Scratch resistance polypropylene at high flow

Abstract

Injection molded article comprising at least 60 wt.-% of a heterophasic propylene copolymer, said polymer comprises a matrix being a polypropylene, said polypropylene comprises at least three polypropylene fractions, the three polypropylene fractions differ from each other by the melt flow rate and at least one of the three polypropylene fractions has a melt flow rate in the range of 1.0 to 20.0 g/10 min, and an elastomeric propylene copolymer dispersed in said matrix, wherein said heterophasic propylene copolymer has a melt flow rate of equal or more than 20.0 g/10 min and the amorphous phase of the xylene cold soluble fraction of the heterophasic propylene copolymer has an intrinsic viscosity of equal or higher than 2.0 dl/g.

Claims

1. An injection molded article comprising at least 60 wt.-% of a heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) based on the total weight of the injection molded article, said heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) comprising: (a) a matrix (M) being a polypropylene (PP), said polypropylene (PP) comprises at least three polypropylene homopolymer fractions (PP1), (PP2) and (PP3), the three polypropylene homopolymer fractions (PP1), (PP2) and (PP3) differ from each other by the melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) measured according to ISO 1133, and (b) an elastomeric propylene copolymer (EC) dispersed in said matrix (M), wherein (i) said heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) has a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) measured according to ISO 1133 of equal or more than 20.0 g/10 min, and a tensile modulus of at least 1500 MPa according to ISO 527-2, (ii) the amorphous phase (AM) of the xylene cold soluble fraction (XCS) of the heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) has an intrinsic viscosity (IV) measured according to ISO 1628-1 (at 135 C. in decaline) of equal or higher than 2.0 dl/g, (iii) the third polypropylene homopolymer fraction (PP3) has a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 measured at 230 C. according to ISO 1133 in the range of 2.0 to 18 g/10 min, being the polyproypylene fraction with the lowest melt flow rate of the three polypropylene homopolymer fractions (PP1), (PP2) and (PP3), and (iv) the injection molded article is a housing having a wall thickness in the range of 0.5 to 5 mm; and wherein (1) the first polypropylene fraction (PP1) has a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 measured at 230 C. according to ISO 1133 in the range of 200 to 450 g/10 min; (2) the second polypropylene fraction (PP2) has a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 measured at 230 C. according to ISO 1133 in the range of 40 to 200 g/10 min (3) the heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) comprises 3a) 80.0 to 94.0 wt.-% of the polypropylene (PP), and 3b) 6.0 to 20.0 wt.-% of the elastomeric propylene copolymer (EC), based on the total amount of the polypropylene (PP) and the elastomeric propylene copolymer (EC); and (4) the polypropylene PP comprises 4a) 20.0 to 65.0 wt.-% of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1), 4b) 20.0 to 50.0 wt.-% of the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), and 4c) 15.0 to 60.0 wt.-% of the third polypropylene fraction (PP3), based on the total amount of the first polypropylene (PP1), the second polypropylene (PP2), and the third polypropylene (PP3).

2. The injection molded article according to claim 1, wherein the polypropylene (PP) of the heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) has (a) a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) measured according to ISO 1133 in the range of 30.0 to 500.0 g/10 min, and/or (b) a molecular weight distribution (MWD) of equal or less than 8.0.

3. The injection molded article according to claim 1, wherein the polypropylene (PP) of the heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) has (a) a comonomer content equal or below 1.0 wt.-%, and/or (b) a xylene cold soluble (XCS) fraction measured according to ISO 6427 (23 C.) of equal or below 3.5 wt.-%.

4. The injection molded article according to claim 1, wherein each of the three polypropylene homopolymer fractions (PP1), (PP2) and (PP3) has a xylene cold soluble (XCS) content of equal or below 4.0 wt.-%.

5. The injection molded article according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio [PP3/PP1] of the polypropylene fraction having a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) measured according to ISO 1133 in the range of 1.0 to 20.0 g/10 min and the polypropylene fraction having a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) measured according to ISO 1133 in the range of 150.0 to 500.0 g/10 min is in the range of 15/85 to 75/25.

