A ternary blend of the bisiminopyridine chromium (III) (Cr-1) with the bisiminopyridine iron (II) (Fe-2) post-metallocenes with the quinolylsilylcyclopentadienyl chromium (III) halfsandwich complex (Cr-3) was supported on mesoporous silica to produce novel multiple single-site catalysts and polyethylene reactor blends with tailor-made molecular weight distributions (MWDs). The preferred cosupporting sequence of this ternary blend on MAO-treated silica was Fe-2 followed by Cr-1 and Cr-3. Cosupporting does not impair the single-site nature of the blend components producing polyethylene fractions with $\overline M _{\rm w}$ = 10(4) g · mol(-1) on Cr-1, $\overline M _{\rm w}$ = 3 × 10(5) g · mol(-1) on Fe-2, and $\overline M _{\rm w}$ = 3 × 10(6) g · mol(-1) on Cr-3. As a function of the Fe-2/Cr-1/Cr-2 mixing ratio it is possible to control the weight ratio of these three polyethylenes without affecting the individual average molecular weights and narrow polydispersities of the three polyethylene fractions. Tailor-made polyethylene reactor blends with ultra-broad MWD and polydispersities varying between 10 and 420 were obtained. When the molar ratio of Fe-2/Cr-1 was constant, the ultra-high molecular polyethylene (UHMWPE, $\overline M _{\rm w}$ > 10(6) g · mol(-1) ) content was varied between 8 and 16 wt.-% as a function of the Cr-3 content without impairing the blend ratio of the other two polyethylene fractions and without sacrificing melt processability. When the molar ratio Fe-2/Cr-3 was constant, it was possible to selectively increase the content of the low molecular weight fraction by additional cosupporting of Cr-1. Due to the intimate mixing of low and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylenes (UHMPEs) produced on cosupported single-site catalysts a wide range of melt processable polyethylene reactor blends was obtained.

Samples made from linear polyethylene were drawn at room temperature and subsequently annealed at high temperatures below the melting point. The structural changes of the crystalline lamellae and lamellar superstructures as well as the single chain radius of gyration were studied by means of combined small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). After drawing, the polymeric chain segments in the crystalline phase are preferentially oriented along the drawing direction with a high degree of orientation whereas the lamellae in the samples are found to be slightly sheared exhibiting oblique surfaces as evidenced by X-ray scattering. SANS indicates that the chains are highly elongated along the drawing direction. Annealing the deformed samples at temperatures where the mechanical alpha-process of polyethylene is active leads to a thickening of both crystalline lamellae and amorphous layers. The chains in the crystalline phase retain their high degree of orientation after annealing while the lamellae are sheared to a larger extent. In addition, there is also lateral growth of the crystalline lamellae during high-temperature annealing. Despite the structural changes of the crystalline and amorphous regions, there is no evidence for global chain relaxation. The global anisotropic shape of the chains is preserved even after prolonged annealing at high temperatures. The results indicate that the mobility of polyethylene chains-as seen, e.g., by 13C NMR-is a local phenomenon. The results also yield new insight into mechanical properties of drawn PE, especially regarding stress relaxation and creep mechanisms.

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