Blends of ethylenic polymers with improved modulus and melt strength and articles fabricated from these blends

A blend comprising the following components: (A) a heterogeneous or homogeneous linear ethylene homopolymer or interpolymer, and wherein the homopolymer or interpolymer has a density greater than or equal to 0.944 g/cc, and (B) a branched interpolymer formed from ethylene and at least one ±,²-ethylenically unsaturated comonomer; and wherein said blend has the following properties: 1) a melt index, 12, from 0.05 to 20 g/10 min; 2) a flexural modulus of ‰¥ 100,000 psi; 3) a melt strength of ‰¥ 2 cN at 190°C; 4) a melt extensibility of ‰¥ 25 mm/sec; 5) a UST greater than 115°C; and 6) wherein said melt strength of said blend meets the following inequality: Melt strength ‰¥ F MS * ( f * A ) + ( 1 - f ) * B , where A = 3.3814* (1/I2) 0.6476 and B = 10 (1.2896 - 0.4278*log10(I2)) , I2 is the measured melt index of the blend, f is the weight fraction of Component A in the blend, and F MS is ‰¥ 1.1. Also included in the present invention are foams, films, fibers, blow molded articles and extrusion coatings comprising said blend.