Process for removing volatile components from an olefin polymer and article obtained

A process for removal of volatile components from an olefin polymer, the process carried out in an extruder comprising at least one vacuum degassing zone, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing a stream of an olefin polymer containing an initial amount of volatile components into the extruder;
• (b) extruding the olefin polymer in the extruder at a temperature which is higher than the melting temperature of the olefin polymer but lower than the decomposition temperature of the olefin polymer, thereby producing an olefin polymer melt having a reduced amount of the volatile components,
• wherein the process in the extruder has a residence time distribution broadness (σ2) in the range of 800 to 4000 as defined by equation (1)
• σ2=∫0∞(t−τ)2E(t)dt equation (1)
• wherein:
• σ2 is the residence time distribution broadness,
• τ r is the mean residence time,
• t is the interval of residence time a fluid element of the olefin polymer spends in the extruder,
• E(t) is the residence time distribution function,
• wherein the process optionally comprises a step (c) where the melt of the olefin polymer is passed through a die zone to a pelletizer for pelletizing the obtained olefin polymer;
• and
• wherein the mean residence time (τ) in the extruder is in the range of 100 to 220 seconds;
• and
• wherein the resulting olefin polymer has a volatile organic compound content (VOC), as measured according to VDA277, of less than 65 ppm.