# US 2004/0072005 A1 · Very low density polyethelyne blends

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- Number: US 2004/0072005 A1
- Document ID: US20040072005A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/297,777
- Filed: 2003-10-28
- Published: 2004-04-15
- Earliest claimed: 2003-10-28
- Assignees: Univation Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Paul Masten German; Hames McLeod Farley; Richard W. Halle; George Panagopoulos
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040072005A1

## CPC

- C08L 23/04: Homopolymers or copolymers of ethene
- B32B 27/322: {comprising halogenated polyolefins, e.g. PTFE}
- C08L 23/0815: {with aliphatic 1-olefins containing one carbon-to-carbon double bond}
- C08L 2205/02: containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group
- C08L 2205/025: containing two or more polymers of the same hierarchy C08L, and differing only in parameters such as density, comonomer content, molecular weight, structure
- C08L 2205/03: containing three or more polymers in a blend
- C08L 2314/06: Metallocene or single site catalysts
- Y10T 428/31938: Polymer of monoethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Blends of very low density polyethylene produced using metallocene catalysts (mVLDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) are disclosed. The polymer blends include a metallocene-catalyzed VLDPE polymer having a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3, the VLDPE polymer preferably being linear and without long chain branching, and a LLDPE polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3. The polymer blends are particularly suitable in blown and cast film applications.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A polymer blend composition, comprising:
(i) a copolymer derived from ethylene and one or more C3-C20 alpha olefin comonomers, said copolymer having:
a) a comonomer content of from 5 to 15 wt. %,
b) a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3,
c) a composition distribution breadth index in the range of from 55% to 70%,
d) a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of from 2 to 3,
e) a molecular weight distribution Mz/Mw of less than 2, and
f) a bi-modal composition distribution; and
(ii) a linear low density polyethylene polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3.

### Claim 2

A monolayer film comprising a polymer blend composition, the polymer blend composition comprising:
(i) a copolymer derived from ethylene and one or more C3-C20 alpha olefin comonomers, said copolymer having:
a) a comonomer content of from 5 to 15 wt. %,
b) a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3,
c) a composition distribution breadth index in the range of from 55% to 70%,
d) a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of from 2 to 3,
e) a molecular weight distribution Mz/Mw of less than 2, and
f) a bi-modal composition distribution; and
(ii) a linear low density polyethylene polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3.

### Claim 3

A multilayer film, comprising a first layer and a second layer, at least one of the layers comprising a polymer blend composition, the polymer blend composition comprising:
(i) a copolymer derived from ethylene and one or more C3-C20 alpha olefin comonomers, said copolymer having:
a) a comonomer content of from 5 to 15 wt. %,
b) a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3,
c) a composition distribution breadth index in the range of from 55% to 70%,
d) a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of from 2 to 3,
e) a molecular weight distribution Mz/Mw of less than 2, and
f) a bi-modal composition distribution; and
(ii) a linear low density polyethylene polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3.

### Claim 4

A polymer blend composition, comprising:
(i) a copolymer derived from ethylene and one or more C3-C20 alpha olefin comonomers, said copolymer having:
a) a comonomer content of from 5 to 15 wt. %,
b) a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3,
c) a composition distribution breadth index in the range of from 55% to 70%,
d) a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of from 2 to 3, and
e) a molecular weight distribution Mz/Mw of less than 2; and
(ii) a linear low density polyethylene polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3.

### Claim 5

An article, comprising a substrate and a film disposed on the substrate, the film comprising a polymer blend composition, the polymer blend composition comprising:
(i) a copolymer derived from ethylene and one or more C3-C20 alpha olefin comonomers, said copolymer having:
a) a comonomer content of from 5 to 15 wt. %,
b) a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3,
c) a composition distribution breadth index in the range of from 55% to 70%,
d) a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of from 2 to 3, and
e) a molecular weight distribution Mz/Mw of less than 2; and
(ii) a linear low density polyethylene polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the copolymer is produced using an unbridged bis-Cp metallocene catalyst system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the copolymer is produced in a gas phase polymerization process.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the copolymer is produced in a gas phase polymerization process at a pressure in the range of from 100 psig to 1000 psig.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the copolymer is produced using an unbridged bis-Cp metallocene catalyst system in a gas phase polymerization process at a pressure in the range of from 100 psig to 1000 psig.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1, 2)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, or the multi-layer film of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the copolymer has a melt index of 5 g/10 minutes or less.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4, 5)

The polymer blend composition or the article of claim 4 or 5, wherein the copolymer has a melt index of 5 g/10 minutes or more.

### Claim 12

A polymer blend composition, comprising:
(a) a metallocene-catalyzed linear very low density polyethylene polymer having:
(i) a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3,
(ii) a composition distribution breadth index of 50 to 85% by weight,
(iii) a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of 2 to 3,
(iv) a molecular weight distribution Mz/Mw of less than 2, and
(v) two peaks in a TREF measurement, and
(b) a linear low density polyethylene polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3.

