Processability-enhanced bimodal high-density polyethylene with comb-branched high-density polyethylene

Two solution reactors in series were utilized to synthesize comb-branched high-density polyethylene (HDPE), cbHDPE, where the first reactor prepares vinyl-terminated HDPE macromers catalyzed by an organometallic catalyst favoring beta hydride transfer and the second reactor copolymerizes HDPE macromers with ethylene using a different organometallic catalyst capable of incorporating macromers. A bimodal HDPE, biHDPE with bimodalities in molecular weight, and hexene content of the desired composition distribution was also prepared in a gas phase reactor using silica supported dual organometallic catalysts. By blending 3% solution-made cbHDPE into the gas-phase biHDPE, the resulting trimodal HDPE preserves the excellent stiffness and toughness of the bimodal HDPE while having exceptional melt strength and processability. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45755.