produce polyolefins, preferably multimodal polyolefins. The heterocyclic amido transition metal complexes are formed by the chelation of a tridentate dianionic heterocyclic amido ligand to a group 3, 4, or 5 transition metal, where the tridentate ligand coordinates to the metal forming a five-membered ring and an eight-membered ring.

A process for preparing a polyethylene composition comprising contacting ethylene with a first salan catalyst precursor and an activator to form branched vinyl/vinylidene-terminated high density polyethylene having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of at least 5,000 g/mole; and contacting the branched vinyl/vinylidene-terminated high density polyethylene with ethylene and a second metallocene catalyst precursor and an activator to form a comb-block HDPE. The polyethylene composition comprises a polyethylene backbone, and one or more branched high density polyethylene combs pendant to the backbone, the combs having an Mn of at least 5,000 g/mole, where the polyethylene has a branching index (g) of less than 0.9.