The structure of copolymer crystals formed from dilute solution and in bulk

Abstract

Abstract The thermodynamic and structural properties of a series of hydrogenated polybutadienes, crystalized in the bulk and from dilute solution, have been investigated. These polymers are ethyl‐branched ethylene copolymers with narrow molecular weight and composition distributions. Despite the fact that for both modes of crystallization these random‐sequence copolymers display a lamellar crystalline habit, all of the independent physical chemical measurements are quantitatively consistent in indicating a relatively thin crystallite with a large amorphous disordered overlayer. This is seen to be a very general phenomenon for copolymer crystallization. The core thicknesses, determined from Raman LAM and from small‐angle x‐ray scattering, are in good agreement. Quantitatively consistent values of the degree of crystallinity are obtained from the density, enthalpy of fusion, Raman internal modes, Raman LAM, and small‐angle x‐ray scattering. It is significant that independent thermodynamic and structural methods give the same result.