Structure and Morphology of Isotactic Poly(butene‐1) Phase III

The morphology and structure of bulk poly‐butene‐1 phase III samples dried from concentrated solutions is independent of the solvent used for sample preparation. The lamellar spherulitic morphology is similar to that of PB‐1 samples prepared by melt crystallization. Phase III represents the least perfect crystal structure of PB‐1 and consequently tends to transform to a more perfect phase II and finally to phase I. The phase III recrystallization can proceed in two different ways depending on temperature and on the heating rate or annealing time of the melt close to the melting point. This process could be either the direct III→II or a partial III→II transition. Both types of phase III crystal transition to phase II were confirmed by DSC, x‐ray and electron microscopy.

In Commemoration of the Contributions of Professor Valery P. Privalko to Polymer Science.

Keywords:

• polybutene
• phase III
• transformations
• morphology

Acknowledgments

This research was supported, in part, by Grant ME‐131 from the Granting Agency of the Czech Republic and Grant DMR 0234678 from the Polymer and International Program sections of the U. S. National Science Foundation.

Notes

In Commemoration of the Contributions of Professor Valery P. Privalko to Polymer Science.