Patent ID: 7579411

Claim:
A process for the controlled increase in the molecular weight of polyethylenes or polyethylene blends, wherein a composition that consists essentially of polyethylenes or polyethylene blends at least one hydroxylamine ester or a polymer of a hydroxylamine ester containing the group of the formula Ia: R a is an acyl radical selected from the group consisting of —C(═O)—C 1 -C 19 alkyl, trifluoroacetyl, benzoyl, —C(═O)—O—C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbamoyl and phenylcarbamoyl; R 1 -R 4 are each C 1 -C 6 alkyl; R 5 and R 6 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen or C 1 -C 6 alkyl; Q is the bivalent radical —(CR 7 R 8 )—, where R 7 and R 8 are each hydrogen; and Z 1 is the bivalent radical —(CR 12 R 13 )—, where, independently of one another, one of the radicals R 12 and R 13 is hydrogen and the other is etherified or esterified hydroxy selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, benzoyloxy, —O—C(═O)—C 1 -C 19 alkyl, trifluoroacetoxy, C 1 -C 6 alkylcarbamoyloxy and phenylcarbamoyloxy, is heated.