Peculiar self‐nucleation behavior of a polybutene‐1/ethylene random copolymer

Abstract

The self‐nucleation behavior of a polybutene‐1/ethylene random copolymer, P(B1‐ran‐E), which undergoes a complex crystal‐crystal transition behavior, has been studied in detail. Similar to PE random copolymers, this material shows a strong melt memory effect even above equilibrium melting point of PB‐1 homopolymer. Different polymorphic forms can be obtained when P(B1‐ran‐E) is cooled from different self‐nucleation domains. The trigonal form I′ could only be nucleated in the presence of remaining form I crystals via self‐seeding, while the melt memory in Domain IIa could only act as self‐nuclei for kinetically favored form II. Furthermore, observations from optical microscopy illustrated that melt memory is able to enhance nucleation density but it does not affect the spherulitic growth rate.

Investigation of the synergistic effect of melt-extension and nanofiller on the crystal–crystal phase transition from form II to I of isotactic polybutene-1

“…It has been reported that lots of factors would affect the phase transition kinetics, such as the blending with other polymers, 25–28 copolymerization, 29–34 molecular weight, 35–37 temperature, 13,38,39 pressure, 40,41 extension, 11,12,42,43 nanofillers, 44–46 crystallization conditions, 47–52 and so on. Among all these factors, adding nanofillers and changing the crystallization conditions of form II are of significant value which can be used in the practical processing process to promote the phase transition process.…”