6. The injection molded article according to claim 1, wherein (a) the comonomers of the elastomeric propylene copolymer (EC) are ethylene and/or at least one C.sub.4 to C.sub.10 -olefin, and/or (b) the amorphous phase (AM) of the xylene cold soluble fraction (XCS) of the heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) has a comonomer content of below 45.0 wt.-%.

7. The injection molded article according to claim 1, wherein the heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) has (a) a comonomer content equal or below 10.0 wt.-%, and/or (b) a xylene cold soluble (XCS) fraction measured according to ISO6427 (23 C.) of equal or below 20.0 wt-%, and/or (c) hexane solubles measured according to FDA of below 3.6 wt.-%, and/or (d) a heat resistance measured according to Vicat B of more than 78 C.

8. The injection molded article according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the elastomeric propylene copolymer (EC) corresponds to the amount of the amorphous fraction (AM) of the xylene cold soluble (XCS) fraction.

9. The injection molded article according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio [PP3/PP1] of the third polypropylene homopolymer fraction (PP3) and the first polypropylene homopolymer fraction (PP1) is in the range of 15/85 to 75/25.

10. An injection molded article comprising heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) to improve the scratch visibility of injection molded articles, said heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) comprising: (a) a matrix (M) being a polypropylene (PP), said polypropylene (PP) comprises at least three polypropylene homopolymer fractions (PP1), (PP2) and (PP3), the three polypropylene homopolymer fractions (PP1), (PP2) and (PP3) differ from each other by the melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) measured according to ISO 1133, and (b) an elastomeric propylene copolymer (EC) dispersed in said matrix (M), wherein (i) said heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) has a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) measured according to ISO 1133 of equal or more than 20.0 g/10 min, and a tensile modulus of at least 1500 MPa according to ISO 527-2, (ii) the amorphous phase (AM) of the xylene cold soluble fraction (XCS) of the heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) has an intrinsic viscosity (IV) measured according to ISO 1628-1 (at 135 C. in decaline) of equal or higher than 2.0 dl/g, (iii) the third polypropylene homopolymer fraction (PP3) has a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 measured at 230 C. according to ISO 1133 in the range of 2.0 to 18 g/10 min, being the polyproypylene fraction with the lowest melt flow rate of the three polypropylene homopolymer fractions (PP1), (PP2) and (PP3), and (iv) the injection molded article is a housing having a wall thickness in the range of 0.5 to 5 mm, wherein (1) the first polypropylene fraction (PP1) has a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 measured at 230 C. according to ISO 1133 in the range of 150.0 to 200 to 450 g/10 min; (2) the second polypropylene fraction (PP2) has a melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 measured at 230 C. according to ISO 1133 in the range of 40 to 200 g/10 min (3) the heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) comprises 3a) 80.0 to 94.0 wt.-% of the polypropylene (PP), and 3b) 6.0 to 20.0 wt.-% of the elastomeric propylene copolymer (EC), based on the total amount of the polypropylene (PP) and the elastomeric propylene copolymer (EC); and (4) the polypropylene PP comprises 4a) 20.0 to 65.0 wt.-% of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1), 4b) 20.0 to 50.0 wt.-% of the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), and 4c) 15.0 to 60.0 wt.-% of the third polypropylene fraction (PP3), based on the total amount of the first polypropylene (PP1), the second polypropylene (PP2), and the third polypropylene (PP3) and wherein the scratch visibility is measured on moulded plaques of 150*80*2 mm.sup.3 having a high-gloss surface on which scratches were applied at a force of 10 N, the scratch visibility is reported as the difference of the luminance L of the unscratched from the scratched areas.

11. The injection molded article according to claim 10, wherein the injection molded articles comprise at least 60 wt.-% of the heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO) based on the total weight of the injection molded article.

Description

EXAMPLES

A. Measuring Methods

(1) The following definitions of terms and determination methods apply for the above general description of the invention as well as to the below examples unless otherwise defined. Calculation of comonomer content of the second polypropylene fraction (PP2):

(2) $\frac{C\left(R2\right)-w\left(\mathrm{PP}1\right)C\left(\mathrm{PP}1\right)}{w\left(\mathrm{PP}2\right)}=C\left(\mathrm{PP}2\right)$
wherein w(PP1) is the weight fraction of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1), i.e. the product of the first reactor (R1), w(PP2) is the weight fraction of the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), i.e. of the polymer produced in the second reactor (R2), C(PP1) is the comonomer content [in wt.-%] of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1), i.e. of the product of the first reactor (R1), C(R2) is the comonomer content [in wt.-%] of the product obtained in the second reactor (R2), i.e. the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1) and the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), C(PP2) is the calculated comonomer content [in wt.-%] of the second polypropylene (PP2).

