Ethylene/α‐olefin copolymerization using diphenylcyclopentadienyl‐phenoxytitanium dichloride/Al(iBu)3/[Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] catalyst systems

Copolymerization of ethylene with 1‐octene and 1‐octadecene using constrained geometry catalysts 2‐(3,4‐diphenylcyclopentadienyl)‐4,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenoxytitanium dichloride (1), 2‐(3,4‐diphenylcyclopentadienyl)‐6‐tert‐butylphenoxytitanium dichloride (2), 2‐(3,4‐diphenylcyclopentadienyl)‐6‐methylphenoxytitanium dichloride (3), and 2‐(3,4‐diphenylcyclopentadienyl)‐6‐phenylphenoxytitanium dichloride (4) was studied in the presence of Al(ⁱBu)₃ and [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄](TIBA/B). The effect of the catalyst structure, comonomer, and reaction conditions on the catalytic activity, comonomer incorporation, and molecular weight of the produced copolymers was also examined. The 1 /TIBA/B catalyst system exhibits high catalytic activity and produces high molecular weight copolymers. The melting temperature and the degree of crystallinity of the copolymers show a decrease with the increase in the comonomer incorporation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Ethylene/1‐octadecene copolymerization using [η5:η1‐C5Me4‐4‐R1‐6‐R‐C6H2O]TiCl2 catalysts

Copolymerization of ethylene with 1‐octadecene was studied using [η⁵:η¹‐C₅Me₄‐4‐R₁‐6‐R‐C₆H₂O]TiCl₂ [R₁ = ^tBu (1), H (2, 3, 4); R = ^tBu (1, 2), Me (3), Ph (4)] as catalysts in the presence of Al(i‐Bu)₃ and [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄]. The effect of the concentration of comonomer in the feed and Al/Ti molar ratio on the catalytic activity and molecular weight of the resultant copolymer were investigated. The substituents on the phenyl ring of the ligand affect considerably both the catalytic activity and comonomer incorporation. The 1 /Al(i‐Bu)₃/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] catalyst system exhibits the highest catalytic activity and produces copolymers with the highest molecular weight, while the 2 /Al(i‐Bu)₃/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] catalyst system gives copolymers with the highest comonomer incorporation under similar conditions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization with supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts prepared by immobilizing TiCl3(OAr) onto MgCl2

Five titanium complexes TiCl₃(OAr) (Ar = C₆H₅? , 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃? , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃? , 2,6‐t‐Bu₂C₆H₃? , 4‐Me‐2,6‐t‐Bu₂C₆H₃? ) were immobilized, respectively, on MgCl₂ in semibatch reaction to form supported catalysts for olefin polymerization. Comparing with the catalysts prepared by immobilizing TiCl₃(OAr) onto MgCl₂ in batch reaction, the catalysts prepared by semibatch reaction have lower titanium content and higher ArO/Ti ratio. The aryloxy‐containing catalysts studied in this work showed higher ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization activity and higher 1‐hexene incorporation rate than the blank catalyst when activated by triisobutylaluminum. Similar effects of the aryloxy ligand were observed when the copolymerization is conducted in the presence of hydrogen. Introducing aryloxy ligand in the catalysts either by semibatch or batch reaction caused similar effects of enhancing copolymerization activity and α‐olefin incorporation rate. Mechanism of the effects of aryloxy ligand has been discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41329.     