### Claim 13

A monolayer film formed from a polymer composition blend, the polymer blend composition comprising:
(a) a metallocene-catalyzed linear very low density polyethylene polymer having:
(i) a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3,
(ii) a composition distribution breadth index of 50 to 85% by weight,
(iii) a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of 2 to 3,
(iv) a molecular weight distribution Mz/Mw of less than 2, and
(v) two peaks in a TREF measurement, and
(b) a linear low density polyethylene polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3.

### Claim 14

A multilayer film, comprising a first layer and a second layer, at least one of the layers comprising a polymer blend composition, the polymer blend composition comprising:
(a) a metallocene-catalyzed linear very low density polyethylene polymer having:
(i) a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3,
(ii) a composition distribution breadth index of 50 to 85% by weight,
(iii) a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of 2 to 3,
(iv) a molecular weight distribution Mz/Mw of less than 2, and
(v) two peaks in a TREF measurement,
(b) a linear low density polyethylene polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3.

### Claim 15

A polymer blend composition, comprising:
(a) a metallocene-catalyzed linear very low density polypropylene polymer having:
(i) a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3,
(ii) a composition distribution breadth index of 50 to 85% by weight,
(iii) a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of 2 to 3, and
(iv) a molecular weight distribution Mz/Mw of less than 2, and
(b) a linear low density polyethylene polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3.

### Claim 16

An article, comprising a substrate and a film disposed on the substrate, the film comprising a polymer blend composition, the polymer blend composition comprising:
(a) a metallocene-catalyzed linear very low density polyethylene polymer having:
(i) a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3,
(ii) a composition distribution breadth index of 50 to 85% by weight,
(iii) a molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn of 2 to 3, and
(iv) a molecular weight distribution Mz/Mw of less than 2, and
(b) a linear low density polyethylene polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12, 13, 14, 15)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the very low density polyethylene polymer is a gas-phase metallocene produced very low density polyethylene polymer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12, 13, 14, 15)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the very low density polyethylene polymer has a density of from 0.900 to 0.915 g/cm3.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12, 13, 14, 15)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the very low density polyethylene polymer is a comonomer of ethylene and at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of C3 to C12 alpha olefins.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12, 13, 14, 15)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the linear low density polyethylene polymer is a metallocene-catalyzed linear low density polyethylene polymer.

### Claim 21 (depends on 12, 13, 14, 15)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the linear low density polyethylene polymer is a gas-phase metallocene produced linear low density polyethylene polymer.

### Claim 22 (depends on 12, 13, 14, 15)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the linear low density polyethylene polymer is a Ziegler-Natta produced linear low density polyethylene polymer.

### Claim 23 (depends on 12, 13, 14, 15)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the linear low density polyethylene polymer has a melt index of from 0.5 to 20 g/10 min.

### Claim 24 (depends on 12, 13, 14, 15)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the linear low density polyethylene polymer is a comonomer of ethylene and at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of C3 to C12 linear alpha olefins.

### Claim 25 (depends on 12, 13, 14, 15)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the blend comprises 5-80% by weight of the very low density polyethylene polymer and 95-20% by weight of the linear low density polyethylene polymer, based on the total weight of the very low density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene polymers.

### Claim 26 (depends on 12, 13, 14, 15)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the blend further comprises a second very low density polyethylene polymer having a density of less than 0.916 g/cm3.

### Claim 27 (depends on 12, 13, 14, 15)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, the multi-layer film, or the article of claim 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16, wherein the blend further comprises a second linear low density polyethylene polymer having a density of from 0.916 to 0.940 g/cm3.

### Claim 28 (depends on 12, 13)

The polymer blend composition, the monolayer film, or the multi-layer film of claim 12, 13, or 14, wherein the very low density polyethylene polymer has a melt index of 5 g/10 min or less.

### Claim 29 (depends on 14)

The multilayer film of claim 14, wherein the multilayer film comprises at least layers including a top layer, a bottom layer, and a middle layer.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The multilayer film of claim 29, wherein one of the top layer and the bottom layer comprises the polymer blend composition.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The multilayer film of claim 29, wherein the top layer and the bottom layer comprise the polymer blend composition.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The multilayer film of claim 29, wherein the middle layer comprises the polymer blend composition.

### Claim 33 (depends on 14)

The multilayer film of claim 14, wherein the film has a dart drop value of at least 5 g/μm.

### Claim 34 (depends on 14)

The multilayer film of claim 14, wherein at least one layer does not include the polymer blend and comprises a very low density polyethylene, a low density polyethylene, a linear low density polyethylene, a medium density polyethylene, a high density polyethylene, an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, oriented polypropylene, nylon, or a mixture thereof.

### Claim 35 (depends on 15, 16)

The polymer blend composition or the article of claim 15 or 16, wherein the very low density polyethylene polymer has a melt index of 5 g/10 min or more.

### Claim 36 (depends on 16)

The article of claim 16, wherein the film comprises a monolayer film.

### Claim 37 (depends on 16)

The article of claim 16, wherein the film comprises a multilayer film.

### Claim 38 (depends on 16)

The article of claim 16, wherein the film is extrusion coated on the substrate.

### Claim 39 (depends on 16)

The article of claim 16, wherein the film is laminated to the substrate.

### Claim 40 (depends on 16)

The article of claim 16, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of glass, plastic, metal foil, and paper.