(3) Calculation of the xylene cold soluble (XCS) content of the second polypropylene fraction (PP2):

(4) $\frac{\mathrm{XS}\left(R2\right)-w\left(\mathrm{PP}1\right)\mathrm{XS}\left(\mathrm{PP}1\right)}{w\left(\mathrm{PP}2\right)}=\mathrm{XS}\left(\mathrm{PP}2\right)$
wherein w(PP1) is the weight fraction of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1), i.e. the product of the first reactor (R1), w(PP2) is the weight fraction of the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), i.e. of the polymer produced in the second reactor (R2), XS (PP1) is the xylene cold soluble (XCS) content [in wt.-%] of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1), i.e. of the product of the first reactor (R1), XS(R2) is the xylene cold soluble (XCS) content [in wt.-%] of the product obtained in the second reactor (R2), i.e. the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1) and the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), XS(PP2) is the calculated xylene cold soluble (XCS) content [in wt.-%] of the second polypropylene fraction (PP2).

(5) Calculation of melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) of the second polypropylene fraction (PP2):

(6) $\mathrm{MFR}\left(\mathrm{PP}2\right)={10}^{\left[\frac{\log \left(\mathrm{MFR}\left(R2\right)\right)-w\left(\mathrm{PP}1\right)\log \left(\mathrm{MFR}\left(\mathrm{PP}1\right)\right)}{w\left(\mathrm{PP}2\right)}\right]}$
wherein w(PP1) is the weight fraction of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1), i.e. the product of the first reactor (R1), w(PP2) is the weight fraction of the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), i.e. of the polymer produced in the second reactor (R2), MFR(PP1) is the melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) [in g/10 min] of the first polypropylene fraction (PP 1), i.e. of the product of the first reactor (R1), MFR(R2) is the melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) [in g/10 min] of the product obtained in the second reactor (R2), i.e. the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1) and the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), MFR(PP2) is the calculated melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) [in g/10 min] of the second polypropylene fraction (PP2).
Calculation of comonomer content of the third polypropylene fraction (PP3):

(7) $\frac{C\left(R3\right)-w(R2)C\left(R2\right)}{w\left(\mathrm{PP}3\right)}=C\left(\mathrm{PP}3\right)$
wherein w(R2) is the weight fraction of the second reactor (R2), i.e. the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1) and the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), w(PP3) is the weight fraction of the third polypropylene fraction (PP3), i.e. of the polymer produced in the third reactor (R3), C(R2) is the comonomer content [in wt.-%] of the product of the second reactor (R2), i.e. of the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1) and second polypropylene fraction (PP2), C(R3) is the comonomer content [in wt.-%] of the product obtained in the third reactor (R3), i.e. the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1), the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), and the third polypropylene fraction (PP3), C(PP3) is the calculated comonomer content [in wt.-%] of the third polypropylene fraction (PP3).

(8) Calculation of xylene cold soluble (XCS) content of the third polypropylene fraction (PP3):

(9) $\frac{\mathrm{XS}\left(R3\right)-w\left(R2\right)\mathrm{XS}\left(R2\right)}{w\left(\mathrm{PP}3\right)}=\mathrm{XS}\left(\mathrm{PP}3\right)$
wherein w(R2) is the weight fraction of the second reactor (R2), i.e. the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1) and the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), w(PP3) is the weight fraction of the third polypropylene fraction (PP3), i.e. of the polymer produced in the third reactor (R3), XS(R2) is the xylene cold soluble (XCS) content [in wt.-%] of the product of the second reactor (R2), i.e. of the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1) and second polypropylene fraction (PP2), XS(R3) is the xylene cold soluble (XCS) content [in wt.-%] of the product obtained in the third reactor (R3), i.e. the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1), the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), and the third polypropylene fraction (PP3), XS(PP3) is the calculated xylene cold soluble (XCS) content [in wt.-%] of the third polypropylene fraction (PP3).

