Olefin polymerization process to produce branched polymer compositions

A method of preparing an in-situ blend of linear and branched polyolefin(s) comprising:

• (a) supplying a single polymerization catalyst;
• (b) conducting a first polymerization step wherein the step comprises supplying an amount of propylene monomer, and optionally, an amount of hydrogen and or other olefin monomer(s), excepting ethene and diene, and contacting the polymerization catalyst, the propylene monomer, and optionally the hydrogen and/or other olefin monomer(s);
• and then
• (c) conducting at least one additional polymerization step wherein the additional step comprises supplying the product of the first polymerization step, an amount of α,ω-diene selected from the group consisting of 1,4-pentadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, 1,6-heptadiene, 1,7-octadiene, 1,8nonadiene, 1,9-decadiene, 1,10-undecadiene, 1,11-dodecadiene, 3,4-dimethyl-1,6-heptadiene, 4-ethyl -1,7-octadiene, and 3-ethyl-4-methyl-5-propyl-1,10-undecadiene, an amount of hydrogen and optionally, an amount of other olefin, excepting ethylene monomer(s);
• (d) controlling the ratio of α,ω-diene-to-hydrogen;
• (e) contacting the α,ω-diene, the hydrogen, the propylene monomer, the other olefin monomer(s) and the polymerization catalyst;
• and
• (f) obtaining a polymer blend comprising two different polymer populations.

A method of preparing an in-situ blend of linear and branched polyolefin(s) comprising:

• (a) supplying a single polymerization catalyst;
• (b) conducting a first polymerization step under supercritical propylene temperature and pressure wherein the step comprises supplying an amount of propylene monomer, and optionally, an amount of hydrogen and or other olefin monomer(s), excepting ethene, and contacting the polymerization catalyst, the propylene monomer, and optionally the hydrogen and/or other olefin monomer(s);
• and then
• (c) conducting at least one additional polymerization step wherein the additional step comprises supplying the product of the first polymerization step, an amount of α,ω-diene, an amount of hydrogen and optionally, an amount of other olefin, excepting ethylene monomer(s):
• (d) controlling the ratio of α,ω-diene-to-hydrogen;
• (e) contacting the α,ω-diene, the hydrogen, the propylene monomer, the other olefin monomer(s) and the polymerization catalyst;
• and
• (f) obtaining a polymer blend comprising two different polymer populations.

A method of preparing an in-situ blend of linear and branched polyolefin(s) comprising:

• (a) supplying a single polymerization catalyst;
• (b) conducting a first polymerization step wherein the step comprises supplying an amount of propylene monomer, and optionally, an amount of hydrogen and or other olefin monomer(s), excepting ethene, and contacting the polymerization catalyst, the propylene monomer, and optionally the hydrogen and/or other olefin monomer(s);
• and then
• (c) conducting at least one additional polymerization step under supercritical propylene temperature and pressure wherein the additional step comprises supplying the product of the first polymerization step, an amount of α,ω-diene, an amount of hydrogen and optionally, an amount of other olefin, excepting ethylene monomer(s);
• (d) controlling the ratio of α,ω-diene-to-hydrogen;
• (e) contacting the α,ω-diene, the hydrogen, the propylene monomer, the other olefin monomer(s) and the polymerization catalyst;
• and
• (f) obtaining a polymer blend comprising two different polymer populations.