RHEOLOGY MODIFIED RELATIVELY HIGH MELT STRENGTH POLYETHELENE COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF MAKING PIPES, FILMS, SHEETS AND BLOW MOLDED ARTICLES

A polymer composition comprises a low-molecular-weight (LMW) ethylene polymer component and a high-molecular-weight (HMW) ethylene polymer component coupled with a polysulfonyl azide. Preferably, the LMW polyethylene component and the HMW polyethylene component co-crystallize in the composition such that it exhibits a single or substantially single peak in a lamella thickness distribution (LTD) curve. The ethylene polymer for the LMW and the HMW polyethylene components can be either homopolymer or ethylene copolymer. Preferably, both components are an ethylene copolymer of the same, or different, composition ( that is, with the same or different comonomers). A method of making a pipe that includes selecting a polymer composition having a substantially single peak in the LTD curve is described. Compositions comprising a chromium-catalyzed ethylene polymer, coupled with a polysulfonyl azide are also described herein. Figure 1 as the most illustrative drawing to accompany the abstract.