Abstract: Embodiments include articles without plasticizers, having improved clarity, kink resistance, flexibility, melt fracture and die lines. Manufacturing may be conducted with materials comprising polymodal tapered polymers prepared from copolymerizing at least one monovinyl aromatic monomer and at least one conjugated diene monomer followed by coupling with at least one coupling agent.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a polymer composition. The process comprises contacting a narrow molecular weight distribution base polymer and a high molecular weight polymer component. The base polymer is an ethylene polymer having a Mw/Mn less than about 5 and a melt flow index from about 0.2 g/10 min to about 20 g/10 min. The high molecular weight polymer component has a molecular weight distribution such that at least a substantial portion of its molecules have a molecular weight of greater than one million. The high molecular weight polymer component being incorporated is in an amount to give about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer composition, of the molecules having a molecular weight greater than one million. The polymer composition has a higher bulk density than the base polymer. In addition, when the polymer composition is blown into film, the film has improved clarity over the base polymer.