Equistar Chemicals, LP

Kelly L Williams

Charles S Holland

Mark P Mack

Leonard V Cribbs

Wallace W Yau

Jean A Merrick-Mack

Stephen M Imfeld

D Ryan Breese

Venki Chandrashekar

Thomas J Schwab

A method for making multilayer thin films is disclosed. The method of comprises orienting a thick multilayer film in the machine direction at a drawdown ratio effective to produce a multilayer thin film. The thick multilayer film has a thickness within the range of 1 mil to 5 mils and comprises at least one layer of a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and at least one layer of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) or a medium density polyethylene (MDPE).

Preparation of multilayer polyethylene thin films

Ethylene copolymers valuable for films, coatings, sheets, and molded articles are disclosed. Some of the copolymers have a long-chain-branching index from 0.25 to 0.60 and a gpcBR index from 0.1 to 0.7. Others have a primary DSC melting point that is less than its secondary DSC melting point. Also disclosed is LLDPE in which the weight percentage of the low-temperature elution fraction exceeds that of the high-temperature fraction, and wherein the Mof the low-temperature fraction exceeds that of the high-temperature fraction. The ethylene copolymers process easily, even at low melt indices, and films from the copolymers have high stiffness, good impact resistance, and high heat-seal strength over a wide temperature range.

Polyolefin compositions

A process for making MD (machine direction) oriented polyethylene film is disclosed. The process comprises blending a high-molecular weight, medium-density polyethylene (HMW MDPE) and a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), converting the blend into a thick film, and orienting the thick film into a thinner film in the machine direction. The resulting film has high modulus, high gloss, low haze, and relatively high MD tear and dart impact.

Preparation of machine direction oriented polyethylene films

A blend comprising a high molecular weight, medium density polyethylene (HMW, MDPE) and a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) is disclosed. The blend comprises from about 20 wt % to about 80 wt % of HMW MDPE. The HMW MDPE has a density from about 0.92 to about 0.944 g/cc, a melt index MI from about 0.01 to about 0.5 dg/min, and a melt flow ratio MFR from about 50 to about 300. The blend also comprises about 20 wt % to about 80 wt % of LLDPE. The LLDPE has a density within the range of about 0.90 to about 0.925 g/cc and an MI within the range of about 0.50 to about 50 dg/min. The blend provides films with significantly improved toughness and tear strength compared to MDPE or HDPE, and high modulus compared to LLDPE.

Growing community of inventors

Maineville, OH, United States of America

Kelly L Williams