Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a non-pourable homogeneous ultra-low molecular weight ethylene polymer composition and a process for the preparation thereof. Such polymer compositions have longer lamella and a greater degree of crystalline organization than corresponding higher molecular weight materials at an equivalent density.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polyolefin copolymer composition produced with a catalyst having a metallocene, complex in a single reactor for the polymer of an &agr;-olefin monomer with one or more olefin comonomers, and a molecule weight maximum which occurs in that 50 percent by weight of the composition which has the highest weight percent comonomer content. Preferably, the composition has a comonomer partitioning fact Cpf which is equal to or greater than 1.10 or molecule weight partitioning fact Mpf which is equal to or greater than 1.15. Preferred composition also have at least 0.01 long chain branches per 1000 carbon atoms along the polymer backbone. These compositions with reverse molecular engineering have. superior properties and are easily processable due to the simultaneous presence of the association of high molecular weight with high comonomer content and of long chain branching.

Abstract: Ethylene-based polymer blends having an MWD of at least about 2 are made in a single reactor using a mixed constrained geometry catalyst (CGC) system. The process comprises the steps of contacting under polymerization conditions and in a single reaction vessel (i) ethylene, (ii) at least one C3-C20 &agr;-olefin, (iii) optionally, at least one polyene, and (iv) a mixed CGC system.

Abstract: An ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer blend is described comprising first and second ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer components in which the ethylene content of the first component is at least 10 weight percent different than the ethylene content of the second component. These blends exhibit an improved combination of low temperature, pellet flow, compression set, melt strength and/or shape retention properties as compared to either component, or an ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer blend of similar composition but in which the ethylene content of each component is substantially the same.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polyolefin compositions useful for soft touch applications comprise, in weight percent based upon the weight of components A and B, about:

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for accelerating writes to a storage controller by performing log-based sequential write caching of data to be written on a storage device. The data in the log is moved to the storage array later when the system is less active. As a result, random writes are converted to sequential writes. Overall, performance improves since the performance of sequential writes far exceeds that of random writes. A write command containing data is received in a data storage controller, wherein the data storage controller includes a write cache having a sequential log. The data storage controller also includes an index structure indicating the location of data in the sequential log. If the data does not already exist on the log, the data is written to the log contained in the write cache at a location recorded in the index structure.

Abstract: The subject invention is directed to an olefin polymer produced by polymerizing at least one &agr;-olefin in the presence of a Group 4 metal complex comprising an indenyl group substituted in the 2 or 3 position with at least one group selected from hydrocarbyl, perfluoro-substituted hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl and mixtures thereof, said indenyl group further being covalently bonded to the metal by means of a divalent ligand group, wherein the divalent ligand comprises nitrogen or phosphorus having an aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarby group covalently bonded thereto via a primary or secondary carbon. Preferred olefin polymers of the invention will be characterized as having a high molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution, high vinyl content, and a bimodal DSC melting curve or a deconvoluted ATREF or GPC curve which shows at least two distinct narrow peaks.

Abstract: The present invention is at least a two-component thermoplastic elastomeric composition comprising at least one block copolymer wherein the composition has essentially the same comparative elasticity, high temperature serviceability and hardness as the unmodified, undiluted (neat) block copolymer portion of the composition. The composition also shows enhanced thermal stability and processibility and is well suited for fabricating elastic moldings, films and fibers as well as for formulating with asphalts, adhesives and sealants. The novel thermoplastic elastomeric composition comprises (a) from about 50 to about 99 percent by weight of at least one block copolymer and (b) about 1 to about 50 percent by weight of at least one ethylene interpolymer having a density from about 0.855 g/cc to about 0.905 g/cc, wherein the ethylene interpolymer in the amount employed is a substantially inert extender of the block copolymer and the composition is further characterized as having: i.

Abstract: Ethylene-based polymer blends having an MWD of at least about 2 are made in a single reactor using a mixed constrained geometry catalyst (CGC) system. The process comprises the steps of contacting under polymerization conditions and in a single reaction vessel (i) ethylene, (ii) at least one C3-C20 (&agr;-olefin, (iii) optionally, at least one polyene, and (iv) a mixed CGC system.

Abstract: A micro-powder includes: (i) a sub-micron sized powder recovered from a synthetic latex emulsion of polymer and surfactant; (ii) a conductive filler incorporated into the powder; and (iii) optional charge enhancing additives incorporated into the powder. The conductive micro-powder finds particular utility as a coating for carrier core particles of toner and developer compositions.

