Flow-induced crystallization of propylene/ethylene random copolymers

J.W. Housmans, G.W.M. Peters, H.E.H. Meijer

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51 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

The influence of co-monomer content and processing conditions on the crystallization kinetics of Propylene/Ethylene (P/E) random copolymers is studied using DSC and rheometry. The presence of ethylene lowers the melting and crystallization temperature compared to pure polypropylene, and the quiescent crystallization rate increases at equal nominal undercooling, because both the crystal growth rate and number of nuclei increase. The effect of flow on the kinetics of crystallization decreases with ethylene content. Still, different regimes of flow-induced crystallization are observed, but their size and the position of the transitions between them depend on the ethylene content, and can be expressed in terms of the level of molecular orientation, molecular stretch and crystallization capacity of the system.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)693-705
JournalJournal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry
Volume98
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

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