The structure development is one of the most studied areas in polymer science. In particular, propylene-co-1octene copolymer is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging and labeling, textiles (e.g., ropes, thermal underwear and carpets), stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes.
A group of researchers, led by Ernesto Pérez (from the ICTP-CSIC), have analyzed the mesophase formation in random propylene-co-1-octene. To ascertain the nature of the phases involved, researchers did X-ray diffraction patterns at NCD beamline.
Results of their research show that mesophase formation rate of these materials can be tailored in a broad range of magnitudes and that the “kinectic” parameters in the ordering of iPP copolymers can be also tailored independently of the transition temperatures.
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Fig. 9: Plots of X-ray diffraction patterns atvariable temperature (heating rate of 10 °C/min), corresponding to cPO6 for the initial heating run of a Q sample (upper frame), the cooling from the molten state at 30 °C/min (middle frame), and the second melting (lower frame). For better clarity of the plots, not all diagrams have been represented. |