Behavior of poly(ethylene‐co‐olefin) polymers as elastomeric materials

The properties of two new ethylene‐α‐olefin copolymers, namely, ethylene–1‐hexene copolymer (EHC) and ethylene–1‐octadecene copolymers (EOC), synthesized via metallocene catalysts were evaluated. The copolymerization was carried out in an autoclave reactor with Et(Indenyl)₂ZrCl₂/methylaluminoxane as a catalyst system. These single‐site catalysts (metallocene type) allow one to obtain very homogeneous copolymers with excellent control of the molecular weight distribution and proportion of comonomer incorporation. So, copolymers with 18 mol % comonomer in the case of EHC and 12 mol % for EOC were shaped, and activities around 100,000 kg of polymer mol^?1 of Zr bar^?1 h^?1 were reached. The properties of these copolymers were compared with other commercial elastomers, such as ethylene–propylene copolymers synthesized by Ziegler–Natta catalysts and an ethylene–octene copolymer obtained via metallocene catalysts. The results show that these new copolymers, in particular, EOC, had excellent elastomeric properties. Furthermore, they had a relatively low viscosity, which implied a good response during processing. Moreover, the effectiveness of these copolymers as impact modifiers for polyolefins was also studied. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 3008–3015, 2004     

Preparation of ethylene/1‐octene copolymers from ethylene stock with tandem catalytic system

Tandem catalysis offers a novel synthetic route to the production of linear low‐density polyethylene. This article reports the use of homogeneous tandem catalytic systems for the synthesis of ethylene/1‐octene copolymers from ethylene stock as the sole monomer. The reported catalytic systems involving a highly selective, bis(diphenylphosphino)cyclohexylamine/Cr(acac)₃/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalytic systems for the synthesis of 1‐hexene and 1‐octene, and a copolymerization metallocene catalyst, rac‐Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂/MAO for the synthesis of ethylene/1‐octene copolymer. Analysis by means of DSC, GPC, and ¹³C‐NMR suggests that copolymers of 1‐hexene and ethylene and copolymers of 1‐octene and ethylene are produced with significant selectivity towards 1‐hexene and 1‐octene as comonomers incorporated into the polymer backbone respectively. We have demonstrated that, by the simple manipulation of the catalyst molar ratio and polymerization conditions, a series of branched polyethylenes with melting temperatures of 101.1–134.1°C and density of 0.922–0.950 g cm^?3 can be efficiently produced. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Notable Effects of Aluminum Alkyls and Solvents for Highly Efficient Ethylene (Co)polymerizations Catalyzed by (Arylimido)‐ (aryloxo)vanadium Complexes

The effects of both Al cocatalyst and solvent on catalytic activity in the ethylene polymerization by the (arylmido)(aryloxo)vanadium(V) complex, VCl₂(N‐2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃)(O‐2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃) ( 1 ), have been explored in detail. The activity of 5.84×10⁵ kg PE/mol V⋅h (TOF 2.08×10⁷ h⁻¹) has been achieved by 1 /EtAlCl₂ catalyst in CH₂Cl₂ at 0 °C, and the activity in toluene increased in the order: i‐Bu₂AlCl>EtAlCl₂>Me₂AlCl>Et₂AlCl> Et₂Al(OEt), AlEt₃, AlMe₃ (negligible activities). Both aluminum alkyl cocatalyst and solvent also affected the catalytic activity and the norbornene (NBE) incorporation in the ethylene/NBE copolymerization using complex 1 , whereas the NBE contents were not strongly affected by the kind of aryl oxide ligand in VCl₂(N‐2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃)(OAr) [OAr=O‐2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ ( 1 ), O‐2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ ( 2 ), O‐2,6‐Ph₂C₆H₃ ( 3 )].     

Influence of the type and the comonomer contents on the mechanical behavior of ethylene/α‐olefin copolymers

The influences of the type and concentration of α‐olefin (1‐hexene, 1‐octene, 1‐decene, 1‐octadecene, 4‐methyl‐1‐pentene) on the mechanical behavior and crystallinity degree of some ethylene/α‐olefin copolymers obtained by metallocene catalysts were studied by means of stress/strain experiments. The crystallinity degree of these copolymers has been determined by X‐ray measurements. It has been observed that the copolymers show less resistance to strain as the comonomer content increases and the crystallinity decreases. Most of the studied copolymers exhibit a significant increase in the crystallinity level after the stress/strain experiments. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 1194–1200, 1999     

