Branching, long-chain

As a rule, LLDPE resins do not contain long-chain branches. However, some copolymers produced with metallocene catalysts in solution processes can contain about 0.002 long-chain branches per 100 ethylene units (1). These branches are formed in auto-copolymerisation reactions of ethylene with polymer molecules containing vinyl double bonds on their ends (2). 

Dow catalysts have a high capabihty to copolymetize linear a-olefias with ethylene. As a result, when these catalysts are used in solution-type polymerisation reactions, they also copolymerise ethylene with polymer molecules containing vinyl double bonds at their ends. This autocopolymerisation reaction is able to produce LLDPE molecules with long-chain branches that exhibit some beneficial processing properties (1,2,38,39). Distinct from other catalyst systems, Dow catalysts can also copolymerise ethylene with styrene and hindered olefins (40). 

Comonomers can be used to create a variety of polymer stmctures that can impart desirable properties. For example, even higher molecular weight PPS polymers can be produced by the copolymerization of a tri- or tetrafunctional comonomer (18). The resultant polymer molecules can have long-chain branching, which can be used to tailor the rheological response of the polymer to the appHcation. 

Contains a few long-chain branches. Some chains are terminated at the reducing end with a second type of unit. 

One chain-end is typically unsaturated due to chain transfer and termination mechanisms. Mol wts can range from several hundred to several million. There is no long-chain branching unless special synthesis methods ate employed. The mol wt distribution is commonly the most probable,... 

Less commonly used as third monomer is dicyclopentadiene [77-73-6] or DCPD, for which, due to its symmetrical shape, the tendency of the second double bond to take part in the polymeri2ation process is more pronounced than for ENB. This is one of the reasons for the formation of long-chain branches. The resulting product is poly(ethylene- (9-prop54ene- (9-DCPD) [25034-71-3]. 

The extent of the long-chain branching of a series of ethyl xanthogen disulfide modified polymers carried to increasing conversion is shown in Table 1. No branches are found until 56% conversion. The gel point is a Htfle over 82%. Polymer rheology deteriorates between 56 and 82% conversion. 

Variation in the molecular weight distribution (which may in part depend on the long chain branching). 

In addition, subsequent chain transfer reactions may occur on side chains and the larger the resulting polymer, the more likely will it be to be attacked. These features tend to cause a wide molecular weight distribution for these materials and it is sometimes difficult to check whether an effect is due inherently to a wide molecular weight distribution or simply due to long chain branching. 

The more recently developed so-called linear low-density polyethylenes are virtually free of long chain branches but do contain short side chains as a result of copolymerising ethylene with a smaller amount of a higher alkene such as oct-1-ene. Such branching interferes with the ability of the polymer to crystallise as with the older low-density polymers and like them have low densities. The word linear in this case is used to imply the absence of long chain branches. 

With the availability of the higher density polymers the value of the melt flow index as a measure of molecular weight diminishes. For example, it has been found that with two polymers of the same weight average molecular weight (4.2 X 10 ), the branched polymer (density = 0.92 g/cm ) had only 1/50 the viscosity of the more or less unbranched polymer (density = 0.96 g/cm ). This is due to long chain branches as explained above. 

Components of a highly short chain branched (scb) waxymaize and a more long chain branched (Icb) amylomaize were separated on the semipreparative Sephacryl S-1000 system. Both samples contained high dp components that eluted in the exclusion volume, but the percentage of these components was quite different 90% for the scb waxymaize starch and approximately 10% for the Icb amylomaize starch (Fig. 16.6). The degree of polymerization averages for these samples was determined utilizing the previously established linear... 

FIGURE 16.16 Nonbranched/long chain branched glucans of potato starch dissolved in hot water-steam and 0.1 M NaOH 1.2 ml of the 18-mg/ml solution was separated on Sepharose CL 2B (88 X 1.6 cm) 3-ml fractions were collected for further analysis normalized (area = 1.0) eluogram profiles (ev) constructed from an off-line determined mass of carbohydrates of each of the fractions flow rate 0.15 ml/min V. , = 70 ml, = 180 ml eluent 0.01 tA NaOH. 

---