Polyolefin compositions and articles prepared therefrom, and methods for making the same

A composition comprising the following:

• A) at least one olefin multi-block interpolymer, and
• B) at least one functionalized olefin-based polymer wherein the at least one functionalized olefin-based polymer comprises one or more of the following functional groups covalently bonded to the olefin-based polymer backbone:
• (a)
• wherein the structure of (a) R1 is a divalent hydrocarbon radical, and R2 is a monovalent hydrocarbon radical containing at least 2 carbon atoms, and optionally may be substituted with a heteroatom containing group;
• or
• (b)
• wherein the structure of (b) R1 is a divalent hydrocarbon radical;
• or
• (c)
• wherein the structure of (c) R1 and R2 are, independently, either hydrogen or a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl radical, which is linear or branched;
• R4 is a divalent hydrocarbyl radical, which is linear or branched;
• X is OH or NHR5, where R5 is a hydrocarbyl radical, which is linear or branched, or a hydroxyethyl group and
• wherein said olefin multi-block interpolymer is an ethylene/α-olefin multi-block interpolymer, which has one or more of the following characteristics:
• (1) an average block index greater than zero and up to 1.0 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than 1.3;
• (2) at least one molecular fraction which elutes between 40° C. and 130° C. when fractionated using TREF, characterized in that the fraction has a block index of at least 0.5 and up to 1;
• (3) an Mw/Mn from 1.7 to 3.5, at least one melting point, Tm, in degrees Celsius, and a density, d, in grams/cubic centimeter, wherein the numerical values of Tm and d correspond to the relationship:
• Tm>−2002.9+4538.5(d)-2422.2(d)2;
• (4) an Mw/Mn from 1.7 to 3.5, and is characterized by a heat of fusion, ΔH in J/g, and a delta quantity, ΔT, in degrees Celsius, defined as the temperature difference between the tallest DSC peak and the tallest CRYSTAF peak, wherein the numerical values of ΔT and ΔH have the following relationships:
• ΔT>−0.1299(ΔH)+62.81 for ΔH greater than zero and up to 130 J/g,
• ΔT≧48° C. for ΔH greater than 130 J/g,
• wherein the CRYSTAF peak is determined using at least 5 percent of the cumulative polymer, and if less than 5 percent of the polymer has an identifiable CRYSTAF peak, then the CRYSTAF temperature is 30° C.;
• (5) an elastic recovery, Re, in percent at 300 percent strain and 1 cycle measured with a compression-molded film of the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer, and has a density, d, in grams/cubic centimeter, wherein the numerical values of Re and d satisfy the following relationship when ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer is substantially free of a cross-linked phase:
• Re>1481-1629(d);
• (6) a molecular fraction which elutes between 40° C. and 130° C. when fractionated using TREF, characterized in that the fraction has a molar comonomer content of at least 5 percent higher than that of a comparable random ethylene interpolymer fraction eluting between the same temperatures, wherein said comparable random ethylene interpolymer has the same comonomer(s) and has a melt index, density, and molar comonomer content (based on the whole polymer) within 10 percent of that of the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer;
• or
• (7) a storage modulus at 25° C., G′(25° C.), and a storage modulus at 100° C., G′(100° C.), wherein the ratio of G′(25° C.) to G′(100° C.) is in the range of 1:1 to 9:1.