(10) Calculation of melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) of the third polypropylene fraction (PP3):

(11) $\mathrm{MFR}\left(\mathrm{PP}3\right)={10}^{\left[\frac{\log \left(\mathrm{MFR}\left(R3\right)\right)-w\left(R2\right)\log \left(\mathrm{MFR}\left(R2\right)\right)}{w\left(\mathrm{PP}3\right)}\right]}$
wherein w(R2) is the weight fraction of the second reactor (R2), i.e. the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1) and the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), w(PP3) is the weight fraction of the third polypropylene fraction (PP3), i.e. of the polymer produced in the third reactor (R3), MFR(R2) is the melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) [in g/10 min] of the product of the second reactor (R2), i.e. of the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1) and second polypropylene fraction (PP2), MFR(R3) is the melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) [in g/10 min] of the product obtained in the third reactor (R3), i.e. the mixture of the first polypropylene fraction (PP1), the second polypropylene fraction (PP2), and the third polypropylene fraction (PP3), MFR(PP3) is the calculated melt flow rate MFR.sub.2 (230 C.) [in g/10 min] of the third polypropylene fraction (PP3).
NMR-Spectroscopy Measurements:

(12) The .sup.13C-NMR spectra of polypropylenes were recorded on Bruker 400 MHz spectrometer at 130 C. from samples dissolved in 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene/benzene-d6 (90/10 w/w). For the pentad analysis the assignment is done according to the methods described in literature: (T. Hayashi, Y. Inoue, R. Chj, and T. Asakura, Polymer 29 138-43 (1988). and Chujo R, et al, Polymer 35 339 (1994).

(13) The NMR-measurement was used for determining the mmmm pentad concentration in a manner well known in the art.

(14) Number average molecular weight (M.sub.n), weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) and molecular weight distribution (MWD) are determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) according to the following method:

(15) The weight average molecular weight Mw and the molecular weight distribution (MWD=Mw/Mn wherein Mn is the number average molecular weight and Mw is the weight average molecular weight) is measured by a method based on ISO 16014-1:2003 and ISO 16014-4:2003. A Waters Alliance GPCV 2000 instrument, equipped with refractive index detector and online viscosimeter was used with 3TSK-gel columns (GMHXL-HT) from TosoHaas and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB, stabilized with 200 mg/L 2,6-Di tert butyl-4-methyl-phenol) as solvent at 145 C. and at a constant flow rate of 1 mL/min 216.5 L of sample solution were injected per analysis. The column set was calibrated using relative calibration with 19 narrow MWD polystyrene (PS) standards in the range of 0.5 kg/mol to 11 500 kg/mol and a set of well characterized broad polypropylene standards. All samples were prepared by dissolving 5-10 mg of polymer in 10 mL (at 160 C.) of stabilized TCB (same as mobile phase) and keeping for 3 hours with continuous shaking prior sampling in into the GPC instrument.

(16) Melt Flow Rate (MFR.sub.2)

(17) The melt flow rates were measured with a load of 2.16 kg (MFR.sub.2) at 230 C. The melt flow rate is that quantity of polymer in grams which the test apparatus standardized to ISO 1133 extrudes within 10 minutes at a temperature of 230 C. under a load of 2.16 kg.

(18) Comonomer content in polyethylene was measured in a known manner based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) calibrated with .sup.13C-NMR, using Nicolet Magna 550 IR spectrometer together with Nicolet Omnic FTIR software.

(19) Films having a thickness of about 250 m were compression molded from the samples. Similar films were made from calibration samples having a known content of the comonomer. The comonomer content was determined from the spectrum from the wave number range of from 1430 to 1100 cm.sup.1. The absorbance is measured as the height of the peak by selecting the so-called short or long base line or both. The short base line is drawn in about 1410-1320 cm.sup.1 through the minimum points and the long base line about between 1410 and 1220 cm.sup.1. Calibrations need to be done specifically for each base line type. Also, the comonomer content of the unknown sample needs to be within the range of the comonomer contents of the calibration samples.

(20) The xylene solubles (XCS, wt.-%): Content of xylene cold solubles (XCS) is determined at 25 C. according ISO 16152; first edition; 2005 Jul. 1.

