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Thermal and morphological characterization of binary blends of fractions of 1‐octene LLDPE
Author(s) -
Defoor F.,
Groeninckx G.,
Reynaers H.,
Schouterden P.,
Van Der Heijden B.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1993.070471014
Subject(s) - comonomer , linear low density polyethylene , lamellar structure , branching (polymer chemistry) , materials science , microstructure , crystallinity , crystallization , copolymer , polyethylene , supercooling , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , composite material , thermodynamics , polymer , physics , engineering
An ethylene/1‐octene linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE B) has been fractionated with respect to the short‐chain branching content of the molecules, using the preparative temperature‐rising elution fractionation (PTREF) technique. The LLDPE B studied, which is characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity on the level of the molecular weight and the comonomer content, was fractionated into six fractions having a more homogeneous intermolecular comonomer distribution. As a result of the differences in the chain microstructure of the fractions, a strong change in the thermal characteristics such as onset temperature of crystallization from the melt and melting temperature has been found. The morphology of the fractions, i.e., spherulitic texture and semicrystalline lamellar ordering, also strongly depends on the chain microstructure. In an attempt to elucidate the mutual influence of molecules having a different chain microstructure, as occurring within the unfractionated copolymer, blends of preparative TREF fractions were prepared and investigated with respect to their thermal behavior and morphology. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.