Homo- and copolymerization of 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene with ethylene by [2-C5Me4-4,6-Bu2C6H2O]TiCl2/AlBu3/Ph3CB(C6F5)4 catalyst system and epoxidation of the resulting copolymer

5-Ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) polymerization and copolymerization with ethylene (E) catalyzed by constrained geometry catalyst 2-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl-4,6-di-tert-butylphenoxytitanium dichloride (1) were studied in the presence of AlⁱBu₃ and Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄ (TIBA/B). The catalyst system shows moderate activity on the homopolymerization of ENB, and higher activity on the copolymerization of E/ENB under atmospheric pressure of ethylene. ¹H NMR analysis indicates that ENB was regioselectively incorporated into the copolymer backbone through the endocyclic double bond, leaving the ethylidene double bond unreacted. The ethylidene group contained in the poly(E-co-ENB) was quantitatively converted to the epoxy group with m-chloroperbenzoic acid, producing functionalized poly(E-co-ENB)s. The parent and functionalized copolymers have been characterized using IR, NMR, DSC, and GPC techniques.     

Copolymerization and characterization of ethene–1‐hexene copolymers prepared by using the (Me5Cp)2ZrCl2–MAO catalyst system

It is demonstrated that the catalyst system bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)‐zirconium dichloride (Me₅Cp)₂ZrCl₂–methylaluminoxane (MAO) is able to produce random copolymers of ethene and 1‐hexene. The 1‐hexene incorporation in the copolymers is extremely small. Even in the case of a molar ratio of [ethene] to [1‐hexene] of 1/20 in the monomer feed, only 1.4 mol % 1‐hexene are incorporated according to ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. Nevertheless, the physical properties of the random copolymers change significantly in this small range of 1‐hexene incorporation, from a high‐density polyethene to a linear low‐density polyethene. Thus, the melting temperature, the degree of crystallinity, the density and lamella thickness, and the long period of the alternating crystalline and amorphous regions decrease with increasing 1‐hexene content in the random copolymers. Blends of high‐density polyethene prepared with the system (Me₅Cp)₂ZrCl₂–MAO and an elastomeric random copolymer of ethene and 1‐hexene are phase‐separated and show good compatibility, as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 439–447, 1999     

Copolymerization of ethylene and 1‐decene by metallocenes: Direct comparison of Me2C(Cp)(Flu)ZrMe2 with Et(Cp)(Flu)ZrMe2

Copolymerizations of ethylene with 1‐decene have been carried out by using two syndiospecific metallocenes synthesized by modifying the bridge: highly syndiospecific isopropylidene(1‐η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl)(1‐η⁵‐fluorenyl)‐dimethylzirconium (Me₂C(Cp)(Flu)ZrMe₂, 1 ) and less syndiospecific (1‐fluorenyl‐2‐cyclopentadienylethane)‐dimethylzirconium (Et(Cp)(Flu)ZrMe₂, 2 ), in the presence of [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] as a cocatalyst. The ethano bridged 2 compound of smaller dihedral angle showed much higher activity than 1 compound. The catalytic activities of the two compounds were enhanced about twice when a suitable amount of 1‐decene comonomer is present in the feed. The compound 1 showed better comonomer reactivity than 2 . The properties (T_m, density, and crystallinity) of copolymers seem not to be affected by the type of bridge of the metallocenes, and mainly depend on 1‐decene content in the copolymer.     

