Bimodal poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer and blow-molded intermediate bulk containers made therefrom

A bimodal poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer comprising from 25.5 weight percent (wt %) to 34.4 wt % of a higher molecular weight poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer component (HMW copolymer component) and from 74.5 wt % to 65.6 wt %, respectively, of a lower molecular weight poly(ethylene-co-1-alkene) copolymer component (LMW copolymer component), and wherein the copolymer has each of properties (a) to (h):

• (a) a density from 0.942 to 0.949 gram per cubic centimeter (g/cm3), measured according to ASTM D792-13 (Method B, 2-propanol);
• (b) a high load melt index (HLMI or I21) from 5.0 to 8.0 grams per 10 minutes (g/10 min.) measured according to ASTM D1238-13 (190° C., 21.6 kg);
• (c) a ratio of Mw/Mn from 8.1 to 10.1, wherein Mw is weight-average molecular weight and Mn is number-average molecular weight, both measured by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) Test Method 2 (GPC(abs));
• (d) a ratio of Mz/Mw from 5.0 to 7.0, wherein Mz is z-average molecular weight and Mw is weight-average molecular weight, both measured by GPC Test Method 2 (GPC(abs));
• (e) a resin swell t1000 from 9.5 seconds to 10.5 seconds, measured according to Resin Swell t1000 Test Method;
• (f) an environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) greater than 900 hours, measured according to ASTM D1693-15, Method B (10% Igepal, F50);
• (g) a melt strength from 21 to 29 centinewtons (cN), measured at 190° C. by Melt Strength Test Method;
• and
• (h) a zero-shear viscosity (“ηo”) from 1,100 to 1,940 kilopascal-seconds (Pa-sec), measured according to Zero Shear Viscosity Determination Method;
• and
• wherein the wt % of the HMW copolymer component and the wt % of the LMW copolymer component are calculated based on the combined weight of these components.