Effect of co-unit type in random propylene copolymers on the kinetics of mesophase formation and crystallization

Fast scanning chip calorimetry has been employed to study the effect of the type and concentration of co-units on the rate of mesophase formation and crystallization in random isotactic copolymers of propylene and 1-alkenes, including ethylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene. The dependence of the rate of ordering on temperature of the propylene homopolymer shows two distinct maxima around 300 and 340–350 K which are related to mesophase formation and crystallization, respectively. Addition of 1-alkene co-units leads to a decrease of the maximum rate of both crystallization and mesophase formation. At comparable temperature and molar percentage of co-units in the propylene chain, ethylene, and 1-butene co-units cause less reduction of the maximum rate of ordering than 1-hexene or 1-octene co-units. The experimental observations are discussed in the context of possible incorporation of these chain defects into the ordered structures.