Copolymerization of ethylene/α‐olefins over (2‐MeInd)2ZrCl2/MAO and (2‐BzInd)2ZrCl2/MAO systems

Ethylene homopolymerization and ethylene/α‐olefin copolymerization were carried out using unbridged and 2‐alkyl substituted bis(indenyl)zirconium dichloride complexes such as (2‐MeInd)₂ZrCl₂ and (2‐BzInd)₂ZrCl₂. Various concentrations of 1‐hexene, 1‐dodecene, and 1‐octadecene were used in order to find the effect of chain length of α‐olefins on the copolymerization behavior. In ethylene homopolymerization, catalytic activity increased at higher polymerization temperature, and (2‐MeInd)₂ZrCl₂ showed higher activity than (2‐BzInd)₂ZrCl₂. The increase of catalytic activity with addition of comonomer (the synergistic effect) was not observed except in the case of ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization at 40°C. The monomer reactivity ratios of ethylene increased with the decrease of polymerization temperature, while those of α‐olefin showed the reverse trend. The two catalysts showed similar copolymerization reactivity ratios. (2‐MeInd)₂ZrCl₂ produced the copolymer with higher M_w than (2‐BzInd)₂ZrCl₂. The melting temperature and the crystallinity decreased drastically with the increase of the α‐olefin content but T_m as a function of weight fraction of the α‐olefins showed similar decreasing behavior. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 928–937, 2000     

Isothermal crystallization of metallocene‐based propylene/α‐olefin copolymers

Isothermal crystallization and subsequent melting behavior of two propylene/hexene‐1 copolymers and two propylene/octene‐1 copolymers prepared with metallocene catalyst were investigated. It is found that γ‐modification is predominant in all copolymers. The Avrami exponent shows a weak dependency on comonomer content and comonomer type. At higher crystallization temperatures (T_c) the crystallization rate constant changes more rapidly with T_c and the crystallization half‐time substantially increases. Double melting peaks were also observed at high T_c, which is attributed to the inhomogeneous distribution of comonomer units along the polymer chains and the existence of crystals with different lamellar thicknesses. The equilibrium melting temperatures (T) of the copolymers were obtained by Hoffman–Weeks extrapolation. It was found that the T decreases with increasing comonomer content, but are independent of comonomer type, implying that comonomer units are excluded from the crystal lattice. Dilation of the crystal lattice was also observed, which depends on crystallization, comonomer content, and comonomer type. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 240–247, 2005     

Study of the influence of the reaction parameters on the composition of the metallocene‐catalyzed ethylene copolymers using temperature rising elution fractionation and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance

Polyethylene copolymers prepared using the metallocene catalyst rac‐Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂ were fractionated by preparative Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation (p‐TREF) and characterized by ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to study the heterogeneity caused by experimental conditions. Two ethylene–1‐hexene copolymers with different 1‐hexene content and an ethylene–1‐octene copolymer all obtained using low (1.6 bar) ethylene pressure were compared with two ethylene–1‐hexene copolymers with different 1‐hexene content obtained at high ethylene pressure (7.0 bar). Samples obtained at low ethylene pressure and with low 1‐hexene concentration in the reactor presented narrow distributions in composition. Samples prepared with high comonomer concentration in the reactor or with high ethylene pressure showed an heterogeneous composition. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 155–163, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10284     

Copolymerization of propylene with 1‐octene catalyzed by MgCl2/TiCl4/diether catalyst

MgCl₂/TiCl₄/diether is a fifth‐generation Ziegler–Natta catalyst for the commercial polymerization of propylene. The outstanding features of this catalyst are the high activity and high isotacticity for propylene polymerization without using an external electron donor. In this study, we explored the copolymerization of propylene and 1‐octene with MgCl₂/TiCl₄/diether catalyst. It was found that MgCl₂/TiCl₄/diether catalyst showed higher polymerization activity and led to greater 1‐octene content incorporation, compared with a fourth‐generation Ziegler–Natta catalyst (MgCl₂/TiCl₄/diester). With an increase in 1‐octene incorporation in polypropylene chains, the melting temperature, glass transition temperature and crystallinity of the copolymers decreased distinctly. The microstructures of the copolymers were characterized using ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and the copolymer compositions and number‐average sequence lengths were calculated from the dyad concentration and distribution. This result is very important for the in‐reactor polyolefin alloying process, especially for the case of a single catalyst and two‐step (or two‐reactor) process. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

