Stress induced crystallization in thermoplastic elastomers

Thermoplastic elastomers show considerable flow if they are subjected to large strains. To investigate the influence of stress induced crystallization, elastomers showing stress induced crystallization are synthesized by hydrogenation of poly(butadienes) and poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) block polymers. The influence of the methylene sequence length on the crystallization behaviour is evaluated. From stress relaxation experiments, the crystallization kinetic is analyzed. Heterogeneous nucleation and fibrillar crystal growth is detected for all block polymer systems. The kinetic behaviour is described by a preorientation of elastomer chains near the domain surface.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. R. Kosfeld on the occasion of his 60th birthday.