The Role of High Molecular Weight Chains in Flow-Induced Crystallization Precursor Structures
Flow-induced crystallization in a bimodal polyethylene blend was investigated by means of in situ shear-WAXD (wide-angle x-ray diffraction) and shear-SAXS (small-angle x-ray scattering) techniques. The blend contained a low molecular weight (M{sub w} = 50 000 g mol{sup -1} and polydispersity = 2) polyethylene copolymer matrix (MB-50k) with 2 mol% of hexene, and a nearly monodisperse high molecular weight (M{sub w} = 161 000 g mol{sup -1} and polydispersity = 1.1) hydrogenated polybutadiene component (MD-161k), which has the microstructure of an ethylene-butene copolymer with 4 mol% butene. At the experimental temperatures of 112 and 115 C, MB-50k exhibited faster crystallization kinetics and higher crystallinity due to higher chain mobility and higher ethylene content than those of the MB-50k/MD-161k blend. However, both WAXD and SAXS results indicated that the high molecular weight component (MD-161k) is responsible for the formation of more highly oriented crystals, which we relate to a shear-induced precursor scaffold. Values of the lamellar long period in all experimental runs were found to slightly decrease in the beginning of crystallization and then reached a plateau value. Vonk's method for single lamella scattering was employed to estimate the lamellar thickness in the MB-50k/MD-161k blend at high temperature (115 C), where the lamellar thickness was also found to decrease in the beginning and remained about constant afterward. Twisted lamellar structures were observed in all formed kebabs.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Doe - Office Of Science
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-98CH10886
- OSTI ID:
- 930132
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-80778-2008-JA; TRN: US200822%%1196
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, Vol. 18
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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