A new post‐metallocene catalyst for alkene polymerization: copolymerization of ethylene and 1‐hexene with titanium complexes bearing N,N‐dialkylcarbamato ligands

A new type of post‐metallocene polymerization catalyst based on titanium complexes with N,N‐dialkylcarbamato ligands was used to copolymerize ethylene and 1‐hexene. These easy‐to‐synthesize and stable complexes in combination with different organoaluminium co‐catalysts produce random ethylene/1‐hexene copolymers characterized by a broad molecular weight distribution and high 1‐hexene incorporation, as confirmed by SEC, DSC and ¹³C NMR analysis. The influence of the main reaction parameters on the polymerization reactions was studied including the type of catalyst components, solvent, temperature, the ethylene partial pressure and the [Al]/[Ti] ratio in the catalyst. A higher activity and a higher 1‐hexene incorporation were achieved with AlMe₃‐depleted methylalumoxane as co‐catalyst and chlorobenzene as solvent. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Vinyl‐addition copolymerization of norbornene and polar norbornene derivatives using novel bis(β‐ketoamino)Ni(II)/B(C6F5)3/AlEt3 catalytic systems

Copolymerization of norbornene (NBE) and polar norbornene derivatives undergoes vinyl polymerization by using novel catalyst systems formed in situ by combining bis(β‐ketoamino)Ni(II) complexes {Ni[R₁C(O)CHC(NR₃)R₂]₂ (R_l = R₂ = CH₃, R₃ = naphthyl, 1 ; R₁ = R₂ = CH₃, R₃ = C₆H₅, 2 ; R₁ = C₆H₅, R₂ = CH₃, R₃ = naphthyl, 3 ; R_l = R₂ = CH₃, R₃ = 2, 6‐(CH₃)₂C₆H₃, 4 ; R₁ = R₂ = CH₃, R₃ = 2, 6‐′Pr₂C₆H₃ 5 ; R₁ = C₆H₅, R₂ = CH₃, R₃ = 2, 6‐′Pr₂C₆H₃, 6 )} and B(C₆F₅)₃/AlEt₃ in toluene. The 1 /B(C₆F₅)₃/AlEt₃ catalytic system is effective for copolymerization of NBE with NBE OCOCH₃ and NBE CH₂OH, respectively, and copolymerization activity is followed in the order of NBE CH₂OH > NBE OCOCH₃ > NBE CN. The molecular weights of the obtained poly(NBE/NBE CH₂OH) reached 5.97 × 10⁴ to 2.07 × 10⁵ g/mol and the NBE CH₂OH incorporation ratios reached 7.0–55.4 mol % by adjusting the comonomer feedstock composition. The copolymerization of NBE and NBE CH₂OH also depend on catalyst structures and activity of catalyst followed in the order of 2 > 1 > 3 > 5 > 4 > 6 . The molecular weights and NBE CH₂OH incorporation ratios of poly(NBE/NBE CH₂OH) were adjustable to be 1.91–5.37 × 10⁵ g/mol and 9.5–41.1 mol %  OH units by using catalysts 1 – 6 . The achieved copolymers were confirmed to be vinyl‐addition type, noncrystalline and have good thermal stability (T_d = 380–410°C). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Chemical composition distribution study in ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization to produce LLDPE material using MgCl2‐TiCl4‐based Ziegler‐Natta catalysts

