Polymer compositions having improved processability and methods of making and using same

A method for predicting gel count in a polymeric article comprising:

• separating a bimodal polyethylene polymer composition into a plurality of separated polymer samples, δx;
• determining a molecular weight distribution (MWD) for each of the plurality of separated polymer samples, MWDδx;
• determining a molecular weight distribution of the bimodal polyethylene polymer composition;
• determining compositional diversity of the bimodal polyethylene polymer composition according to the equation Ω=Σn=174(MWDδx)n;
• and
• identifying a polymer composition having a compositional diversity of from 0 to about 1.4, wherein an article fabricated from the identified polymer composition has a gel count of less than about 100 gels/ft2.

A method for predicting gel count in a polymeric article comprising:

• (i) for a plurality of bimodal polyethylene polymers having a higher molecular weight (HMW) component and a lower molecular weight (LMW) component, determining one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of a percentage of HMW component;
• zero shear viscosity;
• mixing efficiency;
• compositional diversity;
• and high frequency viscosity;
• and
• (ii) based upon the one or more determined parameters, identifying at least one bimodal polyethylene polymer from the plurality, wherein an article fabricated from the identified bimodal polyethlene polymer has a gel count of less than about 100 gels/ft2.