(21) The amorphous content (AM) is measured by separating the above xylene cold soluble fraction (XCS) and precipitating the amorphous part with acetone. The precipitate was filtered and dried in a vacuum oven at 90 C.

(22) $\mathrm{AM}\%=\frac{100m1v0}{m0v1}$
wherein
AM % is the amorphous fraction,
m0 is initial polymer amount (g)
m1 is weight of precipitate (g)
v0 is initial volume (ml)
v1 is volume of analyzed sample (ml)

(23) Intrinsic viscosity is measured according to DIN ISO 1628/1, October 1999 (in Decalin at 135 C.).

(24) Melting temperature T.sub.m, crystallization temperature T, is measured with Mettler TA820 differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) on 5-10 mg samples. Both crystallization and melting curves were obtained during 10 C./min cooling and heating scans between 30 C. and 225 C. Melting and crystallization temperatures were taken as the peaks of endotherms and exotherms.

(25) Also the melt- and crystallization enthalpy (Hm and Hc) were measured by the DSC method according to ISO 11357-3.

(26) Vicat B: Vicat B is measured according to ISO 306 (50 N) using injection moulded test specimens as described in EN ISO 1873-2 (80104 mm) Viact B is the temperature at which the specimen is penetrated to a depth of 1 mm by a flat-ended needle with a 1 sq. mm circular or square cross-section, under a 1000 gm load.

(27) Tensile Modulus is measured according to ISO 527-2 (cross head speed=50 mm/min; 23 C.) using injection molded specimens as described in EN ISO 1873-2 (dog bone shape, 4 mm thickness).

(28) Flexural Modulus: The flexural modulus was determined in 3-point-bending at 23 C. according to ISO 178 on 80104 mm.sup.3 test bars injection moulded in line with EN ISO 1873-2.

(29) Charpy notched impact strength is determined according to ISO 179/1 eA at 23 C. and at 20 C. by using injection moulded test specimens as described in EN ISO 1873-2 (80104 mm)

(30) The hexane extractable fraction was determined according to FDA method (federal registration, title 21, Chapter 1, part 177, section 1520, s. Annex B). 1 g sample of cast film of 100 m thickness (produced on a monolayer cast film line with a melt temperature of 220 C. and a chill roll temperature of 40 C.) was extracted at 50 C. in 400 ml n-hexane for 2 hours and then filtered on a filter paper No 41. The filtrate was then evaporated and the total residue weighed as a measure of the n-hexane extractable fraction.

(31) Scratch Visibility

(32) To determine the scratch visibility a Cross Hatch Cutter Model 420P, manufactured by Erichsen, was used. For the tests, plaques of 150*80*2 mm.sup.3, having a high-gloss surface and moulded acc ISO 1873-2 were used.

(33) The minimum period between injection moulding of specimens and scratch-testing was 7 days.

(34) For testing the specimens must be clamped in a suitable apparatus as described above. Scratches were applied at a force of 5 and 10 N respectively using a cylindrical metal pen with a ball shaped end (radius=0.5 mm0.01). A cutting speed of 1000 mm/min was used. A minimum of 20 scratches parallel to each other were brought up at a load of 5 N and 10 N, respectively, with a distance of 2 mm. The application of the scratches was repeated perpendicular to each other, so that the result was a scratching screen. The scratching direction should be unidirectional.

(35) The scratch visibility is reported as the absolute value of the difference of the luminance L between the unscratched and the scratched areas. L values were measured using a spectrophotometer that fulfils the requirements to DIN 5033. Light source for quantification of L D65/10, measuring opening diameter: 30 mm. Measured L values must be below a maximum of 1.5.

(36) A detailed test description of the test method (Erichsen cross hatch cutter method) can be found in the article Evaluation of scratch resistance in multiphase PP blends by Thomas Koch and Doris Machl, published in POLYMER TESTING 26 (2007), p. 927-936.

