Ethylene/Alpha Olefins Compositions, Articles Made Therefrom and Methods for Preparing the Same

1 . A composition comprising at least one random ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer and at least one polydiene diol-based polyurethane, and wherein the at least one ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a PRR from −6 to 70, and a density less than, or equal to, 0.93 g/cc.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one propylene-based polymer, selected from the group consisting of polypropylene homopolymers and propylene/α-olefin interpolymers.

3 . The composition of claim 2 , wherein the at least one propylene-based polymer has a melting point greater than 125° C.

4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a PRR from 18 to 50.

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a PRR less than 3.

6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the α-olefin contains from 3 to 20 carbon atoms.

7 . The composition of claim 6 , wherein the α-olefin contains from 3 to 10 carbon atoms.

8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polydiene diol-based polyurethane is formed from a hydrogenated polydiene diol.

9 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer is polymerized by at least one constrained geometry catalyst.

10 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one elastomer containing a branching agent.

11 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of release agents, anti-static agents, blowing agents, pigments/colorants, processing aids, UV stabilizers and crosslinking agents.

12 . An article, wherein at least one component of the article is formed from the composition of claim 1 , and wherein the article is made by an extrusion process, an injection molding process, a calendaring process, a thermoform process, or a blow molding process.

13 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the article is a coated fabric.

14 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the article is a foamed laminated sheet.

15 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the article is a footwear component.

16 . A film comprising at least one layer or ply, and wherein at least one layer or ply is formed from the composition of claim 1 .

17 . A film comprising at least two layers or plies, and wherein at least one layer or ply is formed from the composition of claim 1 .

18 . The film of claim 17 , wherein the film is formed by co-extrusion.

19 . An article, wherein at least one component of the article comprises the film of claim 16 .

20 . An article, wherein at least one component of the article comprises the film of claim 17 .

21 . The article of claim 20 , wherein the article is a footwear component.

22 . A method of making the film of claim 18 , said method comprising adding the at least one ethylene/α-olefin random interpolymer and the at least one polydiene diol-based polyurethane into an extrusion process.

23 . A method of making the article of claim 12 , said method comprising adding the at least one ethylene/α-olefin random interpolymer and the at least one polydiene diol-based polyurethane into an extrusion process.

24 . A film comprising the composition of claim 1 , and wherein the ethylene/α-olefin random interpolymer is present as a discontinuous phase or dispersed domains within a continuous phase or matrix of the polydiene diol-based polyurethane.

25 . The film of claim 24 , wherein the dispersed ethylene/α-olefin domains range in length from 0.2 microns to greater than 18 microns.

26 . A film comprising the composition of claim 1 , and wherein the ethylene/α-olefin random interpolymer is present as a co-continuous phase with the polydiene diol-based polyurethane.

27 . An article, wherein at least one component of the article is formed from the film of claim 24 .

28 . A film comprising at least two layers or plies, and wherein at least one layer or ply is formed from the composition of claim 1 , and wherein the film is formed by co-extrusion or lamination.

29 . A footwear component, comprising a film, said film comprising at least two layers or plies, and wherein at least one layer or ply is formed from the composition of claim 1 .

30 . A film comprising at least two layers, and wherein at least one layer is formed from the composition of claim 1 , and

wherein at least one other layer is formed from a rheology-modified, substantially gel-free thermoplastic elastomer composition, said elastomer composition comprising an ethylene/α-olefin polymer, or ethylene/α-olefin polymer blend, and at least one polymer, selected from the group consisting of polypropylene homopolymers and propylene/ethylene copolymers, and

wherein the elastomer composition has a combination of at least three of the following four characteristics:

a shear thinning index of at least 20,

a melt strength that is at least 1.5 times that of the composition without rheology modification,

a solidification temperature that is at least 10° C. greater than that of the composition without rheology modification, and

an upper service temperature limit that is at least 10° C. greater than that of the composition without rheology modification.

31 . An article, wherein at least one component of the article is formed from the film of claim 30 .

32 . A film comprising at least two layers, and wherein at least one layer is formed from the composition of claim 1 , and

wherein at least one other layer is formed from a composition comprising an ethylene/α-olefin random interpolymer that has a melt strength greater than, or equal to, 5 cN.

33 . An article, wherein at least one component of the article is formed from the film of claim 32 .

34 . A composition comprising at least one ethylene/α-olefin random interpolymer, at least one polydiene diol-based polyurethane, and at least one polyether/polyol-based and/or at least one polyester/polyol-based polyurethane, and wherein the at least one ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer has a PRR from −6 to 70, and a density less than 0.93 g/cc.

35 . The composition of claim 34 , wherein the at least one polyether/polyol-based and/or the at least one polyester-based polyurethane does not contain unsaturation.

36 . The composition of claim 34 , further comprising at least one polyolefin and/or at least one polyolefin elastomer.