Abstract: Unique copolymers comprising propylene, ethylene and/or one or more unsaturated comonomers are characterized as having: at least one, preferably more than one, of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content of the copolymer is at least about 3 wt %, (iii) a skewness index, Six, greater than about ?1.20, (iv) a DSC curve with a Tme that remains essentially the same and a Tmax that decreases as the amount of comonomer in the copolymer is increased, and (v) an X-ray diffraction pattern that reports more gamma-form crystals than a comparable copolymer prepared with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst These polypropylene polymers are made using a nonmetallocene, metal-centered, heteroaryl ligand catalyst. These polymers can be blended with other polymers, and are useful in the manufacture of films, sheets, foams, fibers and molded articles.

Abstract: Fibers comprising a propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of propylene and at least one of ethylene and one or more unsaturated comonomers exhibit desirable properties. The homopolymers are characterized as having 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity. The copolymers are characterized as (A) comprising at least about 60 weight percent (wt %) of units derived from propylene, and (B) having at least one of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content of the copolymer is at least about 3 wt %, (iii) a skewness index, Six, greater than about ?1.

Abstract: A method of nucleating a propylene homo- or copolymer, the method comprising contacting the propylene polymer with a semi-crystalline branched or coupled polymeric nucleating agent under nucleation conditions. In one embodiment, the propylene homopolymer is characterized as having 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity. In another embodiment, the copolymer is characterized as comprising at least about 60 weight percent (wt %) of units derived from propylene, and as having at least one of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content, i.e., the units derived from ethylene and/or the unsaturated comonomer(s), of the copolymer is at least about 3 wt %, (iii) a skewness index, Six, greater than about ?1.

Abstract: Polymer blends that exhibit good impact resistance comprise a crystalline polypropylene matrix and a partly crystalline copolymer impact modifier with a molecular weight lower than that of the matrix polymer. The matrix polymer can comprise any crystalline propylene homo- or copolymer. The impact modifying copolymers are characterized as comprising at least about 60 weight percent (wt %) of units derived from propylene and, in certain embodiments, as having at least one, preferably two or more, of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content of the copolymer is at least about 3 wt %, (iii) a skewness index, Six, greater than about ?1.

Abstract: Fibers comprising a propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of propylene and at least one of ethylene and one or more unsaturated comonomers exhibit desirable properties. The homopolymers are characterized as having 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity. The copolymers are characterized as (A) comprising at least about 60 weight percent (wt %) of units derived from propylene, and (B) having at least one of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content of the copolymer is at least about 3 wt %, (iii) a skewness index, Six, greater than about ?1.

Abstract: Olefin polymers having a melt strength of about 5 cN at 190° C., and when made into a film have a CD shrink of at least 20%. Some of the polymers have a comb-like structure with at least 0.3 long-chain branches per 1000 carbon atoms are disclosed. Some compositions described herein include a high molecular weight fraction and a low molecular weight fraction wherein the ratio of the molecular weight of the high molecular weight fraction to the molecular weight of the low molecular weight fraction is greater than about 1.3.

Abstract: Olefin polymers having a comb-like structure with at least 0.3 long-chain branches per 1000 carbon atoms are disclosed. Some compositions have a melt strength of about 5 cN at 190° C., and when made into a film have a CD shrink of at least 20%. Some compositions described herein include a high molecular weight fraction and a low molecular weight fraction wherein the ratio of the molecular weight of the high molecular weight fraction to the molecular weight of the low molecular weight fraction is greater than about 1.3.

Abstract: Unique copolymers comprising propylene, ethylene and/or one or more unsaturated comonomers are characterized as having: at least one, preferably more than one, of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content of the copolymer is at least about 3 wt %, (iii) a skewness index, Six, greater than about ?1.20, (iv) a DSC curve with a Tme that remains essentially the same and a Tmax that decreases as the amount of comonomer in the copolymer is increased, and (v) an X-ray diffraction pattern that reports more gamma-form crystals than a comparable copolymer prepared with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst These polypropylene polymers are made using a nonmetallocene, metal-centered, heteroaryl ligand catalyst. These polymers can be blended with other polymers, and are useful in the manufacture of films, sheets, foams, fibers and molded articles.

Abstract: A polymer composition comprises: (a) a high molecular weight, branched component; and (b) a low molecular weight, branched component. Some polymer compositions are characterized by a substantial absent of amyl or methyl branches and a melt strength (MS) that satisfies the following relationship: M ? ? ? S ? x I 2 + y where x is greater than or equal to about 12.5 and y is greater than or equal to about 3. Some polymers are characterized by a melt strength (MS) that satisfies the following relationship: M ? ? ? S ? x I 2 + y where x is greater than or equal to about 3 and y is greater than or equal to about 4.5 and a molecular weight distribution of greater than 3. A process for making polymers is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of nucleating a propylene homo- or copolymer, the method comprising contacting the propylene polymer with a semi-crystalline branched or coupled polymeric nucleating agent under nucleation conditions. In one embodiment, the propylene homopolymer is characterized as having 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity. In another embodiment, the copolymer is characterized as comprising at least about 60 weight percent (wt %) of units derived from propylene, and as having at least one of the following properties: (i) 13C NMR peaks corresponding to a regio-error at about 14.6 and about 15.7 ppm, the peaks of about equal intensity, (ii) a B-value greater than about 1.4 when the comonomer content, i.e., the units derived from ethylene and/or the unsaturated comonomer(s), of the copolymer is at least about 3 wt %, (iii) a skewness index, Six, greater than about ?1.

Abstract: A process of making a polymer is described. The process includes contacting one or more olefinic monomers in the presence of at least a high molecular weight (HMW) catalyst and at least a low molecular weight (LMW) catalyst in a polymerization reactor system; and effectuating the polymerization of the one or more olefinic monomers in the polymerization reactor system to obtain an olefin polymer, wherein the LMW catalyst has an RvL, defined as R v L = [ vinyl ] [ vinyl ] + [ vinylidene ] + [ cis ] + [ trans ] wherein [vinyl] is the concentration of vinyl groups in the olefin polymer produced by the low molecular weight catalyst expressed in vinyls/1,000 carbon atoms; [vinylidene], [cis] and [trans] are the concentration of vinylidene, cis and trans groups in the olefin polymer expressed in the number of the respective groups per 1,000 carbon atoms, of greater than 0.12, and wherein the HMW catalyst has a reactivity ratio, r1 of about 5 or less.