Abstract: Provided are methods of producing polymers with broadened molecular weight and/or composition distribution in a continuous homogeneous polymerization system utilizing reactor temperature gradients, reactor polymer concentration gradients, monomer concentration gradients, catalyst concentration gradients, and combinations thereof in the polymerization reactor. Such methods are particularly suitable when utilizing metallocene catalysts and other single-site catalysts, which generally produce polymers with narrow molecular weight and composition distribution.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polymer composition, its manufacture and use, said composition may comprise greater than about 90 mole % propylene monomer, and having a unique combination of properties, including one or more of the following: a heat of fusion of more than about 108 J/g, a melting point of 165° C. or higher, a Melt Flow Rate so low that it is essentially not measurable and a molecular weight of greater than about 1.5×106. Further disclosed herein are blends or mixtures of the present novel polymer composition and products, such as, for example, microporous film structures and the like comprising same.

Abstract: Isotactic polypropylene ethylene-propylene copolymer blends and in-line processes for producing them. The blend of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene copolymer may have between 1 and 50 wt % of isotactic polypropylene with a melt flow rate of between 0.5 and 20,000 g/10 min and a melting peak temperature of 145° C. or higher, and wherein the difference between the DSC peak melting and the peak crystallization temperatures is less than or equal to 0.5333 times the melting peak temperature minus 41.333° C., and between 50 and 99 wt % of ethylene-propylene copolymer including between 10 wt % and 20 wt % randomly distributed ethylene with a melt flow rate of between 0.5 and 20,000 g/10 min, wherein the copolymer is polymerized by a bulk homogeneous polymerization process, and wherein the total regio defects in the continuous propylene segments of the copolymer is between 40 and 150% greater than a copolymer of equivalent melt flow rate and wt % ethylene polymerized by a solution polymerization process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition comprising a functionalized C3 to C40 olefin polymer comprising at least 50 mol % of one or more C3 to C40 olefins, and where the olefin polymer, prior to functionalization, has: a) a Dot T-Peel of 1 Newton or more on Kraft paper; b) an Mw of 10,000 to 100,000; and c) a branching index (g?) of 0.98 or less measured at the Mz of the polymer when the polymer has an Mw of 10,000 to 60,000, or a branching index (g?) of 0.95 or less measured at the Mz of the polymer when the polymer has an Mw of 10,000 to 100,000; and where the C3 to C40 olefin polymer comprises at least 0.001 weight % of an functional group, preferably maleic anhydride. This invention further relates to blends of such functionalized polymers with other polymers including non-functionalized C3 to C40 olefin polymers as described above.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition comprising a functionalized C3 to C40 olefin polymer comprising at least 50 mol % of one or more C3 to C40 olefins, and where the olefin polymer, prior to functionalization, has: a) a Dot T-Peel of 1 Newton or more on Kraft paper; b) an Mw of 10,000 to 100,000; and c) a branching index (g?) of 0.98 or less measured at the Mz of the polymer when the polymer has an Mw of 10,000 to 60,000, or a branching index (g?) of 0.95 or less measured at the Mz of the polymer when the polymer has an Mw of 10,000 to 100,000; and where the C3 to C40 olefin polymer comprises at least 0.001 weight % of an functional group, preferably maleic anhydride. This invention further relates to blends of such functionalized polymers with other polymers including non-functionalized C3 to C40 olefin polymers as described above.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an adhesive composition comprising a blend functionalized with a functional group, wherein the blend comprises a C3 to C40 olefin polymer and an additive, the C3 to C40 olefin polymer comprising at least 50 mol % of one or more C3 to C40 olefins, and where the C3 to C40 olefin polymer has: a Dot T-Peel of 1 Newton or more on Kraft paper; an Mw of 10,000 to 100,000; and a branching index (g?) of 0.98 or less measured at the Mz of the polymer when the polymer has an Mw of 10,000 to 60,000, or a branching index (g?) of 0.95 or less measured at the Mz of the polymer when the polymer has an Mw of 10,000 to 100,000. A process of producing the adhesive composition, as well as methods of utilizing the adhesive composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer, microporous membrane having appropriate permeability, pin puncture strength, shutdown temperature, shutdown speed, meltdown temperature, and thickness uniformity. The invention also relates to a battery separator formed by such multi-layer, microporous membrane, and a battery comprising such a separator. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making the multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane, a method for making a battery using such a membrane as a separator, and a method for using such a battery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane having appropriate permeability, pin puncture strength, shutdown temperature, shutdown speed, meltdown temperature, and thickness uniformity. The invention also relates to a battery separator formed by such multi-layer, microporous membrane, and a battery comprising such a separator. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for making the multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane, a method for making a battery using such a membrane as a separator, and a method for using such a battery.

