Melting points of homogeneous random copolymers of ethylene and 1-alkenes

Melting points of copolymers of ethylene and 1-alkenes ranging from 1-butene to 1-octadecene have been determined. The copolymers were prepared by means of a homogeneous Et₃Al₂Cl₃/VOCl₃ initiating system so that in individual samples, comonomer contents do not vary with molecular weight. Evidence is presented for a random distribution of comonomer units in the copolymers. Melting points determined by differential scanning calorimetry are essentially independent of branch length at low comonomer contents. At higher comonomer contents (5–9 mol% 1-alkene), melting points decrease in the order 1-butene > 1-octene > 1-octadecene copolymers. The weight fraction of ethylene sequences drops to less than 60% in copolymers with 1-octadecene of high comonomer content and this results in a reduction in the crystallite thicknesses attained by these copolymers.