Process for Preparing a Modified Ethylene-Based Polymer Using a Hydrocarbon Initiator

A process to form a second composition comprising a modified ethylene-based polymer the process comprising reacting a first composition comprising a first ethylene-based polymer with at least the following:

• (A) at least one carbon-carbon (C-C) free radical initiator of Structure I:
• wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are each, independently, hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group;
• and
• wherein, optionally, two or more R groups (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6) form a ring structure;
• and
• with the provisos that (i) at least one of R3 and R5 is a hydrocarbyl group of at least two carbon atoms, and (ii) at least one of R3 and R6 is a hydrocarbyl group of at least two carbon atoms;
• and
• (B) at least one free radical initiator other than the carbon-carbon (C-C) free radical initiator of Structure I (a non-C-C free radical initiator);
• and
• (C) less than 10 ppm of a hindered phenol antioxidant, based on the weight of the first composition.