Fina Technology, Inc.

J Layne Lumus

Owen Hodges

Lu Ann Kelly

Douglas Alan Burmaster

Mark Murphy

Doug Burmaster

Molded articles are prepared from propylene-ethylene copolymers and exhibiting improved clarity and strength properties. Articles prepared include bottles and other thin-walled articles. The articles are prepared using an isotactic propylene-ethylene random copolymer resin having an ethylene content of from about 0.5 to about 3 percent by total weight of copolymer, with a xylene solubles content of less than about 1.5 percent. The injection molded article may exhibit less than about 20 percent haze, as determined by ASTM D1003, at a thickness of about 0.08 inch (2.03 mm). Articles may also be prepared from similar copolymers having an ethylene content greater than about 3 percent by total weight of copolymer, with a xylene solubles content of less than about 4 percent by total weight of copolymer. These articles may exhibit less than about 13 percent haze, as determined by ASTM D1003, at a thickness of about 0.08 inch (2.03 mm).

Articles having improved clarity, prepared from propylene-ethylene copolymers

A metallocene random copolymer of propylene and ethylene in which the ductile/brittle transition temperature of a molded article made from the copolymer may be in the range of from about 20&#xb0; F. (&#x2212;7&#xb0; C.) to about 40&#xb0; F. (4&#xb0; C.). The haze level of the molded article may be less than about 10 percent for an 80-mil (0.2 cm) thick plaque. The metallocene random copolymer may further include a clarifier.

Metallocene random copolymers with cool temperature impact properties

A polypropylene composition comprises an isotactic polypropylene homopolymer resin that is suitable to form an injected molded article exhibiting less than about 60% haze, as determined by ASTM D1003, at a thickness of 0.05 inch without clarity-enhancing agents. The polypropylene composition has particular application to injection molded articles and may have a melt flow rate of from about 0.1 g/10 min to about 150 g/10 min as determined by ASTM D-1238, Procedure B. The resin may be prepared using a metallocene catalyst, and the composition may include clarity-enhancing agents for even greater clarity improvements.

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Dickinson, TX, United States of America

J Layne Lumus