Ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions and films

Abstract

Provided herein is ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions comprising at least two distinguishable ethylene / α-olefin copolymer components with defined architectural features. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions have a melt index I2 of from about 2.5 to about 6 dg / min and a density of from about 0.860 to about 0.910 g / cm3. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions have a zero-shear viscosity at 190°C, η0, a VICAT softening temperature, VSP, and a short chain branching content, SCB, which satisfy (I): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0 [in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.5°C (I). The provided ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions can advantageously be used in high speed vertical and horizontal form-fill-seal processes and film applications where seal through and around contamination properties are desired.

Description

[0001]ETHYLENE / α-OLEFIN COPOLYMER COMPOSITIONS AND FILMS TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure generally relates to ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions and films prepared therefrom. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions includes at least two distinguishable ethylene / α-olefin copolymer components with defined architectural features. BACKGROUND ART Devolatilization using a stripping agent such as air, nitrogen, gaseous hydrocarbon, etc. is a known technique for the removal of volatile hydrocarbon residues (e.g., unreacted monomers) from solid polymer particles in the finishing area of a polymerization plant. It is known to those of ordinary experience that it is desired to heat the polymer particles to accelerate the desorption process of hydrocarbon residues and to reduce the holdup time required to strip the polymer particles form hydrocarbon residues. However, for a given polymer composition, there is an upper limit for the devolatilization temperature above which polymer particles start softening and forming agglomerates which may plug the devolatilization unit. As a result, to enable devolatilization at an accelerated rate, there is still a need to develop polymer compositions with delayed softening and deformation under devolatilization conditions to postpone the onset of polymer particles agglomerates formation. Known approaches to address the need for polymer compositions with delayed softening generally involve sacrificing performance attributes in end-use applications where melt flowability and fast self-diffusion is desired — e.g., heat sealing applications requiring seal through and around contamination properties. SUMMARY OF INVENTION Provided in a first aspect is an ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition, comprising: from about 30 to about 50 weight percent of a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB1, of from about 15 to about 40 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight-average molecular weight, Mw1, of from about 80 kg / mol to about 140 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw1 / Mn1, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; and about 50 to about 70 weight percent of a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB2, of from about 10 to about 35 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight-average molecular weight, Mw2, of from about 20 kg / mol to about 60 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw2 / Mn2, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; wherein the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1, is greater than or equal to the short chain branching content of the second ethylene / α- olefin copolymer, SCB2; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index I2 of from about 2.5 to about 6 dg / min, as determined according to ASTM D1238 at 190°C using a weight of 2.16 kg, and a density of from about 0.860 to about 0.910 g / cm3, as determined according to ASTM D792; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a zero-shear viscosity at 190°C, η0, a VICAT softening temperature, VSP, as determined according to ASTM D1525, and a short chain branching content, SCB, as determined by ASTM D6645, which satisfy (I): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0 [in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.5°C (I). In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a VSP of from about 70°C to about 100°C, or from about 80°C to about 95°C. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a density of from about 0.885 to about 0.910 g / cm3, or from about 0.900 to about 0.910 g / cm3. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index, I2, of from about 3 to about 6 dg / min, or from about 4 to about 6 dg / min. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a η0, VSP and SCB which satisfy (II): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0 [in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.0°C (II). In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a unimodal molecular weight distribution. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a molecular weight distribution with a polydispersity index, Mw / Mn, of from about 2.1 to about 4. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a ratio of Mw1to Mw2of from about 2 to about 3. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1and SCB2, satisfy: SCB1> SCB2. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1and SCB2, satisfy: SCB1> SCB2; and the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a comonomer distribution profile in a GPC-FTIR analysis, wherein the comonomer distribution profile has a secant slope of from about +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to about +30 short chain branches per 1000 carbons, wherein the secant slope is defined as the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 300 kg / mol minus the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 30 kg / mol. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1and SCB2, satisfy: SCB1> SCB2; and the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a reversed comonomer distribution profile in a GPC-FTIR analysis, wherein the comonomer distribution profile has a secant slope of from about +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to about +30 short chain branches per 1000 carbons, wherein the secant slope is defined as the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 300 kg / mol minus the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 30 kg / mol. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises a fraction eluting at a temperature range of from 90°C to 105°C having an integrated area of less than 1 weight percent, in a CTREF analysis. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition contains detectable levels of long chain branches as determined according to a long chain branching factor, LCBF, of greater than or equal to 0.001. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of C3 to C10 α-olefins. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of hexene-1, octene-1, and a mixtures thereof. In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition consists essentially of ethylene and octene-1. Provided in a second aspect is a film layer comprising the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition as defined in the first aspect. Provided in a third aspect is a multilayer film structure, wherein the film structure has at least one skin layer, wherein the at least one skin layer comprises the ethylene / α- olefin copolymer composition as defined in the first aspect. In some embodiments of the third aspect, the at least one skin layer is a sealant layer. In some embodiments of the third aspect, the film structure has a seal initiation temperature of from about 70°C to 100°C, wherein the seal initiation temperature is the minimum sealing temperature at which the film structure has a seal strength of greater than 8.8 N per 25.4 mm of seal width. In some embodiments of the third aspect, the film structure has a peak hot tack force of greater than about 6 N. Provided in a fourth aspect is an ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition, comprising: from about 30 to about 50 weight percent of a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB1, of from about 15 to about 40 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight-average molecular weight, Mw1, of from about 80 kg / mol to about 140 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw1 / Mn1, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; and from about 50 to about 70 weight percent of a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB2, of from about 10 to about 35 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight-average molecular weight, Mw2, of from about 20 kg / mol to about 60 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw2 / Mn2, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1, is greater than or equal to the short chain branching content of the second ethylene / α- olefin copolymer, SCB2; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index I2of from about 2.5 to about 6 dg / min, as determined according to ASTM D1238 at 190°C using a weight of 2.16 kg, and a density of from about 0.860 to about 0.910 g / cm3, as determined according to ASTM D792; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises a fraction eluting at a temperature range of from 90°C to 105°C having an integrated area of less than 1 weight percent, in a CTREF analysis. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a VSP of from about 70°C to about 100°C, or from about 80°C to about 95°C. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a density of from about 0.885 to about 0.910 g / cm3, or from about 0.900 to about 0.910 g / cm3. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index, I2, of from about 3 to about 6 dg / min, or from about 4 to about 6 dg / min. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a zero-shear viscosity at 190°C, η0, a VICAT softening temperature, VSP, as determined according to ASTM D1525, and a short chain branching content, SCB, as determined by ASTM D6645, which satisfy (I): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0[in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.5°C (I). In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a zero-shear viscosity at 190°C, VSP and SCB which satisfy (II): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0[in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.0°C (II). In some embodiments of the first aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a unimodal molecular weight distribution. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a molecular weight distribution with a polydispersity index, Mw / Mn, of from about 2.1 to about 4. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a ratio of Mw1to Mw2of from about 2 to about 3. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1and SCB2, satisfy: SCB1> SCB2. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1and SCB2, satisfy: SCB1> SCB2; and the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a comonomer distribution profile in a GPC-FTIR analysis, wherein the comonomer distribution profile has a secant slope of from about +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to about +30 short chain branches per 1000 carbons, wherein the secant slope is defined as the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 300 kg / mol minus the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 30 kg / mol. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1and SCB2, satisfy: SCB1> SCB2; and the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a reversed comonomer distribution profile in a GPC-FTIR analysis, wherein the comonomer distribution profile has a secant slope of from about +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to about +30 short chain branches per 1000 carbons, wherein the secant slope is defined as the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 300 kg / mol minus the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 30 kg / mol. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition contains detectable levels of long chain branches as determined according to a long chain branching factor, LCBF, of greater than or equal to 0.001. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of C3 to C10 α-olefins. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of hexene-1, octene-1, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments of the fourth aspect, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition consists essentially of ethylene and octene-1. Provided in a fifth aspect is a film layer comprising the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition as defined in the fourth aspect. Provided in a sixth aspect is a multilayer film structure, wherein the film structure has at least one skin layer, wherein the at least one skin layer comprises the ethylene / α- olefin copolymer composition as defined in the fourth aspect. In some embodiments of the sixth aspect, the at least one skin layer is a sealant layer. In some embodiments of the sixth aspect, the film structure has a seal initiation temperature of from about 70°C to 100°C, wherein the seal initiation temperature is the minimum sealing temperature at which the film structure has a seal strength of greater than 8.8 N per 25.4 mm of seal width. In some embodiments of the sixth aspect, the film structure has a peak hot tack force of greater than about 6 N. Definition of Terms Other than in the examples or where otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions referring to quantities of ingredients, extrusion conditions, etc., used in the specification and claims are to be understood as modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties that the various embodiments desire to obtain. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. The numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. It should be understood that any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein. For example, a range of “1 to 10” is intended to include all sub-ranges between and including the recited minimum value of 1 and the recited maximum value of 10; that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1 and a maximum value of equal to or less than 10. Because the disclosed numerical ranges are continuous, they include every value between the minimum and maximum values. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, the various numerical ranges specified in this application are approximations. All compositional ranges expressed herein are limited in total to and do not exceed 100 percent (volume percent or weight percent) in practice. Where multiple components can be present in a composition, the sum of the maximum amounts of each component can exceed 100 percent, with the understanding that, and as those skilled in the art readily understand, that the amounts of the components actually used will conform to the maximum of 100 percent. In order to form a more complete understanding of this disclosure the following terms are defined and should be used with the description of the various embodiments throughout. As used herein, the term “monomer” refers to a small molecule that may chemically react and become chemically bonded with itself or other monomers to form a polymer. As used herein, the term “α-olefin” or “alpha-olefin” is used to describe a monomer having a linear hydrocarbon chain having a double bond at one end of the chain and containing from n = 3 to 20 carbon atoms with a chemical formula CnH2n; an equivalent term is “linear α- olefin”. As used herein, the terms “polyethylene”, “polyethylene polymer” or “ethylene polymer”, refers to macromolecules produced from ethylene monomer and optionally at least one α-olefin monomer; regardless of the specific catalyst or specific process used to make the ethylene polymer. An ethylene polymer in its polymerized form will include greater than 50 weight percent (based on the weight of the ethylene polymer) of ethylene monomeric units. Common polyethylenes include high density polyethylene (HDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), ultralow density polyethylene (ULDPE), plastomer and elastomers. The term polyethylene also includes combinations of, or blends of, the polyethylenes described above. As used herein, the term “ethylene homopolymer” refers to a subset of polymers within the “ethylene polymer” group that are produced using only ethylene as a polymerizable monomer. The term “ethylene / α-olefin copolymer” refers to a subset of polymers within the “ethylene polymer” group that are produced from ethylene and at least one α-olefin. Thus, as used herein, the term “ethylene / α-olefin copolymer” includes ethylene polymers prepared from two polymerizable monomeric units (i.e., ethylene and one α-olefin) and ethylene polymers prepared from more than two polymerizable monomeric units (i.e., ethylene and two or more than two α-olefins). The term “heterogeneously branched ethylene / α-olefin copolymer” refers to a subset of ethylene copolymers that are produced using a heterogeneous catalyst system; non- limiting examples of which include Ziegler-Natta or chromium catalysts, both of which are well known in the art. The term “homogeneously branched ethylene / α-olefin copolymer” refers to a subset of ethylene copolymers group that are produced using single-site catalysts; non-limiting examples of which include metallocene catalysts, phosphinimine catalysts, and constrained geometry catalysts all of which are well known in the art. Typically, homogeneously branched ethylene copolymers have narrow molecular weight distributions, for example gel permeation chromatography (GPC) Mw / Mnvalues of less than about 2.8, especially less than about 2.3, although exceptions may arise; Mw and Mnrefer to weight and number average molecular weights, respectively. In contrast, the Mw / Mn of heterogeneously branched ethylene copolymers are typically greater than the Mw / Mnof homogeneously branched ethylene copolymers. In general, homogeneously branched ethylene / α-olefin copolymers also have a narrow composition distribution, i.e., each macromolecule within the molecular weight distribution has a similar α-olefinic comonomer content. A blend of two or more homogeneously branched ethylene / α-olefin copolymers, that differ in weight average molecular weight (Mw), may have a Mw / Mnof greater than or equal to 2.8. The term “thermoplastic polymer” refers to a polymer that becomes liquid when heated, will flow under pressure and solidify when cooled. Thermoplastic polymers include ethylene polymers as well as other polymers used in the plastic industry; non-limiting examples of other polymers commonly used in film applications include barrier resins (e.g., EVOH), tie resins, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamides, ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) and the like. As used herein the term “monolayer film” refers to a film containing a single layer of one or more than one thermoplastic polymer. As used herein the term “multilayer film” or “multilayer film structure” refers to a film composed of more than one thermoplastic layer, or optionally non-thermoplastic layers. Non-limiting examples of non-thermoplastic materials include metals (foil) or cellulosic (paper) products. One or more of the thermoplastic layers within a multilayer film (or film structure) may be comprised of more than one thermoplastic. As used herein, the term “tie resin” refers to a thermoplastic that when formed into an intermediate layer, or a “tie layer” within a multilayer film structure, promotes adhesion between adjacent film layers that are dissimilar in chemical composition. As used herein, the term “sealant layer” refers to a layer of thermoplastic film that is capable of being attached to a second substrate, forming a leak proof seal. A “sealant layer” may be a skin layer or the innermost layer in a multilayer film structure. As used herein, the term “adhesive lamination” and the term “extrusion lamination” describes continuous processes through which two or more substrates, or webs of material, are combined to form a multilayer product or sheet; wherein the two or more webs are joined using an adhesive or a molten thermoplastic film, respectively. As used herein, the term “extrusion coating” describes a continuous process through which a molten thermoplastic layer is combined with, or deposited on, a moving solid web or substrate. Non-limiting examples of substrates include paper, paperboard, foil, monolayer plastic film, multilayer plastic film or fabric. The molten thermoplastic layer could be monolayer or multilayer. As used herein, the terms “hydrocarbyl”, “hydrocarbyl radical” or “hydrocarbyl group” refers to linear or cyclic, aliphatic, olefinic, acetylenic and aryl (aromatic) radicals comprising hydrogen and carbon that are deficient by one hydrogen. As used herein, an “alkyl radical” includes linear, branched and cyclic paraffin radicals that are deficient by one hydrogen radical; non-limiting examples include methyl (–CH3) and ethyl (–CH2CH3) radicals. The term “alkenyl radical” refers to linear, branched and cyclic hydrocarbons containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond that is deficient by one hydrogen radical. As used herein, the term “aryl” group includes phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl and other radicals whose molecules have an aromatic ring structure; non-limiting examples include naphthylene, phenanthrene and anthracene. An “arylalkyl” group is an alkyl group having an aryl group pendant there from; non-limiting examples include benzyl, phenethyl and tolylmethyl; an “alkylaryl” is an aryl group having one or more alkyl groups pendant there from; non-limiting examples include tolyl, xylyl, mesityl and cumyl. As used herein, the phrase “heteroatom” includes any atom other than carbon and hydrogen that can be bound to carbon. A “heteroatom-containing group” is a hydrocarbon radical that contains a heteroatom and may contain one or more of the same or different heteroatoms. In one embodiment, a heteroatom-containing group is a hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to 3 atoms selected from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, silicon, germanium, nitrogen, phosphorous, oxygen and sulfur. Non-limiting examples of heteroatom-containing groups include radicals of imines, amines, oxides, phosphines, ethers, ketones, oxoazolines heterocyclics, oxazolines, thioethers, and the like. The term “heterocyclic” refers to ring systems having a carbon backbone that comprise from 1 to 3 atoms selected from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, silicon, germanium, nitrogen, phosphorous, oxygen and sulfur. As used herein the term “unsubstituted” means that hydrogen radicals are bounded to the molecular group that follows the term unsubstituted. The term “substituted” means that the group following this term possesses one or more moieties (non-hydrogen radicals) that have replaced one or more hydrogen radicals in any position within the group; non- limiting examples of moieties include halogen radicals (F, Cl, Br), hydroxyl groups, carbonyl groups, carboxyl groups, silyl groups, amine groups, phosphine groups, alkoxy groups, phenyl groups, naphthyl groups, C1 to C30 alkyl groups, C2 to C30 alkenyl groups, and combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of substituted alkyls and aryls include: acyl radicals, alkyl silyl radicals, alkylamino radicals, alkoxy radicals, aryloxy radicals, alkylthio radicals, dialkylamino radicals, alkoxycarbonyl radicals, aryloxycarbonyl radicals, carbomoyl radicals, alkyl- and dialkyl-carbamoyl radicals, acyloxy radicals, acylamino radicals, arylamino radicals and combinations thereof. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS In the present disclosure, an ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition will comprise at least two identifiable components; namely: a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer which has a defined weight-average molecular weight Mw, a defined short chain branching content and a defined polydispersity index Mw / Mn; and a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer which has a defined weight-average molecular weight Mw, a defined short chain branching content and a defined polydispersity index Mw / Mn. The first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer are identifiable using known analytical methods, such as chromatography and fractionation techniques, and / or using deconvolution through reaction simulation. Each of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the ethylene / α- olefin copolymer composition of which they are a part are further described below. First Ethylene / α-Olefin Copolymer The first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer comprises ethylene and at least one α-olefin. In embodiments of the disclosure, the at least one α-olefin which is polymerized with ethylene to make the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer may be selected from the group comprising propene-1, butene-1, pentene-1, hexene-1 and octene-1 and mixtures thereof. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is a first ethylene / octene-1 copolymer. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is a first homogeneously branched ethylene / α-olefin copolymer. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is made with a first homogeneous catalyst, non-limiting examples of which include bridged metallocene catalysts, which are well known in the art. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is made with a first homogeneous catalyst, having hafnium, Hf, as the active metal center (i.e., the catalyst is a hafnocene catalyst). In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is made with a bridged metallocene catalyst. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is made with a bridged metallocene catalyst having the Formula (I): R1(I) In Formula (I): zirconium or hafnium; G is a group 14 element selected from carbon, silicon, germanium, tin or lead; R1 is a hydrogen atom, a C1-20 hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20 alkoxy radical or a C6-10 aryl oxide radical; R2and R3are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a C1-20hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20 alkoxy radical or a C6-10 aryl oxide radical; R4 and R5 are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted C1-20hydrocarbyl radical, a substituted C1-20 hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20 alkoxy radical or a C6-10 aryl oxide radical; and Q is independently an activatable leaving group ligand. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are independently an aryl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are independently a phenyl group or a substituted phenyl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are a phenyl group. In an embodiment, R4and R5are independently a substituted phenyl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are a substituted phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is substituted with a substituted silyl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are a substituted phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is substituted with a trialkyl silyl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are a substituted phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is substituted at the para position with a trialkylsilyl group. In an embodiment, R1and R2are a substituted phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is substituted at the para position with a trimethylsilyl group. In an embodiment, R1and R2are a substituted phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is substituted at the para position with a triethylsilyl group. In an embodiment, R4and R5are independently an alkyl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are independently an alkenyl group. In an embodiment, R1 is hydrogen. In an embodiment, R1 is an alkyl group. In an embodiment, R1 is an aryl group. In an embodiment, R1is an alkenyl group. In an embodiment, R2 and R3 are independently a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms. In an embodiment, R2 and R3 are independently an aryl group. In an embodiment, R2and R3are independently an alkyl group. In an embodiment, R2 and R3 are independently an alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. In an embodiment, R2 and R3 are independently a phenyl group or a substituted phenyl group. In an embodiment, R2 and R3 are a tert-butyl group. In an embodiment, R2and R3are hydrogen. In an embodiment, M is hafnium, Hf. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is made with a bridged metallocene catalyst having the Formula (Ia): Ia) In Formula (Ia): arbon, silicon, germanium, tin or lead; R1 is a hydrogen atom, a C1-20 hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20 alkoxy radical or a C6-10aryl oxide radical; R2and R3are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a C1-20hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20 alkoxy radical or a C6-10 aryl oxide radical; R4 and R5 are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted C1-20 hydrocarbyl radical, a substituted C1-20hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20alkoxy radical or a C6-10aryl oxide radical; and Q is independently an activatable leaving group ligand. In the current disclosure, the term “activatable”, means that the ligand Q may be cleaved from the metal center M via a protonolysis reaction or abstracted from the metal center M by suitable acidic or electrophilic catalyst activator compounds (also known as “co-catalyst” compounds) respectively, examples of which are described below. The activatable ligand Q may also be transformed into another ligand which is cleaved or abstracted from the metal center M (e.g., a halide may be converted to an alkyl group). Without wishing to be bound by any single theory, protonolysis or abstraction reactions generate an active “cationic” metal center which can polymerize olefins. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the activatable ligand, Q is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom; a halogen atom; a C1-20 hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20alkoxy radical, and a C6-10aryl or aryloxy radical, where each of the hydrocarbyl, alkoxy, aryl, or aryl oxide radicals may be un-substituted or further substituted by one or more halogen or other group; a C1-8alkyl; a C1-8alkoxy; a C6-10aryl or aryloxy; an amido or a phosphido radical, but where Q is not a cyclopentadienyl. Two Q ligands may also be joined to one another and form for example, a substituted or unsubstituted diene ligand (e.g., 1,3-butadiene); or a delocalized heteroatom containing group such as an acetate or acetamidinate group. In a convenient embodiment of the disclosure, each Q is independently selected from the group consisting of a halide atom, a C1-4 alkyl radical and a benzyl radical. Particularly suitable activatable ligands Q are monoanionic such as a halide (e.g., chloride) or a hydrocarbyl (e.g., methyl, benzyl). In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first homogeneous catalyst used to make the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-t- butylfluorenyl)hafnium dichloride having the molecular formula: [(2,7-tBu2Flu)Ph2C(Cp)HfCl2]. In an embodiment of the disclosure the first homogenous catalyst used to make the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-t- butylfluorenyl)hafnium dimethyl having the molecular formula: [(2,7-tBu2Flu)Ph2C(Cp)HfMe2]. In addition to the first homogeneous catalyst molecule per se, an active homogeneous catalyst system may further comprise one or more of the following: an alkylaluminoxane co-catalyst and an ionic activator. The homogenous catalyst system may also optionally comprise a hindered phenol. Although the exact structure of alkylaluminoxane is uncertain, subject matter experts generally agree that it is an oligomeric species that contain repeating units of the general formula: (R)2AlO-(Al(R)-O)n-Al(R)2 where the R groups may be the same or different linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbyl radicals containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and n is from 0 to about 50. A non-limiting example of an alkylaluminoxane is methylaluminoxane (or MAO) wherein each R group is a methyl radical. In an embodiment of the disclosure, R of the alkylaluminoxane, is a methyl radical and m is from 10 to 40. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the co-catalyst is modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO). It is well known in the art, that the alkylaluminoxane can serve dual roles as both an alkylator and an activator. Hence, an alkylaluminoxane co-catalyst is often used in combination with activatable ligands such as halogens. In general, ionic activators are comprised of a cation and a bulky anion; wherein the latter is substantially non-coordinating. Non-limiting examples of ionic activators are boron ionic activators that are four coordinate with four ligands bonded to the boron atom. Non- limiting examples of boron ionic activators include the following formulas shown below: [R5]+[B(R7)4]− where B represents a boron atom, R5is an aromatic hydrocarbyl (e.g., triphenyl methyl cation) and each R7is independently selected from phenyl radicals which are unsubstituted or substituted with from 3 to 5 substituents selected from fluorine atoms, C1-4 alkyl or alkoxy radicals which are unsubstituted or substituted by fluorine atoms; and a silyl radical of formula -Si(R9)3, where each R9is independently selected from hydrogen atoms and C1-4 alkyl radicals, and [(R8)tZH]+[B(R7)4]−where B is a boron atom, H is a hydrogen atom, Z is a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, t is 2 or 3 and R8is selected from C1-8 alkyl radicals, phenyl radicals which are unsubstituted or substituted by up to three C1-4alkyl radicals, or one R8taken together with the nitrogen atom may form an anilinium radical and R7is as defined above. In both formula, a non-limiting example of R7is a pentafluorophenyl radical. In general, boron ionic activators may be described as salts of tetra(perfluorophenyl) boron; non-limiting examples include anilinium, carbonium, oxonium, phosphonium and sulfonium salts of tetra(perfluorophenyl)boron with anilinium and trityl (or triphenylmethylium). Additional non-limiting examples of ionic activators include: triethylammonium tetra(phenyl)boron, tripropylammonium tetra(phenyl)boron, tri(n- butyl)ammonium tetra(phenyl)boron, trimethylammonium tetra(p-tolyl)boron, trimethylammonium tetra(o-tolyl)boron, tributylammonium tetra(pentafluorophenyl)boron, tripropylammonium tetra(o,p-dimethylphenyl)boron, tributylammonium tetra(m,m- dimethylphenyl)boron, tributylammonium tetra(p-trifluoromethylphenyl)boron, tributylammonium tetra(pentafluorophenyl)boron, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetra(o- tolyl)boron, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)boron, N,N-diethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)boron, N,N-diethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)n-butylboron, N,N-2,4,6- pentamethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)boron, di-(isopropyl)ammonium tetra(pentafluorophenyl)boron, dicyclohexylammonium tetra(phenyl)boron, triphenylphosphonium tetra(phenyl)boron, tri(methylphenyl)phosphonium tetra(phenyl)boron, tri(dimethylphenyl)phosphonium tetra(phenyl)boron, tropillium tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate, triphenylmethylium tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate, benzene(diazonium)tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate, tropillium tetrakis(2,3,5,6- tetrafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylmethylium tetrakis(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium) tetrakis(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(3,4,5 - trifluorophenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium) tetrakis(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(1,2,2-trifluoroethenyl)borate, triphenylmethylium tetrakis(1 ,2,2- trifluoroethenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium) tetrakis(1,2,2-trifluoroethenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(2,3,4,5-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylmethylium tetrakis(2,3,4,5- tetrafluorophenyl)borate, and benzene(diazonium) tetrakis(2,3,4,5 tetrafluorophenyl)borate. Readily available commercial ionic activators include N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate, and triphenylmethylium tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate. Non-limiting example of hindered phenols include butylated phenolic antioxidants, butylated hydroxytoluene, 2,6-di-tertiarybutyl-4-ethyl phenol, 4,4'-methylenebis (2,6-di- tertiary-butylphenol), 1,3, 5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) benzene and octadecyl-3-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-4'-hydroxyphenyl) propionate. To produce an active homogeneous catalyst system the quantity and mole ratios of the three or four components: the first homogenous catalyst, the alkylaluminoxane, the ionic activator, and the optional hindered phenol are optimized. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first homogeneous catalyst used to make the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer produces no long chain branches, and / or the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer will contain undetectable amounts of long chain branches. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first homogeneous catalyst used to make the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer produces long chain branches, and the first ethylene / α- olefin copolymer will contain detectable levels of long chain branches, hereinafter “LCB”. LCB is a well-known structural phenomenon in ethylene polymers to those of ordinary skill in the art. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer contains long chain branching characterized by the LCBF disclosed herein. In embodiments of the disclosure, the upper limit on the LCBF of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer may be about 0.5, in other cases about 0.4 and in still other cases about 0.3 (dimensionless). In embodiments of the disclosure, the lower limit on the LCBF of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer may be about 0.001, in other cases about 0.0015 and in still other cases about 0.002 (dimensionless). In some embodiments of the disclosure, the upper limit of the molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is about 2.3, or about 2.2, or about 2.1, or about 2.0. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the lower limit of the molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is about 1.7, or about 1.8, or about 1.9. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of ≤ 2.3, or < 2.3, or ≤ 2.2, or < 2.2, or ≤ 2.1, or < 2.1. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of from about 1.7 to about 2.3, or from about 1.8 to about 2.3, or from about 1.8 to about 2.2. In an embodiment, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a number of short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms of from 10 to 50. In further embodiments, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has from greater than (>) 10 to 50 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or from 20 to 45 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or greater than (>) 20 to 45 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or from 15 to 40 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or from greater than (>) 15 to 40 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or from 25 to 35 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms. In an embodiment, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a number of short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms of from about 10 to about 50, or from about 20 to about 45 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or from about 15 to about 40 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or from about 25 to about 35 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms. The short chain branching (i.e., the short chain branching per thousand carbon atoms) is the branching due to the presence of at least one α-olefin in the first ethylene / α- olefin copolymer and will for example have two carbon atoms for butene-1, or four carbon atoms for a hexene-1, or six carbon atoms for a octene-1, etc. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a weight average molecular weight, Mwof from about 70 kg / mol to about 160 kg / mol, or from about 70 kg / mol to about 155 kg / mol, or from about 70 kg / mol to about 150 kg / mol, or from about 70 kg / mol to about 140 kg / mol, or from about 80 kg / mol to about 140 kg / mol, or from about 80 kg / mol to about 135 kg / mol, or from about 80 kg / mol to about 130 kg / mol, or from about 80 kg / mol to about 120 kg / mol, or from about 90 kg / mol to about 115 kg / mol. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the upper limit on the weight percent of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition (i.e., the weight percent of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer based on the total weight of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition) is about 70 weight percent, or about 65 weight percent, or about 60 weight percent, or about 55 weight percent, or about 52 weight percent, or about 50 weight percent. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the lower limit on the weight percent of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is about 30 weight percent, or about 35 weight percent, or about 40 weight percent, or about 45 weight percent, or about 50 percent. In an embodiment, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is present in the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition in an amount from about 30 to about 60 weight percent. In another embodiment, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is present in the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition in an amount from about 30 to about 50 weight percent. In yet another embodiment, the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is present in the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition in an amount from about 30 to less than about (<) 50 weight percent. Second Ethylene / α-Olefin Copolymer The second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer comprises ethylene and at least one α- olefin. In embodiments of the disclosure, the at least one α-olefin which is polymerized with ethylene to make the second ethylene / α-olefin may be selected from the group comprising propene-1, butene-1, pentene-1, hexene-1 and octene-1 and mixtures thereof. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is a second ethylene / octene-1 copolymer. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is a second homogeneously branched ethylene / α-olefin copolymer. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is made with a second homogeneous catalyst, non-limiting examples of which include bridged metallocene catalysts, which are well known in the art. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is made with a second homogeneous catalyst, having hafnium, Hf, as the active metal center (i.e., the catalyst is a hafnocene catalyst). In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is made with a bridged metallocene catalyst. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is made with a bridged metallocene catalyst having the Formula (I): R1(I) In Formula (I): zirconium or hafnium; G is a group 14 element tin or lead; R1 is a hydrogen atom, a C1-20hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20alkoxy radical or a C6-10aryl oxide radical; R2 and R3 are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a C1-20 hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20alkoxy radical or a C6-10aryl oxide radical; R4and R5are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted C1-20 hydrocarbyl radical, a substituted C1-20hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20alkoxy radical or a C6-10aryl oxide radical; and Q is independently an activatable leaving group ligand. In an embodiment, R4and R5are independently an aryl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are independently a phenyl group or a substituted phenyl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are a phenyl group. In an embodiment, R4and R5are independently a substituted phenyl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are a substituted phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is substituted with a substituted silyl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are a substituted phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is substituted with a trialkyl silyl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are a substituted phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is substituted at the para position with a trialkylsilyl group. In an embodiment, R1and R2are a substituted phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is substituted at the para position with a trimethylsilyl group. In an embodiment, R1and R2are a substituted phenyl group, wherein the phenyl group is substituted at the para position with a triethylsilyl group. In an embodiment, R4 and R5 are independently an alkyl group. In an embodiment, R4and R5are independently an alkenyl group. In an embodiment, R1 is hydrogen. In an embodiment, R1is an alkyl group. In an embodiment, R1 is an aryl group. In an embodiment, R1is an alkenyl group. In an embodiment, R2 and R3 are independently a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms. In an embodiment, R2 and R3 are independently an aryl group. In an embodiment, R2and R3are independently an alkyl group. In an embodiment, R2 and R3 are independently an alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. In an embodiment, R2 and R3 are independently a phenyl group or a substituted phenyl group. In an embodiment, R2 and R3 are a tert-butyl group. In an embodiment, R2and R3are hydrogen. In an embodiment, M is hafnium, Hf. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is made with a bridged metallocene catalyst having the Formula (Ia): In Formula (Ia): silicon, germanium, tin or lead; R1 is a hydrogen atom, a C1-20 hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20 alkoxy radical or a C6-10aryl oxide radical; R2and R3are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a C1-20hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20 alkoxy radical or a C6-10 aryl oxide radical; R4 and R5 are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted C1-20hydrocarbyl radical, a substituted C1-20 hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20 alkoxy radical or a C6-10 aryl oxide radical; and Q is independently an activatable leaving group ligand. In the current disclosure, the term “activatable”, means that the ligand Q may be cleaved from the metal center M via a protonolysis reaction or abstracted from the metal center M by suitable acidic or electrophilic catalyst activator compounds (also known as “co-catalyst” compounds) respectively, examples of which are described below. The activatable ligand Q may also be transformed into another ligand which is cleaved or abstracted from the metal center M (e.g., a halide may be converted to an alkyl group). Without wishing to be bound by any single theory, protonolysis or abstraction reactions generate an active “cationic” metal center which can polymerize olefins. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the activatable ligand, Q is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom; a halogen atom; a C1-20hydrocarbyl radical, a C1-20 alkoxy radical, and a C6-10 aryl or aryloxy radical, where each of the hydrocarbyl, alkoxy, aryl, or aryl oxide radicals may be un-substituted or further substituted by one or more halogen or other group; a C1-8 alkyl; a C1-8 alkoxy; a C6-10 aryl or aryloxy; an amido or a phosphido radical, but where Q is not a cyclopentadienyl. Two Q ligands may also be joined to one another and form for example, a substituted or unsubstituted diene ligand (e.g., 1,3-butadiene); or a delocalized heteroatom containing group such as an acetate or acetamidinate group. In a convenient embodiment of the disclosure, each Q is independently selected from the group consisting of a halide atom, a C1-4alkyl radical and a benzyl radical. Particularly suitable activatable ligands Q are monoanionic such as a halide (e.g., chloride) or a hydrocarbyl (e.g., methyl, benzyl). In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second homogeneous catalyst used to make the second ethylene / α-olefin is diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-t- butylfluorenyl)hafnium dichloride having the molecular formula: [(2,7-tBu2Flu)Ph2C(Cp)HfCl2]. In an embodiment of the disclosure the second homogeneous catalyst used to make the second ethylene / α-olefin is diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-t- butylfluorenyl)hafnium dimethyl having the molecular formula: [(2,7-tBu2Flu)Ph2C(Cp)HfMe2]. In addition to the second homogeneous catalyst molecule per se, an active homogeneous catalyst system may further comprise one or more of the following: an alkylaluminoxane co-catalyst and an ionic activator. The homogenous catalyst system may also optionally comprise a hindered phenol. Although the exact structure of alkylaluminoxane is uncertain, subject matter experts generally agree that it is an oligomeric species that contain repeating units of the general formula: (R)2AlO-(Al(R)-O)n-Al(R)2 where the R groups may be the same or different linear, branched or cyclic hydrocarbyl radicals containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and n is from 0 to about 50. A non-limiting example of an alkylaluminoxane is methylaluminoxane (or MAO) wherein each R group is a methyl radical. In an embodiment of the disclosure, R of the alkylaluminoxane, is a methyl radical and m is from 10 to 40. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the co-catalyst is modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO). It is well known in the art, that the alkylaluminoxane can serve dual roles as both an alkylator and an activator. Hence, an alkylaluminoxane co-catalyst is often used in combination with activatable ligands such as halogens. In general, ionic activators are comprised of a cation and a bulky anion; wherein the latter is substantially non-coordinating. Non-limiting examples of ionic activators are boron ionic activators that are four coordinate with four ligands bonded to the boron atom. Non- limiting examples of boron ionic activators include the following formulas shown below: [R5]+[B(R7)4]−where B represents a boron atom, R5is an aromatic hydrocarbyl (e.g., triphenyl methyl cation) and each R7is independently selected from phenyl radicals which are unsubstituted or substituted with from 3 to 5 substituents selected from fluorine atoms, C1-4 alkyl or alkoxy radicals which are unsubstituted or substituted by fluorine atoms; and a silyl radical of formula -Si(R9)3, where each R9is independently selected from hydrogen atoms and C1-4alkyl radicals, and [(R8)tZH]+[B(R7)4]−where B is a boron atom, H is a hydrogen atom, Z is a nitrogen or phosphorus atom, t is 2 or 3 and R8is selected from C1-8alkyl radicals, phenyl radicals which are unsubstituted or substituted by up to three C1-4 alkyl radicals, or one R8taken together with the nitrogen atom may form an anilinium radical and R7is as defined above. In both formula, a non-limiting example of R7is a pentafluorophenyl radical. In general, boron ionic activators may be described as salts of tetra(perfluorophenyl) boron; non-limiting examples include anilinium, carbonium, oxonium, phosphonium and sulfonium salts of tetra(perfluorophenyl)boron with anilinium and trityl (or triphenylmethylium). Additional non-limiting examples of ionic activators include: triethylammonium tetra(phenyl)boron, tripropylammonium tetra(phenyl)boron, tri(n- butyl)ammonium tetra(phenyl)boron, trimethylammonium tetra(p-tolyl)boron, trimethylammonium tetra(o-tolyl)boron, tributylammonium tetra(pentafluorophenyl)boron, tripropylammonium tetra(o,p-dimethylphenyl)boron, tributylammonium tetra(m,m- dimethylphenyl)boron, tributylammonium tetra(p-trifluoromethylphenyl)boron, tributylammonium tetra(pentafluorophenyl)boron, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetra(o- tolyl)boron, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)boron, N,N-diethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)boron, N,N-diethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)n-butylboron, N,N-2,4,6- pentamethylanilinium tetra(phenyl)boron, di-(isopropyl)ammonium tetra(pentafluorophenyl)boron, dicyclohexylammonium tetra(phenyl)boron, triphenylphosphonium tetra(phenyl)boron, tri(methylphenyl)phosphonium tetra(phenyl)boron, tri(dimethylphenyl)phosphonium tetra(phenyl)boron, tropillium tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate, triphenylmethylium tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate, benzene(diazonium)tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate, tropillium tetrakis(2,3,5,6- tetrafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylmethylium tetrakis(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium) tetrakis(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(3,4,5 - trifluorophenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium) tetrakis(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(1,2,2-trifluoroethenyl)borate, triphenylmethylium tetrakis(1 ,2,2- trifluoroethenyl)borate, benzene(diazonium) tetrakis(1,2,2-trifluoroethenyl)borate, tropillium tetrakis(2,3,4,5-tetrafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylmethylium tetrakis(2,3,4,5- tetrafluorophenyl)borate, and benzene(diazonium) tetrakis(2,3,4,5 tetrafluorophenyl)borate. Readily available commercial ionic activators include N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate, and triphenylmethylium tetrakispentafluorophenyl borate. Non-limiting example of hindered phenols include butylated phenolic antioxidants, butylated hydroxytoluene, 2,6-di-tertiarybutyl-4-ethyl phenol, 4,4'-methylenebis (2,6-di- tertiary-butylphenol), 1,3, 5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) benzene and octadecyl-3-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-4'-hydroxyphenyl) propionate. To produce an active homogeneous catalyst system the quantity and mole ratios of the three or four components: the first homogenous catalyst, the alkylaluminoxane, the ionic activator, and the optional hindered phenol are optimized. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second homogeneous catalyst used to make the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer produces no long chain branches, and / or the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer will contain undetectable amounts of long chain branches. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second homogeneous catalyst used to make the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer produces long chain branches, and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer will contain long chain branches, hereinafter “LCB”. LCB is a well-known structural phenomenon in ethylene polymers to those of ordinary skill in the art. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer contains long chain branching characterized by the LCBF disclosed herein. In embodiments of the disclosure, the upper limit on the LCBF of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer may be about 0.5, in other cases about 0.4 and in still other cases about 0.3 (dimensionless). In embodiments of the disclosure, the lower limit on the LCBF of the second ethylene / α- olefin copolymer may be about 0.001, in other cases about 0.0015 and in still other cases about 0.002 (dimensionless). In some embodiments of the disclosure, the upper limit of the molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is about 2.3, or about 2.2, or about 2.1, or about 2.0. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the lower limit of the molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is about 1.7, or about 1.8, or about 1.9. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of ≤ 2.3, or < 2.3, or ≤ 2.2, or < 2.2, or ≤ 2.1, or < 2.1. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of from about 1.7 to about 2.3, or from about 1.8 to about 2.3, or from about 1.8 to about 2.2. In an embodiment, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a number of short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms of from about 10 to about 40. In further embodiments, the second ethylene / α-olefin has from about 10 to about 35 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or from about 10 to about 30 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or from about 15 to about 40 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or from about 15 to about 35 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or from about 15 to about 30 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms, or from about 15 to about 25 short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms. It is recognized by those skilled in the art that the short chain branching (i.e., the short chain branching per thousand carbon atoms) is the branching due to the presence of the at least one α-olefin in the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and will for example have two carbon atoms for butene-1, or four carbon atoms for a hexene-1, or six carbon atoms for a octene-1, etc. The short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1, is greater than or equal to the short chain branching content of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB2— i.e., SCB1≥ SCB2. In some embodiments, the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α- olefin copolymer, SCB1, is greater than the short chain branching content of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB2— i.e., SCB1> SCB2. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a weight average molecular weight, Mw of from about 20 kg / mol to about 65 kg / mol, or from about 20 kg / mol to about 60 kg / mol, or from about 30 kg / mol to about 65 kg / mol, or from about 35 kg / mol to about 60 kg / mol, or from about 30 kg / mol to about 55 kg / mol, or from about 30 kg / mol to about 50 kg / mol. In some embodiments, a ratio of the weight average molecular weight of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the weight average molecular weight of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is from about 1.5 to about 6. In some embodiments, a ratio of the weight average molecular weight of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the weight average molecular weight of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is from about 2 to about 4. In some embodiments, a ratio of the weight average molecular weight of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the weight average molecular weight of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is from about 2 to about 3. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a number average molecular weight, Mn of from about 10 kg / mol to about 30 kg / mol, or from about 15 kg / mol to about 30 kg / mol, or from about 15 kg / mol to about 25 kg / mol. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the upper limit on the weight percent of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition (i.e., the weight percent of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer based on the total weight of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition) is about 70 weight percent, or about 65 weight percent, or about 60 weight percent, or about 55 weight percent, or about 52 weight percent, or about 50 weight percent. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the lower limit on the weight percent of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is about 30 weight percent, or about 35 weight percent, or about 40 weight percent, or about 45 weight percent, or about 50 percent. In an embodiment, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is present in the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition in an amount from about 50 to about 70 weight percent. In another embodiment, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is present in the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition in an amount from about 50 to about 65 weight percent. In yet another embodiment, the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer is present in the ethylene / α- olefin copolymer composition in an amount from greater than about (>) 50 to about 70 weight percent. Ethylene / α-Olefin Copolymer Composition In some embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions disclosed herein are reactor blends of a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and a second ethylene / α- olefin copolymer. The term “reactor blend” refers to a blend which is formed while polymerization is occurring. In some embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions disclosed herein are post-reactor blends of a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer. The term “post-reactor blend” refers to a blend formed by combining two or more than two blend components wherein each one of the blend components is already polymerized and recovered from the polymerization process— the recovery operations can include catalyst deactivation, phase separation, devolatilizing unreacted monomers and / or process solvent, pelletization, etc.—before being combined with the other blend component(s). In an embodiment, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of the present disclosure is made using a first homogeneous catalyst in a first reactor to give a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, and a second homogeneous catalyst is used in a second reactor to give a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer. In an embodiment, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of the present disclosure is made by forming a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in a first reactor by polymerizing ethylene and at least one α-olefin with a first homogeneous catalyst; and forming a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in a second reactor by polymerizing ethylene and at least one α-olefin with a second homogeneous catalyst. In an embodiment, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of the present disclosure is made by forming a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in a first solution phase polymerization reactor by polymerizing ethylene and at least one α-olefin with a first homogeneous catalyst; and forming a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in a second solution phase polymerization reactor by polymerizing ethylene and at least one α-olefin with a second homogeneous catalyst. In an embodiment, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of the present disclosure is made by forming a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in a first solution phase polymerization reactor by polymerizing ethylene and at least one α-olefin with a first homogeneous catalyst; and forming a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in a second solution phase polymerization reactor by polymerizing ethylene and at least one α-olefin with a second homogeneous catalyst, where the first and second solution phase polymerization reactors are configured in series with one another. In an embodiment, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of the present disclosure is made by forming a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in a first solution phase polymerization reactor by polymerizing ethylene and at least one α-olefin with a first homogeneous catalyst; and forming a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in a second solution phase polymerization reactor by polymerizing ethylene and at least one α-olefin with a second homogeneous catalyst, where the first and second solution phase polymerization reactors are configured in parallel with one another. In an embodiment, the solution phase polymerization reactor used as a first solution phase reactor, or a second solution phase reactor is a continuously stirred tank reactor or a tubular reactor. In an embodiment, the solution phase polymerization reactor used as a first solution phase reactor, or a second solution phase reactor is a continuously stirred tank reactor. In an embodiment, the solution phase polymerization reactor used as a first solution phase reactor, or a second solution phase reactor is a tubular reactor. In an embodiment, the solution phase polymerization reactor used as a first solution phase reactor and a second solution phase reactor is a continuously stirred tank reactor. In solution polymerization, the monomers are dissolved / dispersed in the solvent either prior to being fed to the reactor (or for gaseous monomers the monomer may be fed to the reactor so that it will dissolve in the reaction mixture). Prior to mixing, the solvent and monomers are generally purified to remove potential catalyst poisons such as water, oxygen or metal impurities. The feedstock purification follows standard practices in the art, e.g. molecular sieves, alumina beds and oxygen removal catalysts are used for the purification of monomers. The solvent itself as well (e.g., methyl pentane, cyclohexane, hexane or toluene) is preferably treated in a similar manner. The feedstock may be heated or cooled prior to feeding to the reactor. Generally, the catalyst components may be premixed in the solvent for the reaction or fed as separate streams to the reactor. In some instances, premixing it may be desirable to provide a reaction time for the catalyst components prior to entering the reaction. Such an “in line mixing” technique is described in a number of patents in the name of DuPont Canada Inc. (e.g., U.S. Pat. No.5,589,555 issued Dec.31, 1996). Solution polymerization processes for the polymerization or copolymerization of ethylene are well known in the art (see for example U.S. Pat. Nos.6,372,864 and 6,777,509). These processes are conducted in the presence of an inert hydrocarbon solvent. In a solution phase polymerization reactor, a variety of solvents may be used as the process solvent; non-limiting examples include linear, branched or cyclic C5 to C12 alkanes. Non- limiting examples of α-olefins include propene-1, butene-1, pentene-1, hexene-1 and octene-1. Suitable catalyst component solvents include aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Non-limiting examples of aliphatic catalyst component solvents include linear, branched or cyclic C5-12 aliphatic hydrocarbons, e.g. pentane, methyl pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane, methylcyclohexane, hydrogenated naphtha or combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of aromatic catalyst component solvents include benzene, toluene (methylbenzene), ethylbenzene, o-xylene (1,2- dimethylbenzene), m-xylene (1,3-dimethylbenzene), p-xylene (1,4-dimethylbenzene), mixtures of xylene isomers, hemellitene (1,2,3-trimethylbenzene), pseudocumene (1,2,4- trimethylbenzene), mesitylene (1,3,5-trimethylbenzene), mixtures of trimethylbenzene isomers, prehenitene (1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene), durene (1,2,3,5-tetramethylbenzene), mixtures of tetramethylbenzene isomers, pentamethylbenzene, hexamethylbenzene and combinations thereof. The polymerization temperature in a conventional solution process may be from about 80°C to about 300°C. In an embodiment of the disclosure the polymerization temperature in a solution process is from about 120°C to about 250°C. The polymerization pressure in a solution process may be a “medium pressure process”, meaning that the pressure in the reactor is less than about 6,000 psi (about 42,000 kiloPascals or kPa). In an embodiment of the disclosure, the polymerization pressure in a solution process may be from about 10,000 to about 40,000 kPa, or from about 14,000 to about 22,000 kPa (i.e. from about 2,000 psi to about 3,000 psi). In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has at least 1 mole percent of at least one α-olefin. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has at least 3 mole percent of at least one α-olefin. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has from about 1 to about 10 mole percent of at least one α-olefin. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has from about 3 to about 10 mole percent of at least one α-olefin. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has from about 3 to about 8 mole percent of at least one α-olefin. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises ethylene and at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of C3to C10α-olefins. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises ethylene and at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of butene-1, hexene-1, octene-1 and mixtures thereof. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises ethylene and at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of hexene-1, octene-1 and mixtures thereof. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises ethylene and octene-1. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises ethylene and at least 1 mole percent octene-1. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises ethylene and from 1 to 10 mole percent of octene-1. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises ethylene and from 3 to 8 mole percent of octene-1. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition consists essentially ethylene and octene-1. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a density which is from about 0.860 g / cm3to about 0.910 g / cm3, or from about 0.865 g / cm3to about 0.910 g / cm3. In some preferred embodiments, the ethylene / α- olefin copolymer composition has a density of from 0.885 to 0.910 g / cm3, preferably from 0.890 to 0.910 g / cm3, preferably from 0.895 to 0.910 g / cm3, preferably from 0.900 to 0.910 g / cm3, preferably from greater than (>) 0.900 to less than (<) 0.910 g / cm3, preferably from 0.902 to 0.908 g / cm3. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the melt index (I2) of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is from about 1.5 dg / min to about 10 dg / min, or from about 2 dg / min to about 10 dg / min, or from about 2.5 dg / min to about 8 dg / min, or from about 2.5 dg / min to about 7.5 dg / min, or from about 2.5 dg / min to about 7 dg / min, or from about 2.5 dg / min to about 6 dg / min, or from about 3 dg / min to about 6 dg / min, or from 3.5 dg / min to about 6 dg / min, or from about 4 dg / min to about 6 dg / min, or from about 2.2 dg / min to about 8 dg / min, or from about 2.3 dg / min to about 8 dg / min, or from about 3.2 dg / min to about 7 dg / min, or from about 3 dg / min to about 6.5 dg / min, or from about 3.1 dg / min to about 6 dg / min, or from about 4 dg / min to about 5.5 dg / min. In some embodiments, the high load melt index (I21) of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is from about 10 dg / min to about 10,000 dg / min, or from about 10 dg / min to about 1000 dg / min, or from about 10 dg / min to about 500 dg / min, or from about 10 dg / min to about 250 dg / min, or from about 10 dg / min to about 150 g / 10min. In some embodiments, the melt flow ratio (I21 / I2) of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is from about 15 to about 1,000, or from about 15 to about 100, or from about 15 to about 75, or from about 15 to about 50, or from about 15 to about 40, or from about 18 to about 50, or from about 20 to about 75, or from about 20 to about 50, or from about 20 to about 45, or from about 20 to about 40, or from about 20 to about 38, or from about 20 to about 35, or from about 24 to about 48, or from about 27 to about 45, or from about 30 to about 42. In some embodiments, the melt flow ratio (I21 / I2) of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is from 20 to 50. In some embodiments, the melt flow ratio (I21 / I2) of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is less than about 50, or less than about 45, or less than about 40. In some embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from about 25 kg / mol to about 120 kg / mol, or from about 30 kg / mol to about 100 kg / mol, or from about 30 kg / mol to about 90 kg / mol, or from about 35 kg / mol to about 90 kg / mol, or from about 30 kg / mol to about 80 kg / mol, or from about 30 kg / mol to about 75 kg / mol, or from about 30 kg / mol to about 70 kg / mol. In some embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a number average molecular weight (Mn) of from about 5 kg / mol to about 35 kg / mol, or from about 10 kg / mol to about 35 kg / mol, or from about 10 kg / mol to about 30 kg / mol, or from about 15 kg / mol to about 30 kg / mol, or from about 25 kg / mol to about 30 kg / mol. In embodiments of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a lower limit molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of about 2.0, or about 2.1, or about 2.2, or about 2.3. In embodiments of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has an upper limit molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of about 6.0, or about 5.5, or about 5.0, or about 4.5, or about 4.0, or about 3.75, or about 3.5. In embodiments of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of from about 2.0 to about 6.0, or from about 2.1 to about 6, or from about 2.3 to about 6, or from about 2.3 to about 5.5, or from about 2.3 to about 4.5, or from about 2.3 to about 4, or from about 2.3 to about 3.75, or from about 2.0 to about 5.5, or from about 2.0 to about 5.0, or from about 2.0 to about 4.5, or from about 2.0 to about 4.0, or from about 2.0 to about 3.75, or from about 2.0 to about 3.5, or from about 2.1 to about 5.5, or from about 2.1 to about 5.0, or from about 2.1 to about 4.5, or from about 2.1 to about 4.0, or from about 2.1 to about 3.75, or from about 2.1 to about 3.5, or from about 2.1 to about 3.3. In embodiments of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a z-average molecular weight distribution, Mz / Mwof ≤ 4.0, or < 4.0, or ≤ 3.5, or < 3.5, or ≤ 3.0, or < 3.0, or ≤ 2.75, or < 2.75, or ≤ 2.50, or < 2.50. In embodiments of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a z-average molecular weight distribution, Mz / Mw of from about 1.5 to about 4.0, or from about 1.5 to about 3.5, or from about 1.75 to about 3.5, or from about 1.75 to about 3.0, or from about 1.75 to about 2.5, or from about 2.0 to about 4.0, or from about 2.0 to about 3.5, or from about 2.0 to about 3.0, or from about 2.0 to about 2.75. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a unimodal profile in a gel permeation chromatograph generated according to the method of ASTM D6474-99. The term “unimodal” is herein defined to mean there will be only one significant peak or maximum evident in the GPC curve. A unimodal profile includes a broad unimodal profile. In contrast, the use of the term “bimodal” is meant to convey that in addition to a first peak, there will be a secondary peak or shoulder which represents a higher or lower molecular weight component (i.e., the molecular weight distribution, can be said to have two maxima in a molecular weight distribution curve). Alternatively, the term “bimodal” connotes the presence of two maxima in a molecular weight distribution curve generated according to the method of ASTM D6474-99. The term “multi-modal” denotes the presence of two or more, typically more than two, maxima in a molecular weight distribution curve generated according to the method of ASTM D6474-99. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a flat comonomer distribution profile as measured using GPC-FTIR. As used herein, if the comonomer incorporation is approximately constant with molecular weight, as measured using GPC-FTIR, the distribution is described as “flat” or “uniform”. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a partially normal comonomer distribution profile as measured using GPC-FTIR. As used herein, if the comonomer incorporation decreases with increasing molecular weight and then rises with increasing molecular weight, as measured using GPC-FTIR, the distribution is described as “partially normal”. A partially normal comonomer distribution will exhibit a minimum. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a reverse comonomer distribution profile as measured using GPC-FTIR. As used herein, if the comonomer incorporation increases with increasing molecular weight, as measured using GPC-FTIR, the distribution is described as “reverse”. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a partially reverse comonomer distribution profile as measured using GPC-FTIR. As used herein, if the comonomer incorporation increases with increasing molecular weight and then declines with increasing molecular weight, as measured using GPC-FTIR, the distribution is described as “partially reverse”. A partially reverse comonomer distribution will exhibit a maximum. In an embodiment, ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a comonomer distribution profile in a GPC-FTIR analysis, wherein the comonomer distribution profile has a secant slope of from +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to +30 short chain branches per 1000 carbons. The secant slope is defined herein as the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 300,000 g / mol minus the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 30,000 g / mol. In further embodiments of the disclosure, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a comonomer distribution profile in a GPC-FTIR analysis, wherein the comonomer distribution profile has a secant slope of from +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to +20 short chain branches per 1000 carbons, or from +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to +15 short chain branches per 1000 carbons, or from +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to +10 short chain branches per 1000 carbons. In some embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a dimensionless long chain branching factor (LCBF) of greater than or equal to (≥) 0.001. In some embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a dimensionless long chain branching factor (LCBF) of greater than or equal to (≥) 0.001 and less than or equal to (≤) 0.01. In some embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a VICAT softening temperature, VSP, as determined according to ASTM D1525, of from about 70 to about 100°C, or from about 70 to about 95°C, or from 75 to about 95°C, or from about 80 to about 95°C. In some embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a zero- shear viscosity at 190°C, η0, a VICAT softening temperature, VSP, as determined according to ASTM D1525, and a short chain branching content, SCB, as determined by ASTM D6645, which satisfy (I): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0 [in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.500°C (I) In some embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a zero- shear viscosity at 190°C, η0, a VICAT softening temperature, VSP, as determined according to ASTM D1525, and a short chain branching content, SCB, as determined by ASTM D6645, which satisfy (II): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0 [in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.000°C (II). In some embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises a fraction eluting at a temperature range of from 90°C to 105°C having an integrated area of less than 1 weight percent, in a CTREF analysis. In some other embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises a fraction eluting at a temperature range of from 90°C to 105°C having an integrated area of less than 0.5 weight percent, in a CTREF analysis. In yet some other embodiments, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises a fraction eluting at a temperature range of from 90°C to 105°C having an integrated area of less than 0.1 weight percent, in a CTREF analysis. Flexible Manufactured Articles The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions disclosed herein may be converted into flexible manufactured articles such as monolayer or multilayer films. A non-limiting example of a process to prepare monolayer or multilayer films includes blown processes. In the blown film extrusion process, an extruder heats, melts, mixes and conveys a thermoplastic or a blend of thermoplastics. Once molten, the thermoplastic is forced through an annular die to produce a thermoplastic tube. In the case of coextrusion, multiple extruders are employed to produce a multilayer thermoplastic tube. The temperature of the extrusion process is primarily determined by the thermoplastic or thermoplastic blend being processed, for example the melting temperature or glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic and the desired viscosity of the melt. In the case of polyolefins, typical extrusion temperatures are from 330°F to 550°F (166°C to 288°C). Upon exit from the annular die, the thermoplastic tube is inflated with air, cooled, solidified and pulled through a pair of nip rollers. Due to air inflation, the tube increases in diameter forming a bubble of desired size. Due to the pulling action of the nip rollers the bubble is stretched in the machine direction. Thus, the bubble is stretched in two directions: the transverse direction (TD) where the inflating air increases the diameter of the bubble; and the machine direction (MD) where the nip rollers stretch the bubble. As a result, the physical properties of blown films are typically anisotropic, i.e., the physical properties differ in the MD and TD directions; for example, film tear strength and tensile properties typically differ in the MD and TD. In some prior art documents, the terms “cross direction” or “CD” is used; these terms are equivalent to the terms “transverse direction” or “TD” used in this disclosure. In the blown film process, air is also blown on the external bubble circumference to cool the thermoplastic as it exits the annular die. The final width of the film is determined by controlling the inflating air or the internal bubble pressure; in other words, increasing or decreasing bubble diameter. Film thickness is controlled primarily by increasing or decreasing the speed of the nip rollers to control the draw-down rate. After exiting the nip rollers, the bubble or tube is collapsed and may be slit in the machine direction thus creating sheeting. Each sheet may be wound into a roll of film. Each roll may be further slit to create film of the desired width. Each roll of film is further processed into a variety of consumer products as described below. Another example of a process to prepare monolayer or multilayer films includes cast film processes. The cast film process is similar in that a single or multiple extruder(s) may be used; however, the various thermoplastic materials are metered into a flat die and extruded into a monolayer or multilayer sheet, rather than a tube. In the cast film process, the extruded sheet is solidified on a chill roll. In the cast film process, films are extruded from a flat die onto a chilled roll or a nipped roll, optionally, with a vacuum box and / or air-knife. The cast films may be monolayer or coextruded multi-layer films obtained by various extrusion through a single or multiple dies. The resultant films may be used as-is or may be laminated to other films or substrates, for example by thermal, adhesive lamination or direct extrusion onto a substrate. The resultant films and laminates may be subjected to other forming operations such as embossing, stretching, thermoforming. Surface treatments such as corona may be applied and the films may be printed. Further examples of processes to prepare monolayer or multilayer films include laminations and coatings, wherein mono or multilayer films containing the disclosed ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition are extrusion laminated or adhesively laminated or extrusion coated. In extrusion lamination or adhesive lamination, two or more substrates are bonded together with a thermoplastic or an adhesive, respectively. In extrusion coating, a thermoplastic is applied to the surface of a substrate. These processes are well known to those skilled in the art. Frequently, adhesive lamination or extrusion lamination are used to bond dissimilar materials, non-limiting examples include the bonding of a paper web to a thermoplastic web, or the bonding of an aluminum foil containing web to a thermoplastic web, or the bonding of two thermoplastic webs that are chemically incompatible, e.g., the bonding of a ethylene / α-olefin copolymer product containing web to a polyester or polyamide web. Prior to lamination, the web containing the disclosed ethylene ethylene / α- olefin copolymer product(s) may be monolayer or multilayer. Prior to lamination the individual webs may be surface treated to improve the bonding, a non-limiting example of a surface treatment is corona treating. A primary web or film may be laminated on its upper surface, its lower surface, or both its upper and lower surfaces with a secondary web. A secondary web and a tertiary web could be laminated to the primary web; wherein the secondary and tertiary webs differ in chemical composition. As non-limiting examples, secondary or tertiary webs may include: polyamide, polyester and polypropylene, or webs containing barrier resin layers such as EVOH. Such webs may also contain a vapor deposited barrier layer; for example, a thin silicon oxide (SiOx) or aluminum oxide (AlOx) layer. Multilayer webs (or films) may contain three, five, seven, nine, eleven or more layers. Depending on the end-use application, the disclosed ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition may be converted into monolayer or multilayer films that span a wide range of thicknesses. Non-limiting examples include food packaging films, where thicknesses may range from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mil. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition disclosed herein may be used in monolayer films where the monolayer film may contain more than one ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition as described herein and / or additional ethylene or non-ethylene polymers. The lower limit on the weight percent of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition in a monolayer film may be about 3 wt%, in other cases about 10 wt% and in still other cases about 30 wt%. The upper limit on the weight percent of the ethylene / α- olefin copolymer composition in the monolayer film may be 100 wt%, in other cases about 90 wt% and in still other cases about 70 wt%. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition disclosed herein may also be used in one or more layers of a multilayer film structure; non-limiting examples of multilayer films include three, five, seven, nine, eleven or more layers. The thickness of a specific layer (containing the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition) within a multilayer film structure may be about 5%, in other cases about 13.5%, in other cases about 15%, in other cases about 20%, and in still other cases about 25% of the total multilayer film thickness. In other embodiments, the thickness of a specific layer (containing the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition) within a multilayer film structure may be about 95%, in other cases about 80% and in still other cases about 65% of the total multilayer film structure thickness. Each individual layer of a multilayer film structure may contain more than one ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition and / or additional ethylene or non-ethylene polymers. Monolayer or multilayer films which include the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition disclosed herein can be used in a wide range of packaging processes non- limiting examples of which include form-fill-seal processes to package commercial products (e.g., liquids, solids, pastes, parts, etc.) in pillow pouch or standup pouch structure. The films used in the manufactured articles described in this section may optionally include, depending on its intended use, additives and adjuvants. Non-limiting examples of additives and adjuvants include, anti-blocking agents, antioxidants, heat stabilizers, slip agents, processing aids, anti-static additives, colorants, dyes, filler materials, light stabilizers, light absorbers, lubricants, pigments, plasticizers, nucleating agents and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, a multilayer film structure has at least one skin layer and the at least one skin layer comprises the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a multilayer film structure has at least one skin layer and the at least one skin is a sealant layer. In some embodiments, the film structure has a seal initiation temperature of from about 70°C to about 100°C, or from about 80°C to about 100°C, or from about 85°C to about 100°C, wherein the seal initiation temperature is the minimum sealing temperature at which the film structure has a seal strength of greater than 8.8 N per 25.4 mm of seal width. In some embodiments, the film structure has a peak hot tack force of greater than about 6 N, or greater than 6.5 N, or greater than 7 N, or greater than 6 N and less than 10, or greater than 7 N and less than 10 N. EXAMPLES General Testing Procedures Prior to testing, each specimen was conditioned for at least 24 hours at 23±2°C and 50 ±10% relative humidity and subsequent testing was conducted at 23±2°C and 50 ±10% relative humidity. Herein, the term “ASTM conditions” refers to a laboratory that is maintained at 23±2°C and 50±10% relative humidity. ASTM refers to the American Society for Testing and Materials. Polymer Density Density of the disclosed Examples and Comparative Examples in the solid state was determined using ASTM D792. Melt Index Melt indexes of the disclosed Examples and Comparative Examples were determined using ASTM D1238. Melt indexes, I2 was measured at 190°C, using a weight of 2.16 kg. VICAT Softening Temperature The VIACT softening temperature of the disclosed Examples and Comparative Examples was measured using ASTM 1525-17 (August 1, 2017) under a load of 10 ± 0.2 N and at a heating rate of 120 ± 10°C / h. Initial temperature of heat transfer medium (DOW Corning 710) was 20–23°C. In the present disclosure, unless indicated to the contrary, the VICAT softening temperature measurements were performed on compression molded specimens molded at 140°C and at a cooling rate of 15 degrees per minute. Comonomer Content: Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy The quantity of comonomer in the disclosed Examples and Comparative Examples was determined by FTIR and reported as the Short Chain Branching (SCB) content having dimensions of mole percent (mol %), weight percent (wt%) and CH3 / 1000 C (number of methyl branches per 1000 carbon atoms). This test was completed according to ASTM D6645-01 (2001), employing a compression molded polymer plaque and a Thermo-Nicolet 750 Magna-IR Spectrophotometer. The polymer plaque was prepared using a compression molding device (Wabash-Genesis Series press) according to ASTM D4703-16 (April 2016). Zero-Shear Viscosity Oscillatory shear measurements under small-strain amplitudes were carried out to obtain linear viscoelastic functions at 190°C under nitrogen atmosphere, at a strain amplitude of 10% and over a frequency range of 0.02-126 rad / s at 5 points per decade. Frequency sweep experiments were performed with a TA Instruments DHR3 stress- controlled rheometer using cone-plate geometry with a cone angle of 5°, a truncation of 137 μm and a diameter of 25 mm. In this experiment a sinusoidal strain wave was applied, and the stress response was analyzed in terms of linear viscoelastic functions. The zero-shear rate viscosity (η0) based on the frequency sweep results was determined by fitting a 4- paramter Carreau-Yasuda viscosity model into the complex viscosity versus angularfrequency defined by |^^∗| ൌ ^^^^1 ^ ^^^^^^^^^షభ ^ೌin which |η*| is complex viscosity measured as a function of angular frequency ω, a is a parameter determining the breadth of transition from a Newtonian plateau to shear-thinning region with a slope of n – 1 in a log-log plot. In the present disclosure the parameter n is set to a constant value of 2 / 11 and rest of model parameters were fitted by a least square method. Conventional Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) Polymer solutions (1 to 3 mg / mL) were prepared by heating the polymer in 1,2,4- trichlorobenzene (TCB) and rotating on a wheel for 4 hours at 150°C in an oven. An antioxidant, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), was added to the mixture in order to stabilize the polymer against oxidative degradation. The BHT concentration was 250 ppm. Polymer solutions were chromatographed at 140°C on a PL 220 high-temperature chromatography unit equipped with four Shodex columns (HT803, HT804, HT805 and HT806) using TCB as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 1.0 mL / minute, with a differential refractive index (DRI) as the concentration detector. BHT was added to the mobile phase at a concentration of 250 ppm to protect GPC columns from oxidative degradation. The sample injection volume was 200 µL. The GPC columns were calibrated with narrow distribution polystyrene standards. The polystyrene molecular weights were converted to polyethylene molecular weights using the Mark-Houwink equation, as described in the ASTM standard test method D6474-12 (December 2012). The GPC raw data were processed with the Cirrus GPC software, to produce molar mass averages (Mn, Mw, Mz) and molar mass distribution (e.g., Polydispersity, Mw / Mn). In the polyethylene art, a commonly used term that is equivalent to SEC is GPC, i.e., Gel Permeation Chromatography. GPC-FTIR Polymer solutions were prepared by heating 2 to 4 mg / mL of the polymer sample in 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB) and rotating on a wheel for 4 hours at 150°C in an oven. The antioxidant 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) was added to the mixture in order to stabilize the polymer against oxidative degradation. The BHT concentration was 250 ppm. Sample solutions were chromatographed at 140°C on a Waters GPC 150C chromatography unit equipped with four Shodex columns (HT803, HT804, HT805 and HT806) using TCB as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 1.0 mL / minute, with a FTIR spectrometer and a heated FTIR flow through cell coupled with the chromatography unit through a heated transfer line as the detection system. BHT was added to the mobile phase at a concentration of 250 ppm to protect SEC columns from oxidative degradation. The sample injection volume was 300 µL. The raw FTIR spectra were processed with OPUS FTIR software, and the polymer concentration and methyl content were calculated in real time with the Chemometric Software (PLS technique) associated with the OPUS. Then the polymer concentration and methyl content were acquired and baseline-corrected with the Cirrus GPC software. The SEC columns were calibrated with narrow distribution polystyrene standards. The polystyrene molecular weights were converted to polyethylene molecular weights using the Mark-Houwink equation, as described in the ASTM standard test method D6474. The comonomer content was calculated based on the polymer concentration and methyl content predicted by the PLS technique as described in Paul J. DesLauriers, Polymer 43, pages 159- 170 (2002); herein incorporated by reference. The GPC-FTIR method measures total methyl content, which includes the methyl groups located at the ends of each macromolecular chain, i.e., methyl end groups. Thus, the raw GPC-FTIR data must be corrected by subtracting the contribution from methyl end groups. To be clear, the raw GPC-FTIR data overestimates the amount of short chain branching (SCB) and this overestimation increases as molecular weight decreases. In this disclosure, raw GPC-FTIR data was corrected using the 2-methyl correction. At a given molecular weight (M), the number of methyl end groups (NE) was calculated using the following equation: NE = 28000 / M, and NE (M dependent) was subtracted from the raw GPC-FTIR data to produce the SCB per 1000 carbon atoms (2-Methyl corrected) GPC- FTIR data. The slope of the comonomer distribution is determined using GPC-FTIR and is defined by SCB per l000 Cs at a molecular weight of 300,000 (g / mol) – SCB per l000 Cs at a molecular weight of 30,000 g / mol where “–” is a minus sign, SCB per 1000 Cs is the 2- methyl corrected comonomer content as the number of short chain branches per thousand carbons at the corresponding molecular weight (i.e., the absolute molecular weight) on a GPC-FTIR chromatograph. Long Chain Branching Factor (LCBF) The LCBF (dimensionless) was determined for the disclosed Examples and Comparative Examples using the method described in U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2018 / 0305531 which is incorporated herein by reference. In brief, LCBF was calculated according to LCBF = (Sh x Sv) / 2; where Sh and Sv are horizontal and vertical shift factors from a reference line for non-long chain branched ethylene polymers, in a plot of logarithm of a polydispersity corrected zero–shear viscosity—log ZSVC per Eq. (2) in U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No.2018 / 0305531—on the abscissa axis and logarithm of a short chain branching (SCB) corrected intrinsic viscosity on the ordinate axis—log(IVc) per Eq. (3) in U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No.2018 / 0305531. The zero–shear viscosity (η0) was determined by the test procedure described in the section under the heading “Zero–Shear Viscosity.” Intrinsic viscosity ([η]) was determined by Triple Detection Size Exclusion Chromatography (3D- SEC) according to the method described in U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No.2018 / 0305531. The horizontal and vertical shift factors, Shand Sv, were calculated according to Eq. (5) and Eq. (6) in U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No.2018 / 0305531. CRYSTAF / TREF The “composition distribution branching index”, hereinafter CDBI, of the disclosed ethylene copolymer compositions were measured using a CRYSTAF / TREF 200+ unit equipped with an IR detector, hereinafter CTREF. The acronym “TREF” refers to Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation. The CTREF was supplied by PolymerChar S.A. (Valencia Technology Park, Gustave Eiffel, 8, Paterna, E-46980 Valencia, Spain). The CTREF was operated in the TREF mode, which generates the chemical composition of the polymer sample as a function of elution temperature and the CDBI (the composition distribution breadth index), i.e., CDBI50. A polymer sample (80 to 100 mg) was placed into the reactor vessel of the CTREF. The reactor vessel was filled with 35 ml of 1,2,4- trichlorobenzene (TCB) and the polymer was dissolved by heating the solution to 150°C for 2 hours. An aliquot (1.5 mL) of the solution was then loaded into the CTREF column which was packed with stainless steel beads. The column, loaded with sample, was allowed to stabilize at 110°C for 45 minutes. The polymer was then crystallized from solution, within the column, by dropping the temperature to 30°C at a cooling rate of 0.09°C / minute. The column was then equilibrated for 30 minutes at 30°C. The crystallized polymer was then eluted from the column with TCB flowing through the column at 0.75 mL / minute, while the column was slowly heated from 30°C to 120°C at a heating rate of 0.25°C / minute. The raw CTREF data were processed using Polymer Char software, an Excel spreadsheet and CTREF software developed in-house. The CTREF procedures described above are also used to determine the weight percent (wt.