B. Examples

(37) The catalyst used in the polymerization process for example E1 has been produced as follows: First, 0.1 mol of MgCl.sub.23 EtOH was suspended under inert conditions in 250 ml of decane in a reactor at atmospheric pressure. The solution was cooled to the temperature of 15 C. and 300 ml of cold TiCl.sub.4 was added while maintaining the temperature at said level. Then, the temperature of the slurry was increased slowly to 20 C. At this temperature, 0.02 mol of dioctylphthalate (DOP) was added to the slurry. After the addition of the phthalate, the temperature was raised to 135 C. during 90 minutes and the slurry was allowed to stand for 60 minutes. Then, another 300 ml of TiCl.sub.4 was added and the temperature was kept at 135 C. for 120 minutes. After this, the catalyst was filtered from the liquid and washed six times with 300 ml heptane at 80 C. Then, the solid catalyst component was filtered and dried. Catalyst and its preparation concept is described in general e.g. in patent publications EP491566, EP591224 and EP586390. As co-catalyst triethyl-aluminium (TEAL) and as donor diethylaminotriethoxysilane [Si(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.3(N(CH.sub.2CH.sub.3).sub.2)] was used. The aluminium to donor ratio is indicated in table 1. Before the polymerization, the catalyst was prepolymerized with vinyl cyclohexane in an amount to achieve a concentration of 200 ppm poly(vinyl cyclohexane) (PVCH) in the final polymer. The respective process is described in EP 1 028 984 and EP 1 183 307.

(38) The polymer was produced in a Borstar pilot plant with a prepolymerization reactor, one slurry loop reactor and three gas phase reactors.

(39) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Preparation of the heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO)/IE Parameter unit IE Prepolymerization temperature [ C.] 30 pressure [kPa] 5300 Al/donor ratio [mol/mol] 15 residence time [h] 0.5 Loop temperature [ C.] 70 pressure [kPa] 5500 residence time [h] 0.5 H2/C3 ratio [mol/kmol] 28 GPR 1 temperature [ C.] 80 pressure [kPa] 2000 residence time [h] 1.5 H2/C3 ratio [mol/kmol] 194 GPR 2 temperature [ C.] 90 pressure [kPa] 2200 residence time [h] 1.7 C2/C3 ratio [mol/kmol] 5.5 H2/C3 ratio [mol/kmol] 25 GPR 3 temperature [ C.] 75 pressure [kPa] 2000 residence time [h] 1.0 H2/C2 ratio [mol/kmol] 90 C2/C3 ratio [mol/kmol] 450

(40) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Properties of the heterophasic propylene copolymer (HECO)/IE Loop, GPR1, GPR2, GPR 3 IE Loop split [wt.-%] 26.5 MFR.sub.2 [g/10 min] 234 XCS [wt.-%] 1.9 Mw [kg/mol] 91 GPR1 split [wt.-%] 30 MFR.sub.2 of PP made in GPR1 [g/10 min] 90 MFR.sub.2 of GPR1 [g/10 min] 141 XCS of PP made in GPR1 [wt.-%] 1.5 XCS of GPR1 [wt.-%] 1.7 GPR2 split [wt.-%] 26.5 MFR.sub.2 made in GPR2 [g/10 min] 18 MFR.sub.2 of GPR2 [g/10 min] 74 XCS of PP made in GPR2 [wt.-%] 2.6 XCS of GPR2 [wt.-%] 2 Mn of Matrix 27 Mw of Matrix 136 MWD of Matrix 5.1 GPR3 Split [wt.-%] 17 MFR.sub.2 of GPR3 [g/10 min] 31 IV(AM) [dl/g] 2.6 C2(AM) [wt.-%] 39 C2 of GPR [wt.-%] 6.5 XCS of GPR3 [wt.-%] 16.1

(41) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Properties of the heterophasic propylene copolymers (HECO) IE CE MFR.sub.2 [g/10 min] 31 20 Tensile modulus [MPa] 1700 1300 Flexural modulus [MPa] 1600 Vicat B [ C.] 80 NIS (23 C.) [kJ/m.sup.2] 6.8 7.5 NIS (20 C.) [kJ/m.sup.2] 3.5 3.5 Tm [ C.] 165 163 Tc [ C.] 129 127 Hexane solubles [wt.-%] 2.3 Scratch visibility L (5N) [] 0.1 0.2 Scratch visibility L (10N) [] 0.4 0.7 CE is the commercial polypropylene copolymer BF335SA of Borealis AG