The characteristic features of LLDPE polymerization with ZN catalyst are the time drift effect during polymerization and the bending effect when trying to decrease density of the copolymer by adding more comonomer to the polymerization. The time drift in LLDPE polymerization is revealed by a constant decrease of comonomer incorporation during polymerization time. The bending is revealed by difficulties in lowering the density of LLDPE material below the density of 920 kg/m³. With increasing comonomer content during polymerization, the density does not decrease, but the soluble fraction increases. To try to observe if these phenomena are connected, two types of catalysts, SiO₂ supported and precipitated MgCl₂ ZN catalysts, were studied. A short time (10 min) and an extended time (60 min) copolymerization test series where the polymerizations were performed in the presence of a gradually increasing comonomer amount. Both catalysts show a strong bending when density is presented as a function of 1‐hexene both in 10‐ and 60‐min polymerization, indicating no connection between time drift and bending. The density, melting point, and crystallinity results all indicate that both catalysts are making similar copolymer material with identical chemical composition distribution. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Nickel(II) complexes bearing the bis(β‐ketoamino) ligand for the copolymerization of norbornene with a higher 1‐alkene

A novel bis(β‐ketoamino)Ni(II) complex catalyst, Ni{CF₃C(O)CHC[N(naphthyl)]CH₃}₂, was synthesized, and the structure was solved by a single‐crystal X‐ray refraction technique. The copolymerization of norbornene with higher 1‐alkene was carried out in toluene with catalytic systems based on nickel(II) complexes, Ni{RC(O)CHC[N(naphthyl)]CH₃}₂(R?CH₃, CF₃) and B(C₆F₅)₃, and high activity was exhibited by both catalytic systems. The effects of the catalyst structure and comonomer feed content on the polymerization activity and the incorporation rates were investigated. The reactivity ratios were determined to be r_1‐octene = 0.009 and r_norbornene = 13.461 by the Kelen–Tüdõs method for the Ni{CH₃C(O)CHC[N(naphthyl)]CH₃}₂/B(C₆F₅)₃ system. The achieved copolymers were confirmed to be vinyl‐addition copolymers through the analysis of ¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR. The thermogravimetric analysis results showed that the copolymers exhibited good thermal stability (decomposition temperature, T_dec > 400°C), and the glass‐transition temperature of the copolymers were observed between 215 and 275°C. The copolymers were confirmed to be noncrystalline by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analysis and showed good solubility in common organic solvents. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Synthesis of poly(1‐hexene)s end‐functionalized with phenols

Electrophilic alkylations of phenol/2,6‐dimethylphenol were performed with vinylidene‐terminated poly(1‐hexene)s using BF₃·OEt₂ catalyst. Vinylidene‐terminated poly(1‐hexene)s with M_n varying from 400 to 10000 were prepared by bulk polymerization of 1‐hexene at 50 to ?20 °C using Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalysts. The phenol/2,6‐dimethylphenol‐terminated poly(1‐hexene)s was characterized by NMR (¹H, ¹³C), UV, IR and vapor phase osmometer (VPO). The isomer distribution (ortho, para and ortho/para) was determined by ¹³P NMR using a phosphitylating reagent, namely 2‐chloro‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane. The number‐average degree of functionality (F_n) >0.9 with >95% para selectivity could be achieved using low‐molecular‐weight oligomers of poly(1‐hexene)s. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Solubility of 1‐hexene in LLDPE synthesized by (2‐MeInd)2ZrCl2/MAO and by Mg(OEt)2/DIBP/TiCl4–TEA

The solubility of 1‐hexene was measured for linear low‐density polyethylenes (LLDPEs) produced over a heterogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalyst, Mg(OEt)₂/DIBP/TiCl₄–TEA (ZN), and over a homogeneous metallocene catalyst, (2‐MeInd)_zZrCl₂–MAO (MT). The 1‐hexene solubility in LLDPEs was well represented by the Flory–Huggins equation with a constant value of χ. ZN–LLDPEs dissolved a larger amount of 1‐hexene and thus showed a lower value of χ compared to MT–LLDPEs. The Flory–Huggins interaction parameter χ, or the solubility of 1‐hexene at a given temperature and pressure, was suggested as a sensitive measure for the composition distribution of LLDPEs. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 1566–1571, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10418