%) of the tested sample which elutes at a temperature range of from 90°C to 105°C (i.e., the integrated area of the fraction, in weight percent, of the polymer samples which elutes at from 90°C to 105°C in a CTREF analysis). Hot Tack In the present disclosure, the “Hot Tack Test” was performed as follows. Hot tack data was generated using a J&B Hot Tack Tester which is commercially available from Jbi Hot Tack, Geloeslaan 30, B-3630 Maamechelen, Belgium. In the hot tack test, the strength of a seal is measured immediately after heat sealing two film samples together, i.e., when the macromolecules that include the film are in a semi-molten state—the two film samples were cut from the same roll of film. This test simulates the heat sealing of films on high speed automatic packaging machines, e.g., vertical or horizontal form, fill and seal (VFFS) equipment. The following parameters were used in the J&B Hot Tack Test: film specimen width, 1 inch (25.4 mm); film sealing time, 0.5 second; film sealing pressure, 0.27 N / mm2; delay time, 0.5 second; film peel speed, 7.9 in / second (200 mm / second); testing temperature range, 131°F to 293°F (55°C to 145°C); temperature increments, 9°F (5°C); and five film samples were tested at each temperature increment to calculate average values at each temperature. In this way, a hot tack profile of pulling force vs sealing temperature is generated. The following data can be calculated from this hot tack profile: the “Hot Tack Onset Temperature @ 1.0 N (in °C)” or the “HTOT”, is the temperature at which a hot tack force of 1N was observed (an average of five film samples); the “Max Hot tack Strength (N)”, is the maximum hot tack force observed (an average of five film samples) over the testing temperature range; the “Temperature—Max. Hot tack (in °C)”, is the temperature at which the maximum hot tack force was observed. Seal Strength In the present disclosure, the “Heat Seal Strength Test” (also known as “the cold seal test”) was performed as follows. Heat seal data was generated using a conventional Instron Tensile Tester. In this test, two film samples are sealed over a range of temperatures—the two film samples were cut from the same roll of film. The following parameters were used in the Heat Seal Strength (or cold seal) Test: film specimen width, 1 inch (25.4 mm); film sealing time, 0.5 second; film sealing pressure, 40 psi (0.28 N / mm2); temperature range, 212°F to 302°F (100°C to 150°C) and temperature increment, 9°F (5°C). After aging for at least 24 hours at ASTM conditions, seal strength was determined using the following tensile parameters: pull (crosshead) speed, 12 inch / min (2.54 cm / min); direction of pull, 90° to seal; and 5 samples of film were tested at each temperature increment. The Seal Initiation Temperature, hereafter “SIT”, is defined as the temperature at which a seal strength of greater than 8.8 N per 25.4 mm of seal width is achieved. Continuous Solution Polymerization Process The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition in Examples 1–11 and Comparative Examples 1–7 were each made in a pilot-scale “in-series” multi-reactor solution polymerization process where the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition was made by forming a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in a first reactor (R1); and forming a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in a second reactor (R2); where R1 and R2 were configured in series with one another. Multi-reactor, solution phase polymerization process operated in series has been described in U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No.2019 / 0135958 and U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No.2018 / 0305531. In an “in-series” reactor system the exit stream from a first polymerization reactor (R1) flows directly into a second polymerization reactor (R2). The R1 pressure was from about 14 MPa to about 18 MPa; while R2 was operated at a lower pressure to facilitate continuous flow from R1 to R2. Both R1 and R2 were continuously stirred reactors (CSTRs). A third reactor (R3) was configured in series with the second reactor, R2 (i.e., the contents of reactor 2 flowed into reactor 3). The third reactor (R3) was a tubular reactor. The process was operated continuously by feeding fresh process solvent, ethylene, octene-1 and hydrogen to the first and second reactors and in the removal of product. Methylpentane was used as the process solvent (a commercial blend of methylpentane isomers). The volume of the first CSTR reactor (R1) was 3.2 gallons (12 L), and the volume of the second CSTR reactor (R2) was 5.8 gallons (22 L). The volume of the tubular reactor (R3) was 0.6 gallons (2.2 L). Monomer (ethylene) and comonomer (octene-1) were purified prior to addition to the reaction using conventional feed preparation systems (such as contact with various absorption media to remove impurities such as water, oxygen and polar contaminants). The reactor feeds were pumped to the reactors at the ratios shown in Table 1. Table 1 shows the reactor conditions used to make each of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions in Examples 1–11 and Comparative Examples 1–7. Table 1 includes process parameters, such as the ethylene and octene-1 splits between the reactors (R1 and R2), the reactor temperatures, the ethylene conversions, the amounts of hydrogen, ethylene and octene-1 concertation in the fresh feed to reactors, fresh feed total solution rates, CSTR reactors (R1 and R2) agitation speeds, etc. In Examples 1–11, the following bridged metallocene catalyst components were used to prepare the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in the first CSTR reactor (R1) and to prepare the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in the second CSTR reactor (R2): component A, diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-t-butylfuorenyl)hafnium dimethide [(2,7-tBu2Flu)Ph2C(Cp)HfMe2]; component M, methylaluminoxane (MMAO- 07); component B, trityl tetrakis(pentafluoro-phenyl)borate (trityl borate); and component P, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-ethylphenol (BHEB). Methylaluminoxane (MMAO-07); and 2,6-di-tert- butyl-4-ethylphenol are premixed in-line and then combined with diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-t-butylfuorenyl)hafnium dimethide and trityl tetrakis(pentafluoro-phenyl)borate just before entering the polymerization reactors (R1 and R2). The following catalyst component solvents were used: methylpentane for components M and P; and xylene for component A and B. The efficiency of the bridged metallocene catalyst formulation was optimized by adjusting the quantity of component A added to R1 and R2 [R1 catalyst (ppm) and R2 catalyst (ppm) as recited in Table 1], the mole ratios of the catalyst components—i.e., [M] / [A], [P] / [M] and [B] / [A]—and the R1 and R2 catalyst inlet temperatures as tabulated in Table 1. In Comparative Examples 1–7, the following single site catalyst components were used to prepare the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in the first reactor (R1): component A, diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-t-butylfuorenyl)hafnium dimethide [(2,7- tBu2Flu)Ph2C(Cp)HfMe2]; component M, methylaluminoxane (MMAO-07); component B, trityl tetrakis(pentafluoro-phenyl)borate (trityl borate); and component P, 2,6-di-tert-butyl- 4-ethylphenol (BHEB). Methylaluminoxane (MMAO-07); and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4- ethylphenol are premixed in-line and then combined with diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-t-butylfuorenyl)hafnium dimethide and trityl tetrakis(pentafluoro-phenyl)borate just before entering the polymerization reactor (R1). The following catalyst component solvents were used: methylpentane for components M and P; and xylene for component A and B. The efficiency of the single site catalyst formulation was optimized by adjusting the quantity of component A added to R1 [R1 catalyst (ppm) as recited in Table 1], the mole ratios of the catalyst components—i.e., [M] / [A], [P] / [M] and [B] / [A]—and the R1 catalyst inlet temperature as tabulated in Table 1. In Comparative Examples 1–7, an in-line Ziegler-Natta catalyst formulation catalyst was used to prepare the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in the second reactor (R2). The in-line Ziegler-Natta catalyst formulation had the following components: butyl ethyl magnesium [component v]; tertiary butyl chloride [component vi]; titanium tetrachloride [component vii]; diethyl aluminum ethoxide [component viii]; and triethyl aluminum [component ix]. Methylpentane was used as the catalyst component solvent and the in-line Ziegler-Natta catalyst formulation was prepared using the following steps and then injected into the second reactor (R2). In step one, a solution of triethylaluminum and butyl ethyl magnesium (Mg:Al = 20, mol:mol) was combined with a solution of tertiary butyl chloride and allowed to react for about 30 seconds to produce a MgCl2support. In step two, a solution of titanium tetrachloride was added to the mixture formed in step one and allowed to react for about 14 seconds prior to injection into second reactor (R2). The in-line Ziegler- Natta catalyst was activated in the reactor by injecting a solution of diethyl aluminum ethoxide into R2. The efficiency of the in-line Ziegler-Natta catalyst formulation was optimized by adjusting the quantity of titanium tetrachloride added to the reactor—recited as R2 catalyst (ppm) in Table 1, the mole ratios of the catalyst components—i.e., [vi] / [v], [viii] / [vii] and [ix] / [vii]—and R2 catalyst inlet temperature as tabulated in Table 1. In operating the continuous solution polymerization process shown in Table 1, the total amount of ethylene supplied to the process were portioned or split between the three reactors R1 and R2. In Table 1, this operational variable was called the ethylene split (ES), i.e., ESR1and ESR2referred to the weight percent of ethylene injected in R1 and R2, respectively; with the proviso that ESR1+ ESR2= 100%. Octene-1 was also added to the continuous solution polymerization process and was proportioned or split between R1 and R2. In Table 1, this operational variable was called the octene-1 split (OS), i.e., OSR1and OSR2referred to the weight percent of octene-1 comonomer that was injected in R1 and R2, respectively; with the proviso that OSR1+ OSR2= 100%. In Examples 1–11 and Comparative Examples 1–7, no fresh ethylene, octene-1, hydrogen and catalyst were pumped into the third reactor. In operating the continuous solution polymerization process shown in Table 1, the total amount of ethylene converted in each reactor is monitored. The term QR1referred to the percent of the ethylene added to R1 that was converted into a first ethylene α / olefin copolymer by the catalyst formulation. Similarly, QR2represented the percent of the ethylene added to R2 that was converted into the second ethylene α / olefin copolymer. In Table 1, the term QTrepresented the total or overall ethylene conversion across the entire continuous solution polymerization plant; i.e., QT= 100 × [weight of ethylene in the ethylene α / olefin copolymer composition] / ([weight of ethylene in the ethylene α / olefin copolymer composition] + [weight of unreacted ethylene]). Polymerization in the continuous solution polymerization process was terminated by adding a catalyst deactivator to the third exit stream exiting the tubular reactor (R3). The catalyst deactivator used was octanoic acid (caprylic acid), commercially available from P&G Chemicals, Cincinnati, OH, U.S.A. The catalyst deactivator was added such that the moles of fatty acid added were 50% of the total molar amount of catalytic metal and aluminum added to the polymerization process; to be clear, the moles of octanoic acid added = 0.5 × (moles hafnium + moles aluminum). A two-stage devolatilization process was employed to recover the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition from the process solvent, i.e., two vapor / liquid separators were used, and the second bottom stream (from the second V / L separator) was passed through a gear pump / pelletizer combination. The gear pump was a VACOREX®45 / 45 pump with 191 liter per hour capacity which was steam jacketed with 270# steam. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition leaving the gear pump was then passed through a 4” diameter static mixer before entering the pelletizer where the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition was forced through the holes in the die plate top down. There were 32 holes on the die with a hole diameter of 0.125”. The aspect ratio (i.e., length-to-diameter ratio) for each hole was 6.3:1 and the die had a thickness of 1.63” and a diameter of 12”. There were 6 cutter knives—8.6878” OD sweep and 6.2418 ID sweep—located on the side of the die that faced the cooling water system. There were internal heating channels within the die plate and die body and plate were heated with 600# or 270# steam. Cooling water system had a temperature range of from 10 to 80°C and a flow of 7500–9500 kg / h. DHT®-4V (hydrotalcite), supplied by Kyowa Chemical Industry Co. LTD, Tokyo, Japan may be used as a passivator, or acid scavenger, in the continuous solution process. A slurry of DHT-4V in process solvent may be added prior to the first V / L separator. Prior to pelletization, the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition was stabilized by adding 500 ppm of IRGANOX®1076 (a primary antioxidant) and 500 ppm of IRGAFOS®168 (a secondary antioxidant), based on weight of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition. Antioxidants were dissolved in process solvent and added between the first and second V / L separators. TABLE 1a: Continuous Solution Polymerization Process Parameters for Examples 1–7. Ex.1 Ex.2 Ex.3 Ex.4 Ex.5 Ex.6 Ex.7 R1 Catalyst (ppm) 0.42 0.47 0.42 0.44 0.53 0.51 0.45 R1 Catalyst CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*R1 ([M] / [A]) mole ratio 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 R1 ([P] / [M]) mole ratio 0.41 0.40 0.44 0.41 0.41 0.40 0.42 R1 ([B] / [A]) mole ratio 1.31 1.31 1.31 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.31 R1 Catalyst Diluent 33.1 39.7 31.5 38.1 29.3 34.4 29.3 Temperature (°C) R2 Catalyst (ppm) 0.44 0.43 0.44 0.55 0.31 0.28 0.50 R2 Catalyst CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*R2 ([M] / [A]) mole ratio 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 R2 ([P] / [M]) mole ratio 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40 R2 ([B] / [A]) mole ratio 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 R2 Catalyst Diluent 38.0 44.1 36.5 42.6 34.3 39.2 34.5 Temperature (°C) ESR1(%) 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 ESR2(%) 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 R1 Ethylene Concentration (wt%) 11.4 11.6 11.5 11.0 11.4 11.4 11.4 R2 Ethylene Concentration (wt%) 12.6 12.8 12.7 13.0 14.8 14.3 12.8 Octene-1 to Ethylene Ratio R1 0.421 0.469 0.421 0.448 0.516 0.497 0.394 (wt. fraction) Octene-1 to Ethylene Ratio R2 0.282 0.314 0.281 0.243 0.182 0.175 0.264 (wt. fraction) Octene-1 to Ethylene Ratio 0.311 0.346 0.310 0.300 0.290 0.280 0.290 (wt. fraction, total) Polymer Production Rate (kg / h) 69.6 71.6 70.1 71.2 75.9 73.9 71.1 R1 Total Solution Rate (kg / h) 233.1 233.3 233.7 242.0 254.7 250.9 235.4 R2 Total Solution Rate (kg / h) 316.9 316.7 316.3 308.0 295.3 299.1 314.6 Total Solution Rate (kg / h) 550.0 550.0 550.0 550.0 550.0 550.0 550.0 OSR1(%) 50 50 50 55.3 65.5 65.5 50 OSR2(%) 50 50 50 44.7 34.5 34.5 50 H2Concentration in R1 (ppm) 5.82 4.50 6.00 4.50 4.50 5.00 4.51 H2 Concentration in R2 (ppm) 1.66 3.50 1.75 1.75 5.50 3.48 1.50 R1 Fresh Feed Temperature (°C) 40.0 40.0 40.0 39.9 40.0 40.0 39.9 R2 Fresh Feed Temperature (°C) 40.0 41.5 40.0 39.9 40.0 39.9 40.0 R1 Mean Temp (°C) 166.1 167.9 166.9 160.8 167.4 167.8 167.2 R2 Mean Temp (°C) 187.2 190.0 188.0 189.7 198.2 195.0 189.7 R3 Outlet Temperature (°C) 189.5 193.0 190.3 191.8 199.7 196.7 194.9 QR1(%) 82.0 82.1 82.0 80.9 82.5 82.5 82.5 QR2(%) 81.0 81.0 81.0 83.9 80.0 80.0 81.2 QT(%) 84.6 84.5 84.7 87.4 84.2 83.4 86.6 R1 Agitator Speed (rpm) 325 325 325 325 325 325 325 R2 Agitator Speed (rpm) 260 260 260 260 260 260 260 *(2,7-tBu2Flu)Ph2C(Cp)HfMe2. TABLE 1b: Continuous Solution Polymerization Process Parameters for Examples 8–11 and Comparative Examples 1–3. Ex.8 Ex.9 Ex.10 Ex.11 Comp. Comp. Comp. Ex.1 Ex.2 Ex.3 R1 Catalyst (ppm) 0.61 0.57 0.53 0.62 0.58 0.56 0.60 R1 Catalyst CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*R1 ([M] / [A]) mole ratio 50 50 50 50 59.9 60.1 60.1 R1 ([P] / [M]) mole ratio 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.41 0.21 0.20 0.20 R1 ([B] / [A]) mole ratio 1.20 1.20 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 R1 Catalyst Diluent 24.6 26.9 29.8 23.6 36.8 38.2 33.2 Temperature (°C) R2 Catalyst (ppm) 0.28 0.32 0.29 0.20 8.50†8.35†8.05†R2 Catalyst CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*in-line in-line in-line ZN ZN ZN R2 ([M] / [A]) mole ratio 55 55 55 55 — — — R2 ([P] / [M]) mole ratio 0.40 0.40 0.40 0.40 — — — R2 ([B] / [A]) mole ratio 1.20 1.20 1.30 1.30 — — — R2 ([vi] / [v]) mole ratio — — — — 2.02 2.02 2.02 R2 ([viii] / [vii]) mole ratio — — — — 1.35 1.35 1.35 R2 ([ix] / [vii]) mole ratio — — — — 0.37 0.37 0.37 R2 Catalyst Diluent 37.7 38.3 41.6 37.2 39.3 40.8 36.3 Temperature (°C) ESR1(%) 40 40 40 40 45 45 45 ESR2(%) 60 60 60 60 55 55 55 R1 Ethylene Concentration (wt%) 12.4 11.9 12.2 12.2 12.0 12.0 11.6 R2 Ethylene Concentration (wt%) 14.0 14.2 14.0 15.3 15.0 14.6 14.7 Octene-1 to Ethylene Ratio R1 0.600 0.490 0.491 0.548 0.617 0.610 0.590 (wt. fraction) Octene-1 to Ethylene Ratio R2 0.211 0.300 0.326 0.193 1.075 1.061 1.026 (wt. fraction) Octene-1 to Ethylene Ratio 0.336 0.345 0.360 0.307 0.800 0.790 0.764 (wt. fraction, total) Polymer Production Rate (kg / h) 78.5 78.1 78.4 80.3 78.7 77.7 76.0 R1 Total Solution Rate (kg / h) 236.0 244.0 238.0 246.1 278.2 274.3 279.5 R2 Total Solution Rate (kg / h) 314.0 306.0 311.9 293.9 271.8 275.7 270.5 Total Solution Rate (kg / h) 550.0 550.0 550.0 540.0 550.0 550.0 550.0 OSR1(%) 65 52 50 65 32 32 32 OSR2(%) 35 48 50 35 68 68 68 H2 Concentration in R1 (ppm) 1.00 3.98 4.30 3.10 4.50 4.50 4.50 H2 Concentration in R2 (ppm) 4.68 5.00 8.00 8.80 16.00 11.00 11.99 R1 Fresh Feed Temperature (°C) 30.0 30.0 30.0 30.0 40.0 39.9 40.0 R2 Fresh Feed Temperature (°C) 30.0 30.0 30.0 30.0 45.0 44.9 45.0 R1 Mean Temp (°C) 168.1 164.9 168.0 168.2 172.9 172.0 171.8 R2 Mean Temp (°C) 192.0 191.9 192.0 198.0 200.2 198.0 198.0 R3 Outlet Temperature (°C) 194.4 194.9 197.0 201.1 200.1 199.8 198.1 QR1(%) 80.0 82.0 82.0 82.0 81.46 81.50 82.30 QR2(%) 80.0 80.0 80.0 80.0 80.19 80.02 80.07 QT(%) 84.2 84.7 84.7 84.5 82.41 82.99 82.33 R1 Agitator Speed (rpm) 450 450 450 450 325 325 325 R2 Agitator Speed (rpm) 260 260 260 260 260 260 260*(2,7-tBu2Flu)Ph2C(Cp)HfMe2; and†concentration of component vii. TABLE 1c: Continuous Solution Polymerization Process Parameters for Comparative Examples 4–7. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Ex.4 Ex.5 Ex.6 Ex.7 R1 Catalyst (ppm) 0.73 0.74 0.68 0.68 R1 Catalyst CpF*CpF*CpF*CpF*R1 ([M] / [A]) mole ratio 30.0 30.0 30.0 30.0 R1 ([P] / [M]) mole ratio 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 R1 ([B] / [A]) mole ratio 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 R1 Catalyst Diluent Temperature (°C) 30.9 36.0 39.2 30.5 R2 Catalyst (ppm) 5.82†7.04†7.50†5.52†R2 Catalyst in-line in-line in-line in-line ZN ZN ZN ZN R2 ([vi] / [v]) mole ratio 2.08 2.08 2.08 2.08 R2 ([viii] / [vii]) mole ratio 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.35 R2 ([ix] / [vii]) mole ratio 0.37 0.37 0.37 0.37 R2 Catalyst Diluent Temperature (°C) 34.0 38.4 40.7 33.7 ESR1(%) 45 45 45 38 ESR2(%) 55 55 55 62 R1 Ethylene Concentration (wt%) 11.6 12.4 11.9 10.9 R2 Ethylene Concentration (wt%) 17.0 15.7 16.1 17.2 Octene-1 to Ethylene Ratio R1 0.637 0.670 0.736 0.835 (wt. fraction) Octene-1 to Ethylene Ratio R2 1.108 1.165 1.281 1.088 (wt. fraction) Octene-1 to Ethylene Ratio 0.822 0.864 0.950 0.910 (wt. fraction, total) Polymer Production Rate (kg / h) 78.7 75.2 75.5 75.4 R1 Total Solution Rate (kg / h) 285.8 254.0 262.8 245.8 R2 Total Solution Rate (kg / h) 239.2 245.9 237.2 254.2 Total Solution Rate (kg / h) 525.0 500.0 500.0 500.0 OSR1(%) 32 32 32 32 OSR2(%) 68 68 68 68 H2Concentration in R1 (ppm) 3.50 3.51 3.50 3.50 H2 Concentration in R2 (ppm) 9.70 28.11 11.39 12.46 R1 Fresh Feed Temperature (°C) 35.0 35.0 35.0 35.0 R2 Fresh Feed Temperature (°C) 44.9 44.9 45.0 45.0 R1 Mean Temp (°C) 164.2 171.8 168.0 159.0 R2 Mean Temp (°C) 204.9 205.0 205.0 205.0 R3 Outlet Temperature (°C) 203.2 206.2 204.2 204.1 QR1(%) 80.29 80.20 80.01 79.96 QR2(%) 80.15 80.15 79.98 80.11 QT(%) 83.59 83.62 83.44 83.69 R1 Agitator Speed (rpm) 325 325 325 325 R2 Agitator Speed (rpm) 260 260 260 260 *(2,7-tBu2Flu)Ph2C(Cp)HfMe2; and † concentration of component vii. The Mw, Mn, Mw / Mn, weight percent, the SCB per 1000 carbon atoms of each component made in R1 and R2 were calculated and shown in Table 2a–2c using a reactor model simulation using the input conditions which were employed for actual pilot scale run conditions. For references on relevant reactor modeling methods, see “Copolymerization” by A. Hamielec, J. MacGregor, and A. Penlidis in Comprehensive Polymer Science and Supplements, volume 3, Chapter 2, page 17, Elsevier, 1996 and “Copolymerization of Olefins in a Series of Continuous Stirred-Tank Slurry-Reactors using Heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta and Metallocene Catalysts. I. General Dynamic Mathematical Model” by J.B.P Soares and A.E Hamielec in Polymer Reaction Engineering, 4(2&3), p153, 1996. The model takes for input the flow of several reactive species (e.g., catalyst, monomer such as ethylene, comonomer such as octene-1, hydrogen, and solvent) going to each reactor, the temperature (in each reactor), and the conversion of monomer (in each reactor) and calculates the polymer properties (of the polymer made in each reaction zone) using a terminal kinetic model for continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) connected in series. The “terminal kinetic model” assumes that the kinetics depend upon the monomer unit within the polymer chain on which the active catalyst site is located—see “Copolymerization” by A. Hamielec, J. MacGregor, and A. Penlidis in Comprehensive Polymer Science and Supplements, Volume 3, Chapter 2, page 17, Elsevier, 1996. In the model, the copolymer chains are assumed to be of reasonably large molecular weight to ensure that the statistics of monomer / comonomer unit insertion at the active catalyst center is valid and that monomers / comonomers consumed in routes other than propagation are negligible. This is known as the “long chain” approximation. The terminal kinetic model for polymerization includes reaction rate equations for activation, initiation, propagation, chain transfer, and deactivation pathways. This model solves the steady-state conservation equations (e.g., the total mass balance and heat balance) for the reactive fluid which comprises the reactive species identified above. The total mass balance for a generic CSTR with a given number of inlets and outlets is given by:0 ൌ ^^^^ ^^where ^^^ ^ represents the mass flow streams with index i indicating theinlet and outlet streams. Equation 1 can be further expanded to show the individual species and reactions: ^^^^^ ∑పఫ^^ 0ൌ^^^^^ ^^ൗwhere ^^^is the average molar outlet ^^, ^^^^is the mass fraction of species ^^ in stream ^^, ^^^^௫is the molar density of the reactor ^^ is the reactor volume, ^^^is the reaction rate for species ^^, which has units of The total heat balance is solved for an adiabatic reactor and is given by: 0ൌ ^^^^^ ^∆^^^ ^ ^^ோ௫ ^^ ^ ^^^ െ ^^^ ^ where, ^^^ ^ is the mass or , is the difference in enthalpyof stream i versus a reference state, ^^ோ௫is the heat released by reaction(s), ^^ is the reactorvolume, ^^^ is the work input (i.e., agitator), ^^^ is the heat input / loss. The catalystconcentration input to each reactor is adjusted to match the experimentally determined ethylene conversion and reactor temperature values in order solve the equations of the kinetic model (e.g., propagation rates, heat balance and mass balance). The H2concentration input to each reactor may be likewise adjusted so that the calculated molecular weight distribution of a polymer made over all reactors (and, hence, the molecular weight of polymer made in each reactor) matches that which is observed experimentally. Reported weight percent values shown in Table 2a–2c are such that the sum of the weight percent of the material made in R1 and R2 is at 100 percent. The degree of polymerization (^^^^^) for a polymerization reaction is given by the ratio of the rate of chain propagation reactions over the rate of chain transfer / termination reactions: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^^ଶ^^^^^^ଶ^ ^ ^^^ଶ^^^ଶ^^^ଶ^ polymer chain ending with monomer 1 (ethylene),^^^^^is the molar concentration of monomer 1 in the reactor,^^^ଶ^is the molar concentration of monomer 2 in the reactor, ^^௧^^ଶthe termination rate constant for chain transfer to monomer 2 for a growing chain ending with monomer 1, ^^௧^^is rate constant for the spontaneous chain termination for a chain ending with monomer 1, ^^௧ு^is the rate constant for the chain termination by hydrogen for a chain ending with monomer 1. ^^^and ^^ଶand the fraction of catalyst sites occupied by a chain ending with monomer 1 or monomer 2 respectively. The number average molecular weight (Mn) for a polymer follows from the degree of polymerization and the molecular weight of a monomer unit. From the number average molecular weight of polymer in a given reactor, and assuming a Flory-Schulz distribution for a single site catalyst, the molecular weight distribution is determined for the polymer using the following relationships. ^^^^^^ ൌ ^^^^ଶ^^ିఛ^(eq.5) where ^^ is the number of monomer units in a polymer chain, ^^^^^^ is the weight fraction of polymer chains having a chain length ^^, and ^^ is calculated using the equation below: ^^ ൌ1 ^^ ൌ௧^^^^^^^^(eq.6) where ^^^^^is the degree of polymerization, ^^^is the rate of propagation and ^^௧is the rate of termination. The Flory-Schulz distribution can be transformed into the common log scaled gel permeation chromatography, GPC trace by applying: ^^^^ ^^ଶ^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ൌ ^^^^^10^^ି ^^ ௗ^^^ ^ ^ ^ ^^^^^2 (eq.7) where ௗ^is the differential weight fraction of polymer with a chain length ^^ ெ^ௗ^^^^ெ^^(^^ ൌଶ଼ where 28 is the molecular weight of the polymer segment corresponding to a C2H4 ^^^^ is the degree of pol ^ ymerization. Assuming a Flory-Schultz model, different moments of molecular weight distribution can be calculated using the following: ^ ^^^ ൌ ^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^thus, ^^ ൌ 1, ^^ ^^ ൌ ^^^^^, and ^^ଶ ^^^^ ^^ൌ ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ where ^^^^^^^^^^^is corresponding to a C2H4 unit of monomer. Finally, when a single site catalyst produces long chain branching, the molecular weight distribution is determined for the polymer using the following relationships (see “Polyolefins with Long Chain Branches Made with Single-Site Coordination Catalysts: A Review of Mathematical Modeling Techniques for Polymer Microstructure” by J.B.P Soares in Macromolecular Materials and Engineering, volume 289, Issue 1, Pages 70-87, Wiley-VCH, 2004 and “Polyolefin Reaction Engineering” by J.B.P Soares and T.F.L. McKenna Wiley-VCH, 2012). ^1 െ ^ ିఛಳ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ൌ ^^^^^^^^√^^^^^^^^^^2 ^^^^ where ^^ is the number of monomer units in a polymer chain, ^^^^^^is the weight fraction of polymer chains having a chain length ^^, and ^^^and ^^ are calculated using equations below: 1^^ ^ ^^^^ ௧ ^^^^^ where ^^^^^^is degree of polymerization, ^^^is the rate propagation, ^^௧is the rate of termination and ^^^^^is the rate of long chain branching formation calculated using equation below: ^^^^^ ൌ ^^^^ଷ^^^^^^ଷ^(eq.12) where ^^^^ଷis the propagation rate constant for adding monomer 3 (macromonomer which formed in the reactor) to a growing polymer chain ending with monomer 1,^^^ଷ^is the molar concentration of macromonomer in the reactor. The weight distribution can be transformed into the common log scaled GPC trace by applying: ^^^^^1 െ ^^^ ^^^^^ିఛಳ^^^^^^√^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ൌ ln^10^^^ ^1 ^ ^^^ ^^2 1^ ^^^ where ௗ^is the differential weight fraction of polymer with a chain l ெ^ௗ^^^^ெ^^ength ^^ (^^ ൌଶ଼ molecular weight of the polymer segment corresponding to a C2H4unit). distribution, different moments of molecular weight distribution can be calculated using the following: ^^^^^ ^^ 1 ^ ^^^^^ ൌ ^^^^^^ ^^^^1 ^^ଶ where ^^^^^^is degree of polymerization, and ^^ is calculated as explained. Assuming that addition of monomer 2 (octene-1) unit to a chain ending in an octene terminal unit is insignificant, the number of octene after ethylene steps will be equivalent to the number of ethylene after octene steps. The branch content of the resultant polymer per thousand backbone carbon atoms (500 monomer units), ^^^^^^ will be the ratio of the rate of addition of monomer 1 (ethylene) to the rate of the addition of monomer 2 (octene-1). ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 2 ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1 ^^^^^^ 500^^^ଶ^^^^^ଶ 500 where ^^^^ଶis the propagation rate constant for adding monomer 2 (octene-1) to a growing polymer chain ending with monomer 1 (ethylene), ^^^^^is the propagation rate constant for adding monomer 1 (ethylene) to a growing polymer chain ending with monomer 1, ^^^^^ is the molar concentration of monomer 1 in the reactor, and ^^^ଶ^ is the molar concentration of monomer 2 in the reactor. With reference to Tables 2a–2b, Example 1 through 11 contained from 30 to 50 weight percent of a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight Mwof from 80 to 140 kg / mol, a commoner content of from15 to 40 branches per 1000 carbon atoms and a polydispersity index Mw / Mn of from 1.7 to 2.3. Examples further contained from 50 to 70 weight percent of a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight Mw of from 20 to 60 kg / mol, a number of short chain branches per thousand carbon atoms of from 10 to 35, and a polydispersity index Mw / Mnof from 1.7 to 2.3. It is also observable that, in Examples 1 through 11, the second ethylene / α- olefin copolymer had a weight-average molecular weight which was less than that of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer. The ratio of the weight-average molecular weight of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the weight-average molecular weight of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer in Examples 1–11 was from 2 to 3. One notices that, in Comparative Examples 1–3, the copolymer component with a lower Mw and lower SCB content—i.e., the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer—had a Mw / Mnof greater than 2.3. TABLE 2a: Deconvolution of Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Composition of Examples 1–6 into a First Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer and a Second Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer. First Ethylene / α-olefin Second Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Copolymer 1Weight Percent (%) 38.39 61.61elpMn(g / mol) 45888 22811 maMw (g / mol) 97128 48030 x Polydispersity (Mw / Mn) 2.11 2.1 E SCB per 103carbons 23.58 22.99 2Weight Percent (%) 38.21 61.79elpMn (g / mol) 45500 19996 maMw (g / mol) 96196 41909 x E Polydispersity (Mw / Mn) 2.11 2.09 SCB per 103carbons 25.25 24.645 3Weight Percent (%) 38.37 61.63elpMn (g / mol) 45358 22354 maMw (g / mol) 96008 47050 x E Polydispersity (Mw / Mn) 2.11 2.1 SCB per 103carbons 23.38 22.83 4Weight Percent (%) 37.18 62.82elpMn (g / mol) 53711 18846 maMw (g / mol) 113458 39822 x E Polydispersity (Mw / Mn) 2.11 2.11 SCB per 103carbons 24.85 23.445Weight Percent (%) 40.04 59.96elpMn (g / mol) 43222 19912 maMw (g / mol) 91347 41728 x E Polydispersity (Mw / Mn) 2.11 2.09 SCB per 103carbons 27.5 18.85 6Weight Percent (%) 40.02 59.98elpMn (g / mol) 42765 21959 maMw (g / mol) 90425 46172 x Polydispersity (M / M ) 2.11 2.10 Ew nSCB per 103carbons 26.72 18.68 TABLE 2b: Deconvolution of Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Composition of Examples 7–11 and Comparative Example 1 into a First Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer and a Second Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer. First Ethylene / α-olefin Second Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Copolymer 7Weight Percent (%) 38.38 61.62elpMn(g / mol) 47574 22223 maMw (g / mol) 100962 46904 x E Polydispersity (Mw / Mn) 2.12 2.11 SCB per 103carbons 22.56 21.71 8Weight Percent (%) 39.26 60.74elpMn (g / mol) 59819 21572 maMw (g / mol) 122441 43345 x E Polydispersity (Mw / Mn) 2.05 2.01 SCB per 103carbons 32.39 19.75 9Weight Percent (%) 39.2 60.8elpMn (g / mol) 53309 20014 maMw (g / mol) 108821 40215 x Polydispersity (Mw / Mn) 2.04 2.01 E SCB per 103carbons 29.06 21.72 01 Weight Percent (%) 38.82 61.18elMn (g / mol) 50244 18448 p m Mw (g / mol) 102595 37064 axPolydispersity (Mw / Mn) 2.04 2.01 E SCB per 103carbons 28.02 22.71 11 Weight Percent (%) 40.4 59.6elMn (g / mol) 51139 18526 p m Mw (g / mol) 104627 37210 axPolydispersity (Mw / Mn) 2.04 2.01 E SCB per 103carbons 30.83 16.67 1Weight Percent (%) 43.42 56.58.p elMn (g / mol) 39535 13445 mpom Mw(g / mol) 83152 37916 CaxE Polydispersity (Mw / Mn) 2.10 2.82 SCB per 103carbons 29.39 25.72 TABLE 2c: Deconvolution of Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Composition of Comparative Examples 2 and 3 into a First Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer and a Second Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer. First Ethylene / α-olefin Second Ethylene / Copolymer α-olefin Copolymer 2Weight Percent (%) 43.7 56.3.p elMn (g / mol) 40279 15313 mpom Mw(g / mol) 84738 44813 CaxPolydispersity (Mw / M ) 2.10 2.92 EnSCB per 103carbons 29.31 24.29 3Weight Percent (%) 44.01 55.99.p elMn (g / mol) 39132 14809 mpom Mw(g / mol) 82481 43009 CaxPolydispersity (M / M ) 2.10 2.90 Ew nSCB per 103carbons 29.31 24.53 As summarized in Table 3a–3c, Examples 1 through 11, relative to the Comparative Examples 1 through 7, had an improved (increased) VICAT Softening Temperature (denoted as VSP in Tables 3a–3c). As appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions with increased softening temperature exhibit a delayed softening process enabling devolatilization of the produced polymer at higher temperatures at accelerated rates. Devolatilization is herein defined according to removal of volatile hydrocarbon residues (e.g., unreacted monomers or the process solvent) from solid polymer particles using a stripping agent such as air, nitrogen, etc. as a finishing step in a polymerization plant (e.g., a post-pelletization process step). It is further noticeable that Examples 1 through 11 followed a specific VSP–η0–SCB relationship defined according to |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0 [in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.5°C—see the values tabulated for the absolute value of the difference between the experimentally measured VSP and predicted VSP (VSPpred). TABLE 3a: Physical, Molecular, Thermal and Melt Rheological Characteristics of Examples 1–6. Ex.1 Ex.2 Ex.3 Ex.4 Ex.5 Ex.6 1Density 0.9050 0.9027 0.9046 0.9050 0.9075 0.9071 2Melt Index I2 (dg / min) 3.47 4.64 3.79 3.35 5.31 4.16 2Melt Index I21 (dg / min) 126.5 164.5 126.0 134.0 179.5 136.0 2Melt Flow Ratio I21 / I2 (–) 36.5 35.2 33.3 40.1 33.8 32.7 3Comonomer Content (mol%) 4.8 5.1 4.8 4.8 4.5 4.5 3Comonomer Content (wt.%) 16.7 17.7 16.7 16.9 15.9 15.8 Comonomer Type Octene-1 Octene-1 Octene-1 Octene- Octene- Octene-1 1 1 3Number of SCBs per 23.9 25.5 23.9 24.1 22.6 22.5 1000 Carbons 4Mn (kg / mol) 30575 26999 30261 29785 26036 29591 4Mw (kg / mol) 66940 61472 66741 67209 61383 64878 4Mz (kg / mol) 132046 115605 126704 136574 121159 119548 4Mw / Mn(–) 2.19 2.28 2.21 2.26 2.36 2.19 5Zero-shear viscosity, 4.7 3.1 3.6 4.5 2.5 3.1 η0 (kPa.s) 6LCBF (—) 0.017 0.013 0.016 0.018 0.012 0.015 7GPC-FTIR Slope +4.1 +2.3 +3.5 +5.0 +8.6 +8.9 (SCB per 1000 carbons) 7SCB at MW = 300 kg / mol 26.2 26.3 25.5 26.9 28.6 28.7 7SCB at MW = 30 kg / mol 22.1 24.0 22.0 21.9 20.0 19.8 8VICAT Softening 86.4 83.2 86.6 85.8 88.3 89.2 Temperature, VSP (°C) 9VSPpred.(°C) 86.2 82.8 86.1 85.9 88.3 88.7 |VSP – VSPpred.| (°C) 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.0 0.5 10Fraction eluted at 90 to 0.11 0.16 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.10 105°C (wt.%) 1ASTM D792; 2ASTM D1238; 3ASTM D6645-01; 4determined by conventional size exclusion chromatography as described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 5determined by fitting a 4-paramter Carreau-Yasuda viscosity model into the complex viscosity versus angular frequency data obtained at 190°C as described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 6determined by the Long Chain Branching (LCBF) method described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 7determined by the GPC-FTIR method described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 8ASTM 1525-17 (August 1, 2017) under a load of 10 ± 0.2 N and at a heating rate of 120 ± 10°C / h; 9predicted VSP, VSPpred., which was calculated according to VSPpred.= a0+ aη× log η0[in Pa.s] + aSCB× SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms] where a0= 126.36, aη= 1.71 and aSCB= –1.94; and 10determined by the CTREF method described in the “General Testing Procedures” section. TABLE 3b: Physical, Molecular, Thermal and Melt Rheological Characteristics of Examples 7–11 and Comparative Example 1. Ex.7 Ex.8 Ex.9 Ex.10 Ex.11 Comp. Ex.1 1Density 0.9066 0.9039 0.9053 0.9052 0.9072 0.9068 2Melt Index I2(dg / min) 3.26 2.54 3.76 5.57 5.67 4.18 2Melt Index I21(dg / min) 122.0 94.0 129.9 184.6 188.4 111.0 2Melt Flow Ratio I21 / I2 (–) 37.4 37.8 34.6 33.2 33.2 26.6Comonomer Content (mol%) 4.5 4.8 4.8 4.9 4.5 4.6Comonomer Content (wt.%) 15.9 16.9 16.7 17.1 16.0 16.3 Comonomer Type Octene- Octene- Octene- Octene- Octene- Octene- 1 1 1 1 1 1 3Number of SCBs per 22.5 24.2 23.8 24.5 22.7 23.1 1000 Carbons 4Mn (kg / mol) 29797 30521 28126 23229 23167 326344Mw (kg / mol) 67680 69874 64546 59290 58634 69711 4Mz(kg / mol) 131105 135930 122991 116511 114472 125022 4Mw / Mn(–) 2.27 2.29 2.29 2.55 2.53 2.14 5Zero-Shear Viscosity, 4.7 6.4 3.7 2.3 2.3 2.6 η0 (kPa.s) 6LCBF (—) 0.024 0.024 0.014 0.008 0.009 0.002 7GPC-FTIR Slope +2.2 +6.5 +5.6 +5.2 +7.3 +2.5 (SCB per 1000 Carbons) SCB at MW = 300 kg / mol 23.2 27.9 27.4 27.5 27.1 24.97SCB at MW = 30 kg / mol 21.0 21.4 21.8 22.3 19.9 22.4 8VICAT Softening 88.8 86.0 86.5 85.7 88.7 83.9 Temperature, VSP (°C) 9VSPpred.(°C) 89.0 85.9 86.3 84.6 88.1 87.4 |VSP – VSPpred.| (°C) 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.1 0.6 3.510Fraction Eluted at 90 to 0.08 0.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 8.07 105°C (wt.%) 1ASTM D792; 2ASTM D1238; 3ASTM D6645-01; 4determined by conventional size exclusion chromatography as described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 5determined by fitting a 4-paramter Carreau-Yasuda viscosity model into the complex viscosity versus angular frequency data obtained at 190°C as described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 6determined by the Long Chain Branching (LCBF) method described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 7determined by the GPC-FTIR method described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 8ASTM 1525-17 (August 1, 2017) under a load of 10 ± 0.2 N and at a heating rate of 120 ± 10°C / h; 9predicted VSP, VSPpred, which was calculated according to VSPpred.= a0+ aη× log η0[in Pa.s] + aSCB× SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms] where a0= 126.36, aη= 1.71 and aSCB= –1.94; and 10determined by the CTREF method described in the “General Testing Procedures” section. TABLE 3c: Physical, Molecular, Thermal and Melt Rheological Characteristics of Comparative Examples 2–7. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Ex.2 Ex.3 Ex.4 Ex.5 Ex.6 Ex.7 1Density 0.9076 0.9081 0.9075 0.9073 0.9043 0.90532Melt Index I2(dg / min) 3.03 3.28 2.30 5.56 3.69 3.542Melt Index I21(dg / min) 81.0 88.0 66.1 156.1 104.3 101.5Melt Flow Ratio I21 / I2 (–) 26.7 26.9 28.8 27.7 28.3 28.7 3Comonomer Content 4.6 4.5 4.5 4.7 5.0 5.0 (mol%) 3Comonomer Content 16.1 16.0 16.0 16.4 17.3 17.4 (wt.%) Comonomer Type Octene- Octene- Octene- Octene- Octene- Octene- 1 1 1 1 1 1 3Number of SCBs per 22.9 22.7 22.7 23.4 24.8 24.9 1000 Carbons 4Mn(kg / mol) 27134 29046 31556 25760 30069 28562 4Mw (kg / mol) 69255 70284 76710 60939 70050 72111 4Mz (kg / mol) 132093 124017 144977 111001 128455 134852 4Mw / Mn (–) 2.55 2.42 2.43 2.37 2.33 2.525Zero-Shear Viscosity, 3.6 3.4 5.6 2.0 3.1 3.3 η0(kPa.s) 6LCBF (—) 0.002 0.002 0.007 0.002 0.002 0.001 7GPC-FTIR Slope –0.3 +1.6 +3.3 +1.9 +2.2 5.1 (SCB per 1000 Carbons) 7SCB at MW = 300 22.0 21.6 24.9 23.3 26.0 27.5 kg / mol 7SCB at MW = 30 kg / mol 22.3 22.0 21.6 21.4 23.8 22.4 8VICAT Softening 85.4 85.0 86.1 84.0 80.9 80.4 Temperature, VSP (°C) 9VSPpred.(°C) 88.0 88.4 88.7 86.6 84.2 84.1 |VSP – VSPpred.| (°C) 2.6 3.4 2.6 2.6 3.3 3.7 10Fraction Eluted at 90 to 8.07 8.8511NM11NM11NM11NM 105°C (wt.%) 1ASTM D792; 2ASTM D1238; 3ASTM D6645-01; 4determined by conventional size exclusion chromatography as described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 5determined by fitting a 4-paramter Carreau-Yasuda viscosity model into the complex viscosity versus angular frequency data obtained at 190°C as described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 6determined by the Long Chain Branching (LCBF) method described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 7determined by the GPC-FTIR method described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; 8ASTM 1525-17 (August 1, 2017) under a load of 10 ± 0.2 N and at a heating rate of 120 ± 10°C / h; 9predicted VSP, VSPpred., which was calculated according to VSPpred.= a0+ aη× log η0[in Pa.s] + aSCB× SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms] where a0= 126.36, aη= 1.71 and aSCB= –1.94; 10determined by the CTREF method described in the “General Testing Procedures” section; and 11not measured. Multilayer Films Multilayer films were produced on a 9-layer line commercially available from Brampton Engineering (Brampton ON, Canada). The structure of the 9-layer films produced is shown in Table 4. The total thickness of the multilayer film was held constant at 3.5-mil. The die technology consisted of a pancake die, FLEX-STACK Co-extrusion die (SCD), with flow paths machined onto both sides of a plate, the die tooling diameter was 6.3- inches, in this disclosure a die gap of 85-mil was used consistently, film was produced at a blow-up-ratio (BUR) of 2.5 and the output rate of the line was held constant at 200 pounds per hour. The specifications of the nine extruders was as follows: screws 1.5-in diameter, 30 / 1 length to diameter ratio, 8-polyethylene screws with single flights and Maddox mixers, 1-Nylon screw, extruders were air cooled, equipped with 20-H.P. motors and all extruders were equipped with gravimetric blenders. The nip and collapsing frame included a Decatex horizontal oscillating haul-off and pearl cooling slats just below the nips. The line was equipped with a turret winder and oscillating slitter knives. Table 5 summarizes the temperature settings used. All die temperatures were maintained at a constant 430°F—i.e., layer sections, mandrel bottom, mandrel, inner lip and outer lip. TABLE 4: The Multilayer Film Structure (9-layers) Used to Prepare 3.5 mil Blown Films. The material in the sealant layer, layer 1, was varied while keeping the other 8-layers (2 to 9) constant. Layer 1 was the interior layer, i.e., inside the bubble as the multilayer films were produced on the blown film line. Layer % of 9-Layer Materials and Weight% in Each Layer Number Structure Component 1 Other Components Material wt.% Material wt.% Layer 9 51HDPE-1 974MB-2 3 Layer 8 102HDPE-2 100 — — Layer 7 123LLDPE 100 — — Layer 6 133LLDPE 100 — — Layer 5 102HDPE-2 100 — — Layer 4 133LLDPE 100 — — Layer 3 123LLDPE 100 — — Layer 2 102HDPE-2 100 — — Layer 1 15 Tested Ethylene / α- 915MB-1 3 (Sealant Olefin Copolymer4MB-2 4 Layer) Composition6MB-3 2 1 HDPE-1 = SCLAIR®19C available from NOVA Chemicals Corporation (I2of 0.95 dg / min; density of 0.958 g / cm3); 2 HDPE-2 = SURPASS®HPs167-AB available from NOVA Chemicals Corporation (I2of 1.2 dg / min; density of 0.967 g / cm3); 3 LLDPE = SCLAIR®FP120-C available from NOVA Chemicals Corporation (I2of 1.0 dg / min; density of 0.920 g / cm3); 4 MB-2 = masterbatch containing 5 wt% processing aid (DYNAMAR®FX5920 available from 3M) in a 1 melt index, 0.920 density linear low density polyethylene carrier resin; 5 MB-1 = masterbatch containing 5 wt% slip agent—KEMAMIDE®(eurcamide) available from Crompton Corporation in a linear low density polyethylene carrier resin; and 6 MB-3 = masterbatch containing 25 wt% antiblock agent (Diatomaceous Earth) in a linear low density polyethylene carrier resin. TABLE 5: Temperature Settings Used to Prepare the Multilayer Film Structures Shown in Table 4. Extruder / Setpoint Temperature (^F) Layer Feed Barrel Barrel Barrel Barrel Screen Adaptor Throat Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Layer 9 75 360 420 410 410 410 410 Layer 8 75 360 420 410 410 410 410 Layer 7 75 360 420 410 410 410 410 Layer 6 75 360 420 410 410 410 410 Layer 5 75 360 420 410 410 410 410 Layer 4 75 360 420 410 410 410 410 Layer 3 75 360 420 410 410 410 410 Layer 2 75 360 420 410 410 410 410 Layer 1 75 360 420 410 410 410 410 Caulkability Test This test allows one to evaluate the caulkability, or seal through contamination performance, of a sealant layer in a multilayer film. Definitions and a description of the caulkability test follow. “Burst Test”: also called the seal strength test, the package is connected to the instrument via a needle and the package seal strength is determined by increasing the air pressure in the package until it bursts, if the package seals are strong, typically the film structure will expand and burst instead of a failure by seal leakage, the Burst Test is compliant with ASTM F2054-13 (published June 2013). “Leak Test”: also called the pressure loss test is used to evaluate the integrity of a package, the Leak Test is compliant with ASTM F2095-07 (published September 2013); the package is connected to the instrument with the needle and the pressure inside the package is set to 50% of the burst pressure; the test pressure and the pressure loss during the test can be used as a measure of the package integrity; these results also provide a theoretical “hole size” of the leak; this information can be used to calculate a leak rate and average hole size, this calculation is compliant to ASTM F2095; “Hole Length” is the seal width measured in millimeters used to calculate the hole size; “Volume” is the inflated volume of the packages minus the volume of the product within the package; “Caulkability” a term related to a sealant’s ability to encapsulate contamination in the seal area or to flow into a void within the seal area completely so the package does not leak. The experimental apparatus consists of the following items: Mocon Lippke Package Test System 4500, 1bar; Needle (Sharp 1B or Blunt 2B); Septa Black 4mm; ASTM Compliant Restraining Plate Fixture; PC-Software Version 1.2 with hole size calculation; and Impulse Sealer. The following describes the preparation of a film package (or pouch) for caulkability testing, where the films consists of the 9-layer films described in Table 4. Cut 16 film specimens forming a 1-ply sheet (of the 9-layer film) 14-long and 7-in wide (the 14 inch dimension is in the transverse direction of the film, i.e. the transverse direction as defined during film production on the blown film line); fold the film sheet in half forming a 2-ply sheet 7-in square; place 3-Styrofoam packaging peanuts inside the pouch to maintain a separation between the upper and lower film layer; impulse seal the top of the 2-ply sheet; impulse seal the left edge of the 2-ply sheet; position the contaminant (copper wire, 0.01 inches in diameter) between the 2-ply sheet, and; heat seal the remaining open end of the pouch (bottom) using the SL5 sealer (120°C / 40 psi / 0.5 s dwell time) ensuring that the contaminant is entrapped within the heat seal. The resulting package has a volume of about 650 ml. Make 5 pouches containing the copper wire contaminant for the Leak Test; and make 5 pouches without the copper wire contaminant for the Burst Test. Using the Burst Test, inflate the pouches (without contaminant) and determine the average burst pressure of 5 pouches (let’s assume an average burst pressure of 8 psi). Using 50% of the average burst pressure inflate the contaminated pouches (i.e., to 4 psi), conduct the Leak Test and monitor the pressure decay, time and calculate the hole size (µm). To calculate a leak rate (volume flow) a pressure loss ^P and time ^t are needed; these are measured in the Leak Test. The volume is specified as a test parameter. The Leak Rate according to ASTM F2095 is calculated as follows: cs ൌ ∆^^ ^^^^^^^^ ൈ ^ ଷ^^^ ^sc ^ ^^ ^^^^∆^^ ^^^^ (eq.16) For example: a package with a volume (V) of one liter (1000 cm³) is tested for 30 seconds and loses 10 mbar (ΔP = 9.87×10-3atm) in that time. A leak rate of 0.329 sccs results; to convert the leak rate from sccs to mbar × cm³ / s multiply by 1.01325. The “Hole Size” is calculated using the Hagen-Poiseullie’s Law; where the following is required: a leak rate (volume flow, cc / sec), path length (hole length, cm), differential pressure and dynamic viscosity. The leak rate is determined as described above (Leak Test); differential pressure is measured during the Pressure Loss test; hole length is specified as part of the Pressure Loss test parameter set and the viscosity is a constant (air is the working fluid; air viscosity ηair= 1.827 ×10-4Pa·s at 18^C). The effective (average) “Hole Size” is calculated using the Hagen-Poiseuille’s law as follows: ^^^^ସ^^^ െ ^^^ ൌ ^ ^^ଶ The pressure in the package is changing during the test, ∆^^ ^^^^ which results in; ^^ (eq.10) In this disclosure the diameter of the hole, d, is defined as the “hole size” and is measured in microns (µm). ^ൌ 2 ∙ 1000^^^^ 8^^^^^ర ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ∙ ^^^Table 6 by the caulkability test in μm per eq.20. Listed hole size values are average of five measurements. Values in brackets are the standard deviation values calculated based on the five measurements. Tables 6 further includes the absolute values of the difference between the experimentally measured VSP and predicted VSP (VSPpred.) from Tables 3a–3c. As can be seen, the 9-layer structures containing the Examples with a |VSP – VSPpred.