Abstract: An ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer blend is described comprising first and second ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer components in which the ethylene content of the first component is at least 10 weight percent different than the ethylene content of the second component. These blends exhibit an improved combination of low temperature, pellet flow, compression set, melt strength and/or shape retention properties as compared to either component, or an ethylene/&agr;-olefin polymer blend of similar composition but in which the ethylene content of each component is substantially the same.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising at least one substantially random interpolymer of ethylene and a vinylidene aromatic monomer or a hindered aliphatic vinylidene monomer and optionally at least one C3-C20 &agr;-olefin monomer, and at least one tackifier. The claimed compositions are useful in adhesives, such as are employed in various applications, such as in packaging and carton sealing, bookbinding, masking tape, clear office tape, labels, decals, bandages, decorative and protective sheets (such as shelf and drawer liners), floor tiles, sanitary napkin/incontinence device placement strips, sun control films, and the joining of gaskets to automobile windows. The claimed compositions further find use in a variety of applications, such as sealants, coatings, molded articles, and multilayered structures.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a non-pourable homogeneous ultra-low molecular weight ethylene polymer composition and a process for the preparation thereof Such polymer compositions have longer lamella and a greater degree of crystalline organization than corresponding higher molecular weight materials at an equivalent density.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for updating and destaging data in a storage system. To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention disclose a system for updating a data block in a storage device. A first processing unit receives an update to a data block in a storage device. The first processing unit sends a first message including the update and information indicating data blocks that were recently updated to a second processing unit. The second processing unit stores the update in a second storage area and sends a second message to the first processing unit after receiving the first message. The first processing unit stores the update in a first storage area and transfers the update from the first storage area to the data block in the storage device. The first processing unit transfers the update from the first storage area to the data block in the storage device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for altering the structure of parity groups, e.g., altering the RAID level or number of storage devices included in the RAID array. A parity group consists of a set of data blocks and parity data for the data blocks. The data and parity data are stored in at least two storage devices. The first processing unit alters the parity structure of an Nth set of parity groups, wherein N is an integer value greater than or equal to zero. A set of parity groups includes at least one parity group. The second processing unit determines an Nth range of parity groups including the Nth set of parity groups. After detecting the failure of the first processing unit while altering the parity structure of the parity groups in the Nth set, the second processing unit processes the parity groups in the determined Nth range to determine a parity group whose parity structure was being altered when the first processing unit failed.

Abstract: A process including: heating resin coated core particles for a time until the weight average molecular weight of the resin coating declines.

Abstract: The present invention is at least a two-component thermoplastic elastomeric composition comprising at least one block copolymer wherein the composition has essentially the same comparative elasticity, high temperature serviceability and hardness as the unmodified, undiluted (neat) block copolymer portion of the composition. The composition also shows enhanced thermal stability and processibility and is well suited for fabricating elastic moldings, films and fibers as well as for formulating with asphalts, adhesives and sealants. The novel thermoplastic elastomeric composition comprises (a) from about 50 to about 99 percent by weight of at least one block copolymer and (b) about 1 to about 50 percent by weight of at least one ethylene interpolymer having a density from about 0.855 g/cc to about 0.905 g/cc, wherein the ethylene interpolymer in the amount employed is a substantially inert extender of the block copolymer and the composition is further characterized as having: i.

Abstract: The present invention is at least a two-component thermoplastic elastomeric composition comprising at least one block copolymer wherein the composition has essentially the same comparative elasticity, high temperature serviceability and hardness as the unmodified, undiluted (neat) block copolymer portion of the composition. The composition also shows enhanced thermal stability and processibility and is well suited for fabricating elastic moldings, films and fibers as well as for formulating with asphalts, adhesives and sealants. The novel thermoplastic elastomeric composition comprises (a) from about 50 to about 99 percent by weight of at least one block copolymer and (b) about 1 to about 50 percent by weight of at least one ethylene interpolymer having a density from about 0.855 g/cc to about 0.905 g/cc, wherein the ethylene interpolymer in the amount employed is a substantially inert extender of the block copolymer and the composition is further characterized as having: i.

Abstract: A carrier for a developer composition includes a steel core having a shape factor of 6 or more coated with a coating at a coating weight of from 0.1 to 3.0% by weight of a total core weight. The coating is most preferably polymethyl methacrylate. The steel core also preferably has an average particle diameter of 70 to 89 micrometers and a size distribution wherein 1.5% or less of a total number of carrier particles have a size less than 38 micrometers. The carrier is preferably used in conjunction with toner particles to form a developer for particular use in devices utilizing hybrid scavengeless development. Use of a carrier in such a developer in a hybrid scavengeless development apparatus enables images to be achieved with properties similar to that achieved in offset lithography.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination device comprising two catheters, or a dual catheter assembly, for use in vascular procedures wherein the shaft of the first catheter functions as a guidewire for the second catheter. The dual catheter assembly comprises a first balloon catheter and a second balloon catheter wherein the second balloon catheter is slidably disposed on the shaft of the first balloon. In preferred embodiments, the first catheter is a low profile balloon on a wire catheter and the second catheter is a full size balloon catheter having a plurality of balloons mounted thereon. Optionally, a stent is carried by at least one of the balloons on the second catheter. In more preferred embodiments, the second catheter includes a manifold that may be used to inflate and deflate any combination of the plurality of balloons via a single port.