Equistar Chemicals, LP

Quantum Chemical Company

Stephen M Imfeld

Bradley P Etherton

Jeffrey S Borke

Douglas C McFaddin

Sandor M Nagy

Maged G Botros

Barbara M Tsuie

Leonard V Cribbs

D Ryan Breese

Philip J Garrison

Venki Chandrashekar

Anil W Saraf

Robert L Sherman, Jr

Kelly L Williams

Mohan Sasthav

Andrew W Lake

Daryl L Stein

Allen L Brown

A low density polyethylene composition characterized by having a density in range of 0.91 to 0.94 gm/cm, a melt index in the range of 1 to 5 g/10 minutes, a gel permeation chromatography branching index in the range of 1.2 to 1, a polydispersity index in the range of 3.5 to 7.5, a viscosity ratio in the range of 0.7 to 1, and a long chain branching frequency greater than zero at a log molecular weight (log(MW)) value in the range of 4 to 5.5. Film formed from the polyethylene compositions with favorable haze and gloss characteristics, and a process for forming such film, are also described.

Low density polyethylene of high clarity, film made therefrom and a process for producing such film

The present disclosure provides a peroxide-modified polyethylene and related compositions as well as films, sheets, and multilayer structures made therefrom. A film composition is made from or containing a peroxide-modified polyethylene composition made from or containing a peroxide-modified polyethylene made from or containing the reaction products of a polyethylene composition made from or containing a first Ziegler-Natta-catalyzed polyethylene and a first amount of an organic peroxide to the second reactor.

Peroxide-modified linear low density polyethylene films, sheets, and multilayer structures

Disclosed is a method for improving the barrier properties of polyethylene films. The method comprises mixing a substantially linear, high density polyethylene with a nucleating agent and converting the mixture into a film. The film made by the method of the invention has at least a 15% improvement on the water vapor barrier property and/or in the oxygen barrier property compared with the control film made from the same substantially linear, high density polyethylene but does not contain the nucleating agent.

Barrier properties of substantially linear HDPE film with nucleating agents

Disclosed are polyethylene blends and films. The blend comprises from 1 to 99%, based on the weight of the blend, of a medium density polyethylene (MDPE) and from 1 to 99% a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene, polybutene, and mixtures thereof. The MDPE is made by high pressure, free radical polymerization and has a density within the range of greater than 0.928 to 0.940 g/cmand an MIwithin the range of 0.1 to 1 dg/min. The shrink films made from the blend have strong contraction force and low creep.

Polyethylene blends and films

A two-stage cascade polymerization process for the production of multimodal polyethylene film resins with improved bubble stability is provided. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene or a mixture of ethylene and a C&#x3b1;-olefin in two reactors arranged in series using a mixed single-site catalyst comprised of a bridged and a non-bridged indenoindolyl transition metal complex to form a multimodal polyethylene resin comprised of a lower molecular weight, higher density component and a higher molecular weight, lower density component.

Process for the preparation of multimodal polyethylene resins

A thick film and process to prepare polyethylene useful for the film are disclosed. Ethylene is polymerized in two reaction zones with a C-C&#x3b1;-olefin in the presence of a catalyst system comprising an activator, a supported bridged zirconium complex, and a supported non-bridged zirconium complex. The process yields medium density to linear low density polyethylene having a melt index from 0.20 to 1.0 dg/min. Thick films from the polyethylene have a superior combination of high impact strength and high modulus.

Polyethylene thick film and process for preparing polyethylene

A process for making polyethylene having an uncommon but valuable balance of broad molecular weight distribution and a low level of long-chain branching is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in a single reactor in the presence of an &#x3b1;-olefin and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported dialkylsilyl-bridged bis(indeno[1,2-b]indolyl)zirconium complex. The polyethylene, which has an M/Mgreater than 10 and a viscosity enhancement factor (VEF) of less than 2.5, is valuable for making blown films.

Olefin polymerization process

A lubricating oil suitable for use in &#x3b1;-olefin compressors and a high-pressure ethylene polymerization process is disclosed. The oil comprises a base fluid and a hindered C-Calkyl 4-hydroxybenzoate. The hindered C-Calkyl 4-hydroxybenzoate stabilizes the lubricating oil and does not interfere with the high-pressure &#x3b1;-olefin polymerization.

Lubricating oil

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.

Phillips' process high density polyethylene resin compositions having improved processing stability are obtained using a combination of stabilizers comprised of a hindered phenol and a phosphite compound having three cyclic phosphite moieties linked via a nitrogen atom. More specifically, the phosphite compound is 2, [[2,4,8,10-tetrakis(1,1-dimethylethyl)dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]-dioxaphosphepin- 6-yl]oxy]-N,N-bis [2-[[2,4,8,10-tetrakis (1,1-dimethylethyl) dibenzo[d,f][1,3,2]dioxaphosphenpin-6-yl]oxy]-ethyl]ethanamine. With the HDPE compositions stabilized in accordance with the invention, it is possible to eliminate undesirable rapid changes in melt viscosity which can occur when Phillips' process HDPE resins are processed under conditions of high shear.

Growing community of inventors

Mason, OH, United States of America

Stephen M Imfeld