Abstract: A process for fluid phase in-line blending of plasticized polymers is provided.

Abstract: A thermoplastic vulcanizate comprising a dynamically cured rubber, where the rubber is peroxide cured, and a thermoplastic phase, where at least 10% by weight of the thermoplastic phase includes an ultrahigh molecular weight plastic, where the ultrahigh molecular weight plastic is characterized by a Mw that is greater than 0.8×106 g/mole.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for determining the presence of an activated catalyst site in a catalyst system comprising a catalyst precursor and an activator, wherein the catalyst system is capable of providing a luminescence, the method comprising: performing a time resolved luminescence analysis on a reference analyte comprising the catalyst precursor that is not in combination with the activator, and performing a time resolved luminescence analysis on a sample analyte comprising the catalyst precursor in combination with the activator, determining a reference emission energy and a reference lifetime each associated with a maximum emission intensity in the reference output values; determining a sample emission energy and a sample lifetime each associated with a maximum emission intensity in the sample output values; and comparing the values to determine if the sample comprises an activated catalyst site. Use of the above method in relation to an activation index is also disclosed.

Abstract: Branched crystalline polypropylene compositions and methods for the preparation of branched crystalline polypropylene compositions are provided. For example, described herein is a process of preparing a branched crystalline polypropylene composition that includes combining two or more different metallocene catalyst compounds with a polymerization medium that includes propylene, for a time sufficient to provide branched crystalline polypropylene that has from 0.0 wt % to 2.0 wt % ethylene and a heat of fusion of 70 J/g or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to propylene based copolymers and to processes for producing propylene based copolymers, particularly propylene-ethylene copolymers. These unique copolymers are prepared using metallocene catalysts.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process to polymerize olefins comprising contacting, in a polymerization system, olefins having three or more carbon atoms with a catalyst compound, activator, optionally comonomer, and optionally diluent or solvent, at a temperature above the cloud point temperature of the polymerization system and a pressure no lower than 10 MPa below the cloud point pressure of the polymerization system, where the polymerization system comprises any comonomer present, any diluent or solvent present, the polymer product, where the olefins having three or more carbon atoms are present at 40 weight % or more.

Abstract: A process for fluid phase in-line blending of polymers.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isotactic propylene homopolymer having: more than 15 and less than 100 regio defects (sum of 2,1-erythro and 2,1-threo insertions and 3,1-isomerizations) per 10,000 propylene units; an Mw of 35000 g/mol or more; a peak melting temperature of greater than 149° C.; an mmmm pentad fraction of 0.85 or more; a heat of fusion of 80 J/g or more; and a peak melting temperature minus peak crystallization temperature (Tmp?Tcp) of less than or equal to (0.907 times Tmp) minus 99.64 (Tmp?Tcp<(0.907×Tmp)?99.64), as measured in ° C. on the homopolymer having 0 wt % nucleating agent.

Abstract: Processes for polymerizing propylene. About 40 wt % to about 80 wt % propylene monomer, based on total weight of propylene monomer and diluent, and about 20 wt % to about 60 wt % diluent, based on total weight of propylene monomer and diluent, can be fed into a reactor. The propylene monomer can be polymerized in the presence of a metallocene catalyst and an activator within the reactor at a temperature of about 80° C. or more and a pressure of about 13 MPa or more to produce a polymer product in a homogenous system. About 20 wt % to about 76 wt % (preferably About 28 wt % to about 76 wt %) propylene monomer, based on total weight of the propylene monomer, diluent, and polymer product, can be present at the reactor exit at steady state conditions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process to polymerize olefins comprising contacting, at a temperature of 60° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for polymerizing olefins, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting in one or more reactors, in a dense fluid homogeneous polymerization system, olefin monomers having three or more carbon atoms present at 30 weight % or more (based upon the weight of the monomers and comonomers entering the reactor), with: 1) one or more catalyst compounds, 2) one or more activators, 3) from 0 to 50 mole % comonomer (based upon the amount of the monomers and comonomers entering the reactor), and 4) 0 to 40 wt % diluent or solvent (based upon the weight of the polymerization system), at a temperature above the crystallization temperature of the polymerization system and a pressure no lower than 10 MPa below the cloud point pressure of the polymerization system and less than 200 MPa, where the polymerization system comprises the monomers, any comonomer present, any diluent or solvent present, any scavenger present, and the polymer product; (b) forming a reactor effluent comprising a polymer-mo

Abstract: This invention relates to a process to polymerize olefins comprising contacting propylene, at a temperature of 65° C. to 150° C. and a pressure of 1.72 to 34.