| of less than or equal to 1.5°C in their sealant layer had a hole size value improved (decreased) relative to the Comparative Examples with a |VSP – VSPpred.| of greater than 1.5°C. Observation of an improved caulkability or seal through contamination performance in the case of Examples 1–8, 10 and 11 is particularly unexpected to those of ordinary skill in the art given the fact that Comparative Examples 2, 3 and 5 had a softening temperature VSP less than that of their counterparts among Examples 1–8, 10 and 11 with comparable VSPpred.resulting in a higher difference between the sealing temperature, Ts = 120°C, and their experimentally measured softening temperature. To be clear, Comparative Example 2 had a predicted softening temperature of VSPpred.= 88.0 and Example 11 had a predicted softening temperature of VSPpred.= 88.1°C. Comparative Example 2 had an experimentally measured VSP of 85.4°C resulting in a Ts – VSP of 34.6°C, and Example 11 had a experimentally measured VSP of 88.7°C resulting in a Ts– VSP of 31.3°C. TABLE 6: Summary of the “Hole Size”, d as Measured by the Caulkability Test in Micron (μm) per eq.20 at a Sealing Temperature, Ts, of 120°C for the 9-Layer Film Structures Described in Table 4 and Included the Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Composition Prepared in Examples 1–11 and Comparative Examples 2–3 and 5 in the Sealant Layer. Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Composition Hole Size, d (μm) |VSP – VSPpred.| (°C) Incorporated in the Sealant Layer Example 1 344 (10) 0.2 Example 2 370 (14) 0.4 Example 3 356 (14) 0.5 Example 4 349 (15) 0.1 Example 5 357 (14) 0.0 Example 6 364 (18) 0.5 Example 7 345 (11) 0.2 Example 8 353 (16) 0.1 Example 10 356 (12) 1.1 Example 11 377 (19) 0.6 Comparative Example 2 473 (3) 2.6 Comparative Example 3 474 (6) 3.4 Comparative Example 5 465 (13) 2.6 Seal Strength and Hot Tack Performance Table 7 summarizes the sealing properties—i.e., hot tack onset temperature (HTOT) at 1.0 N, maximum hot tack strength and seal initiation temperature at 8.8 N / 2.5mm—for the prepared 9-layer film structures. The data provided in Table 7 demonstrated that the multilayer films prepared in the 9-layer structures incorporating Examples 1–8, 10 and 11 exhibited comparable or better heat sealing attributes relative to the structures incorporating Comparative Examples 2, 3 and 5. TABLE 7: Sealing Properties of the 9-Layer Film Structures Described in Table 4 and Included the Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Composition Prepared in Examples 1–11 and Comparative Examples 2–3 and 5 in the Sealant Layer. HTOT at 1.0 N Maximum Hot SIT at 8.8 N Tack Strength Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer (°C) (N) (°C) Composition Incorporated in the Sealant Layer Example 1 85.0 8.1 91.4 Example 2 79.0 8.5 85.7 Example 3 80.1 8.3 87.4 Example 4 83.1 8.6 87.6 Example 5 81.7 7.3 90.4 Example 6 83.9 7.3 90.6 Example 7 88.9 8.1 92.2 Example 8 77.1 9.0 86.5 Example 10 83.3 7.8 88.2 Example 11 82.6 7.1 90.9 Comparative Example 2 75.3 6.6 95.5 Comparative Example 3 75.4 6.7 86.1 Comparative Example 5 76.9 6.3 86.1 Form-Fill-Seal Process The heat sealing performance of the 9-layer films that are described in Table 4 and included the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition prepared in Examples 1, 3, 5–7 and Comparative Examples 2 and 3 in the sealant layer were characterized in a horizontal form- fill-seal (HFFS) process using an Effytech HB15 HFFS machine. As shown in Table 8 a–b, the HFFS machine had three seal stations (seal stations 1–3) that form the main body of a standup pouch. Seal stations 1 and 2 were plate sealers that form the horizontal and bottom seals of the pouch. The third seal station was a point sealer that sealed only a small area at the junction where four layers of film met to form a gusset. The produced standup pouches (190 mm height × 125 mm width) were partially filled with room temperature water having a volume of about 50 ml and sealed with a thermal top sealer at 120°C and then were tested in a Haug vacuum leak tester at 15 mm Hg pressure for 30 seconds. Pouches that evolved bubbles in the water bath were considered a failure. Pouches that did not produce bubbles were recorded as a pass. A total of 20 bags were produced at each of the sealing conditions. The results in Table 8 a–b are reported as the percent of passes out of 20 bags. The pouch rate was set to 60 bags per minute. Seal integrity of pillow pouches produced from the 9-layer films that are described in Table 4 and included the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition prepared in Examples 1, 3, 5 and 6 were characterized in a vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) process using a ROVEMA VFFS machine. Fin seal pillow pouches having dimensions of 200 mm × 150 mm and filled with about 100 ml of room temperature water were produced at a fixed seal bar temperature using the following four general conditions: low seal time and low seal bar pressure; low seal time and high seal bar pressure; high seal time and low seal bar pressure; and high seal time and high seal bar pressure (see Tables 9 a–b). A total of 20 bags were produced at each of the four conditions at a specific seal bar temperature for Haug vacuum leak testing. The bags produced at each condition were tested for leaks (by examination of whether bubbles were evolved in a water bath) at 15 mm Hg pressure for 30 seconds. To be considered a success in the present testing procedure, a minimum of 18 bags out of the 20 bags tested must pass the Haug vacuum leak test (that is, have no observable leak) for all four conditions at a specific seal bar temperature. In this procedure, an initial horizontal sealing temperature of 95°C was used to assess bag success / failure at each of the four conditions and then the horizontal sealing temperature was increased by 5°C increments and the test was performed again to assess bag success / failure at each of the four conditions. The vertical sealing temperature was kept constant at 165°C. With reference to the data summarized in Tables 8 a–b and 9 a–b, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that the 9-layer structures which included ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions of the present disclosure provided heat sealing characteristics which are desired in high speed vertical and horizontal form-fill-seal processes that load and seal a commercial product (liquid, solid, paste, part, etc.) inside a pouch-like packaging. TABLE 8a: HFFS Heat Sealing Performance of the 9-Layer Film Structures that were Described in Table 4 and Included the Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Composition Prepared in Examples 1, 3 and 5 in the Sealant Layer. Seal Station 1 Seal Station 2 Point Sealer Haug Pass Temperature Temperature Temperature Ethylene / α-olefin (°C) (°C) (°C) Out of 20 Copolymer Composition bags Incorporated in the Sealant Layer Example 1 125 125 125 20 125 125 120 20 125 125 115 3 125 125 110 0 120 120 120 17 115 115 120 7 110 110 120 0 Example 3 125 125 125 20 125 125 120 20 125 125 115 15 125 125 110 0 120 120 120 20 115 115 120 9 110 110 120 0 Example 5 125 125 125 20 125 125 120 20 125 125 115 4 125 125 110 0 120 120 120 18 115 115 120 11 110 110 120 0 TABLE 8b: HFFS Heat Sealing Performance of the 9-Layer Film Structures that were Described in Table 4 and Included the Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Composition Prepared in Examples 6–7 and Comparative Examples 2–3 in the Sealant Layer. Seal Station 1 Seal Station 2 Point Sealer Haug Pass Temperature Temperature Temperature Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer (°C) (°C) (°C) Out of 20 Composition Incorporated in bags the Sealant Layer Example 6 125 125 125 20 125 125 120 20 125 125 115 5 125 125 110 0 120 120 120 17 115 115 120 0 Example 7 125 125 125 20 125 125 120 20 125 125 115 6 125 125 110 0 120 120 120 14 Comparative Example 2 125 125 125 1 130 130 125 20 130 130 120 0 Comparative Example 3 125 125 125 20 125 125 120 0 120 120 125 0 TABLE 9a: VFFS Heat Sealing Performance of the 9-Layer Film Structures that were Described in Table 4 and Included the Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Composition Prepared in Examples 1, 3 and 5 in the Sealant Layer. Haug Pass (out of 20 bags) Horizontal Seal Sealing Time* Seal Pressure†Temperature Ethylene / α-olefin (°C) High Low Copolymer Composition Incorporated in the Sealant Layer Example 1 95 Short 0 0 Long 0 0 100 Short 14 0 Long 20 15 105 Short 20 16 Long 20 20 110 Short 20 20 Long 20 20 Example 3 95 Short 0 0 Long 0 0 100 Short 17 1 Long 20 11 105 Short 20 20 Long 20 20 Example 5 95 Short 0 0 Long 0 0 100 Short 6 1 Long 20 3 105 Short 20 19 Long 20 20 110 Short 20 20 Long 20 20 * short sealing time = 50 ms / long sealing time = 500 ms; and † Low sealing pressure was set at 30% (air pressure = 30 psi / belt pressure = 15 psi) and the high sealing pressure was set at 100% (air pressure = 100 psi / belt pressure = 50 psi). TABLE 9b: VFFS Heat Sealing Performance of the 9-Layer Film Structures That Were Described in TABLE 4 and Included the Ethylene / α-olefin Copolymer Composition Prepared in Example 6 in the Sealant Layer. Haug Pass (out of 20 bags) Horizontal Seal Sealing Time* Seal Pressure†Temperature Ethylene / α-olefin (°C) High Low Copolymer Composition Incorporated in the Sealant Layer Example 6 95 Short 0 0 Long 0 0 100 Short 2 0 Long 20 1 105 Short 20 18 Long 20 20 110 Short 20 20 Long 20 20 * short sealing time = 50 ms / long sealing time = 500 ms; and † Low sealing pressure was set at 30% (air pressure = 30 psi / belt pressure = 15 psi) and the high sealing pressure was set at 100% (air pressure = 100 psi / belt pressure = 50 psi). Embodiment A: An ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition, comprising: from about 30 to about 50 weight percent of a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB1, of from about 15 to about 40 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight-average molecular weight, Mw1, of from about 80 kg / mol to about 140 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw1 / Mn1, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; and from about 50 to about 70 weight percent of a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB2, of from about 10 to about 35 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight- average molecular weight, Mw2, of from about 20 kg / mol to about 60 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw2 / Mn2, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; wherein the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1, is greater than or equal to the short chain branching content of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB2; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index I2 of from about 2.5 to about 6 dg / min, as determined according to ASTM D1238 at 190°C using a weight of 2.16 kg, and a density of from about 0.860 to about 0.910 g / cm3, as determined according to ASTM D792; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a zero-shear viscosity at 190°C, η0, a VICAT softening temperature, VSP, as determined according to ASTM D1525, and a short chain branching content, SCB, as determined by ASTM D6645, which satisfy (I): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0[in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.5°C (I). Embodiment B: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a VSP of from about 70°C to about 100°C. Embodiment C: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a VSP of from about 80°C to about 95°C. Embodiment D: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, or C wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a density of from about 0.885 to about 0.910 g / cm3. Embodiment E: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, or C wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a density of from about 0.900 to about 0.910 g / cm3. Embodiment F: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, D, or E wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index, I2, of from about 3 to about 6 dg / min. Embodiment G: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, D, or E wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index, I2, of from about 4 to about 6 dg / min. Embodiment H: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, D, E, F, or G wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a η0, VSP and SCB which satisfy (II): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0[in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.0°C (II). Embodiment I: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, D, E, F, G, or H wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a unimodal molecular weight distribution. Embodiment J: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, or I wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a molecular weight distribution with a polydispersity index, Mw / Mn, of from about 2.1 to about 4. Embodiment K: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, or J wherein the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a ratio of Mw1to Mw2of from about 2 to about 3. Embodiment L: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, or K wherein the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1and SCB2, satisfy: SCB1> SCB2. Embodiment M: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment L wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a comonomer distribution profile in a GPC-FTIR analysis, wherein the comonomer distribution profile has a secant slope of from about +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to about +30 short chain branches per 1000 carbons, wherein the secant slope is defined as the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 300 kg / mol minus the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 30 kg / mol. Embodiment N: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment L or M wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a reversed comonomer distribution profile. Embodiment O: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, or N wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises a fraction eluting at a temperature range of from 90°C to 105°C having an integrated area of less than 1 weight percent, in a CTREF analysis. Embodiment P: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, or O wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition contains detectable levels of long chain branches as determined according to a long chain branching factor, LCBF, of greater than or equal to 0.001. Embodiment Q: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, or P wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of C3 to C10 α-olefins. Embodiment R: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, or P wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of hexene-1, octene-1, and a mixtures thereof. Embodiment S: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, or P wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition consists essentially of ethylene and octene-1. Embodiment T: A film layer comprising the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, or S. Embodiment U: A multilayer film structure, wherein the film structure has at least one skin layer, wherein the at least one skin layer comprises the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, or S. Embodiment V: The multilayer film structure according to Embodiment U wherein the at least one skin layer is a sealant layer. Embodiment W: The multilayer film structure according to Embodiment V wherein the film structure has a seal initiation temperature of from about 70°C to 100°C, wherein the seal initiation temperature is the minimum sealing temperature at which the film structure has a seal strength of greater than 8.8 N per 25.4 mm of seal width. Embodiment X: The multilayer film structure according to Embodiment V or W wherein the film structure has a peak hot tack force of greater than about 6 N. Embodiment Y: An ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition, comprising: from about 30 to about 50 weight percent of a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB1, of from about 15 to about 40 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight-average molecular weight, Mw1, of from about 80 kg / mol to about 140 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw1 / Mn1, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; and from about 50 to about 70 weight percent ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB2, of from about 10 to about 35 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight- average molecular weight, Mw2, of from about 20 kg / mol to about 60 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw2 / Mn2, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; wherein the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1, is greater than or equal to the short chain branching content of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB2; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index I2 of from about 2.5 to about 6 dg / min, as determined according to ASTM D1238 at 190°C using a weight of 2.16 kg, and a density of from about 0.860 to about 0.910 g / cm3, as determined according to ASTM D792; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises a fraction eluting at a temperature range of from 90°C to 105°C having an integrated area of less than 1 weight percent, in a CTREF analysis. Embodiment Z: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a VSP of from about 70°C to about 100°C, or from about 80°C to about 95°C. Embodiment AA: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a VSP of from about 70°C to about 100°C. Embodiment BB: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, or AA wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a density of from about 0.885 to about 0.910 g / cm3. Embodiment CC: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, or AA wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a density of from about 0.900 to about 0.910 g / cm3. Embodiment DD: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, or CC wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index, I2, of from about 3 to about 6 dg / min. Embodiment EE: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, or CC wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index, I2, of from about 4 to about 6 dg / min. Embodiment FF: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, or EE wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a zero-shear viscosity at 190°C, η0, a VICAT softening temperature, VSP, as determined according to ASTM D1525, and a short chain branching content, SCB, as determined by ASTM D6645, which satisfy (I): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0[in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.5°C (I). Embodiment GG: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, or EE wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a zero-shear viscosity at 190°C, VSP and SCB which satisfy (II): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0 [in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.0°C (II). Embodiment HH: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, or GG wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a unimodal molecular weight distribution. Embodiment II: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, or HH wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a molecular weight distribution with a polydispersity index, Mw / Mn, of from about 2.1 to about 4. Embodiment JJ: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, or II wherein the first ethylene / α- olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a ratio of Mw1to Mw2of from about 2 to about 3. Embodiment KK: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, II, or JJ wherein the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer and the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1and SCB2, satisfy: SCB1> SCB2. Embodiment LL: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment KK wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a comonomer distribution profile in a GPC-FTIR analysis, wherein the comonomer distribution profile has a secant slope of from about +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to about +30 short chain branches per 1000 carbons, wherein the secant slope is defined as the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 300 kg / mol minus the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 30 kg / mol. Embodiment MM: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment KK or LL wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a reversed comonomer distribution. Embodiment NN: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, II, JJ, KK, LL, or MM wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition contains detectable levels of long chain branches as determined according to a long chain branching factor, LCBF, of greater than or equal to 0.001. Embodiment OO: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, II, JJ, KK, LL, MM, or NN wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of C3to C10α-olefins. Embodiment PP: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, II, JJ, KK, LL, MM, or NN wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of hexene-1, octene-1, and a mixtures thereof. Embodiment QQ: The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, II, JJ, KK, LL, MM, or NN wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition consists essentially of ethylene and octene-1. Embodiment RR: A film layer comprising the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, II, JJ, KK, LL, MM, NN, or QQ. Embodiment SS: A multilayer film structure, wherein the film structure has at least one skin layer, wherein the at least one skin layer comprises the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer according to Embodiment Y, Z, AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, FF, GG, HH, II, JJ, KK, LL, MM, NN, or QQ. Embodiment TT: The film structure according to Embodiment SS wherein the at least one skin layer is a sealant layer. Embodiment UU: The film structure according to Embodiment TT wherein the film structure has a seal initiation temperature of from about 70°C to 100°C, wherein the seal initiation temperature is the minimum sealing temperature at which the film structure has a seal strength of greater than 8.8 N per 25.4 mm of seal width. Embodiment VV: The film structure according to Embodiment TT or UU wherein the film structure has a peak hot tack force of greater than about 6 N. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY Provided are ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions having a melt index I2 of from about 2.5 to about 6 dg / min and a density of from about 0.860 to about 0.910 g / cm3. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions exhibit delayed softening which reduces the propensity for agglomerates formation in devolatilization area of a polymerization plant. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer compositions when converted into films can be advantageously used in heat sealing applications requiring seal through and around contamination properties.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition, comprising: from about 30 to about 50 weight percent of a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB1, of from about 15 to about 40 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight-average molecular weight, Mw1, of from about 80 kg / mol to about 140 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw1 / Mn1, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; and from about 50 to about 70 weight percent of a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB2, of from about 10 to about 35 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight-average molecular weight, Mw2, of from about 20 kg / mol to about 60 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw2 / Mn2, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; wherein the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1, is greater than or equal to the short chain branching content of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB2; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index I2 of from about 2.5 to about 6 dg / min, as determined according to ASTM D1238 at 190°C using a weight of 2.16 kg, and a density of from about 0.860 to about 0.910 g / cm3, as determined according to ASTM D792; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a zero-shear viscosity at 190°C, η0, a VICAT softening temperature, VSP, as determined according to ASTM D1525, and a short chain branching content, SCB, as determined by ASTM D6645, which satisfy (I): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0 [in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.5°C (I).

2. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of claim 1, wherein the VSP of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is from about 70°C to about 100°C.

3. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of claim 1, wherein the VSP of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is from about 80°C to about 95°C.

4. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–3, wherein the density of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is from about 0.885 to about 0.910 g / cm3.

5. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–3, wherein the density of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is from about 0.900 to about 0.910 g / cm3.

6. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–5, wherein the melt index, I2, of the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition is from about 3 to about 6 dg / min.

7. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–6, wherein η0, VSP and SCB satisfy (II): |VSP [in °C] – 126.36 – 1.71 × log η0 [in Pa.s] + 1.94 × SCB [per 1000 carbon atoms]| ≤ 1.0°C (II).

8. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–7, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a unimodal molecular weight distribution.

9. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–8, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a molecular weight distribution with a polydispersity index, Mw / Mn, of from about 2.1 to about 4.

10. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–9, wherein a ratio of Mw1to Mw2is from about 2 to about 3.

11. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–10, wherein the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1, is greater than the short chain branching content of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB2.

12. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of claim 11, wherein the ethylene / α- olefin copolymer composition has a comonomer distribution profile in a GPC-FTIR analysis, wherein the comonomer distribution profile has a secant slope of from about +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to about +30 short chain branches per 1000 carbons, wherein the secant slope is defined as the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 300 kg / mol minus the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 30 kg / mol.

13. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the comonomer distribution profile is a reversed comonomer distribution profile.

14. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–13, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises a fraction eluting at a temperature range of from 90°C to 105°C having an integrated area of less than 1 weight percent, in a CTREF analysis.

15. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–14, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition contains detectable levels of long chain branches as determined according to a long chain branching factor, LCBF, of greater than or equal to 0.

001.

16. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–15, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of C3 to C10 α-olefins.

17. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–15, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of hexene-1, octene-1, and a mixtures thereof.

18. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–15, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition consists essentially of ethylene and octene-1.

19. An ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition, comprising: from about 30 to about 50 weight percent of a first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB1, of from about 15 to about 40 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight-average molecular weight, Mw1, of from about 80 kg / mol to about 140 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw1 / Mn1, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; and from about 50 to about 70of a second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, wherein the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer has a short chain branching content, SCB2, of from about 10 to about 35 branches per 1000 carbon atoms, a weight-average molecular weight, Mw2, of from about 20 kg / mol to about 60 kg / mol and a polydispersity index, Mw2 / Mn2, of from about 1.7 to about 2.3; wherein the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1, is greater than or equal to the short chain branching content of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB2; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition has a melt index I2of from about 2.5 to about 6 dg / min, as determined according to ASTM D1238 at 190°C using a weight of 2.16 kg, and a density of from about 0.860 to about 0.910 g / cm3, as determined according to ASTM D792; wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises a fraction eluting at a temperature range of from 90°C to 105°C having an integrated area of less than 1 weight percent, in a CTREF analysis.

20. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of claim 19, wherein the short chain branching content of the first ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB1, is greater than the short chain branching content of the second ethylene / α-olefin copolymer, SCB2.

21. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of claim 20, wherein the ethylene / α- olefin copolymer composition has a comonomer distribution profile in a GPC-FTIR analysis, wherein the comonomer distribution profile has a secant slope of from about +1 short chain branches per 1000 carbons to about +30 short chain branches per 1000 carbons, wherein the secant slope is defined as the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 300 kg / mol minus the number of short chain branches per 1000 carbons at a molecular weight of 30 kg / mol.

22. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 20 or 21, wherein the comonomer distribution profile is a reversed comonomer distribution profile.

23. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 19–22, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of C3 to C10 α-olefins.

24. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 19–22, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition comprises at least one α-olefin selected from the group consisting of hexene-1, octene-1, and a mixtures thereof.

25. The ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 19–22, wherein the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition consists essentially of ethylene and octene-1.

26. A film layer comprising the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–25.

27. A multilayer film structure, wherein the film structure has at least one skin layer, wherein the at least one skin layer comprises the ethylene / α-olefin copolymer composition of any one of claims 1–25.

28. The film structure of claim 27, wherein the at least one skin layer is a sealant layer.

29. The film structure of claim 28, wherein the film structure has a seal initiation temperature of from about 70°C to 100°C, wherein the seal initiation temperature is the minimum sealing temperature at which the film structure has a seal strength of greater than 8.8 N per 25.4 mm of seal width.

30. The film structure of claim 28 or claim 29, wherein the film structure has a peak hot tack force of greater than about 6 N.

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