Ethylene copolymers, methods for their production, and use

A process of producing an ethylene copolymer, the process comprising contacting a monomer mixture comprising 40 wt. % to 70 wt. % of ethylene and at least 30 wt. % of at least one α-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms under polymerizations conditions with a catalyst composition comprising a bridged bis-indenyl complex of a transition metal to produce a copolymer having the following properties:

• (a) a weight-average molecular weight (Mw), as measured by GPC, in the range of about 50,000 to about 200,000 g/mol;
• (b) a melting point (Tm) in ° C., as measured by DSC, that satisfies the relation:
• Tm>3.4×E−180
• where E is the weight % of units derived from ethylene in the copolymer;
• (c) a ratio of Mw/Mn of about 1.5 to about 3.5;
• (d) a content of Group 4 metals of no more than 25 ppm;
• and
• (e) a ratio of wt ppm Group 4 metals/wt ppm Group 5 metals of at least 3.

A lubricating oil composition comprising (a) a lubricating oil base and (b) ethylene copolymer comprising 40 wt. % to 70 wt. % of units derived from ethylene and at least 30 wt. % of units derived from at least one α-olefin having 3 to 20carbon atoms, wherein the copolymer has the following properties:

• (a) a weight-average molecular weight (Mw), as measured by GPC, in the range of about 50,000 to about 200,000 g/mol;
• (b) a melting point (TM) in ° C., as measured by DSC, that satisfies the relation:
• Tm>3.4×E−180
• where E is the weight % of units derived from ethylene in the copolymer;
• (c) a ratio of Mw/Mn of about 1.5 to about 3.5;
• (d) a content of Group 4 metals of no more than 25 ppm;
• and
• (e) a ratio of wt ppm Group 4 metals/wt ppm Group 5 metals of at least 3.