Patent ID: 8101693

Claim:
A process for the preparation of polyethylene having a density of from 0.890 to 0.970 g/cc comprising the polymerization of ethylene and, optionally, a comonomer in at least two polymerization reactors, wherein said process comprises: a) providing a first ethylene feed containing ethylene and, optionally, at least one C 4 to C 10 alpha-olefin comonomer to at least one continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) in the presence of a catalyst system under solution polymerization conditions, thereby producing a first polyethylene solution containing a first polyethylene component; b) discharging said first polyethylene solution to a tubular reactor at a first discharge temperature; c) directing additional, tempered, ethylene to said tubular reactor under polymerization conditions whereby additional polymerization occurs in the presence of said first polyethylene solution; and d) discharging from said tubular reactor a final polyethylene solution containing said first polyethylene solution and said additional polyethylene at a final discharge temperature, with the proviso that said additional tempered ethylene is added at a temperature of between 100° C. and said final discharge temperature.