Poly (1-butene-<i>ran</i>-ethylene) Monomodal Copolymers from Metallocene Catalysts: Structural and Morphological Differences with Increasing Ethylene Content

Abstract

Samples of random poly(butene-ran-ethylene) copolymers produced with metallocene catalysts were studied in order to elucidate the different behaviors of this particular class of materials as a function of increasing ethylene (C2) content. The samples cooled down from the melt are semi-crystalline or amorphous and crystallize in different crystal modifications, depending on the amount of C2. Thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, and microscopic techniques were used to follow the changes of the materials with aging time and to understand the structural and morphological behavior with the aim of highlighting possible peculiar properties, which may be of great interest in the application of such materials in the field of Hot Melt adhesives.

Keywords

• 1-butene/ethylene copolymers
• polymorphism
• thermal analysis
• X-ray diffraction
• microscopy
• hot melt adhesive