Low crystallinity

The tightrope situation that arises from balancing high mobility, low crystallinity, and optimum crosslinking is often dealt with by using copolymers rather than homopolymers. With chain composition as an additional variable, molecules can be tailored better for specific application situations. 

Fig. 3. Schematic comparison of the stmctures of PVA fibers formed by salt coagulation and alkaU coagulation, (a) Low orientation, low crystallinity (b)...

The equimolar copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene is isomeric with poly(vinyhdene fluoride) but has a higher melting point (16,17) and a lower dielectric loss (18,19) (see Fluorine compounds, organic-poly(VINYLIDENE fluoride)). A copolymer with the degree of alternation of about 0.88 was used to study the stmcture (20). Its unit cell was determined by x-ray diffraction. Despite irregularities in the chain stmcture and low crystallinity, a unit cell and stmcture was derived that gave a calculated crystalline density of 1.9 g/cm. The unit cell is befleved to be orthorhombic or monoclinic (a = 0.96 nm, b = 0.925 nm, c = 0.50 nm 7 = 96%. 

In the area of gas permeabiUty, the low crystallinity of a typical ionomer ( 30%) results in relatively high permeabiUty to oxygen. For packaging of fresh meat this is advantageous, but in other packaging areas, combination with a barrier layer may be requited (see Barrier polymers). 

Densities and crystallinities of ethylene—a-olefin copolymers mosdy depend on their composition. The classification ia Table 1 is commonly used (ASTM D1248-48). VLDPE resias are usually further subdivided iato PE plastomers of low crystallinity, 10—20%, with densities ia the range of 0.915—0.900 g/cm, and completely amorphous PE elastomers with densities as low as 0.860 g/cm. ... 

Highest thermal performance with PPS compounds requires that parts be molded under conditions leading to a high level of crystallinity. Glass-filled PPS compounds can be molded so that crystalline or amorphous parts are obtained. Mold temperature influences the crystallinity of PPS parts. Mold temperatures below approximately 93°C produce parts with low crystallinity and those above approximately 135°C produce highly crystalline parts. Mold temperatures between 93 and 135°C yield parts with an intermediate level of crystallinity. Part thickness may also influence the level of crystallinity. Thinner parts are more responsive to mold temperature. Thicker parts may have skin-core effects. When thick parts are molded in a cold mold the skin may not develop much crystallinity. The interior of the part, which remains hot for a longer period of time, may develop higher levels of crystallinity. 

Solubility and Solution Properties. Poly(vinyhdene chloride), like many high melting polymers, does not dissolve in most common solvents at ambient temperatures. Copolymers, particularly those of low crystallinity, are much more soluble. However, one of the outstanding characteristics of vinyUdene chloride polymers is resistance to a wide range of solvents and chemical reagents. The insolubiUty of PVDC results less from its... 

As-polymerized PVDC is not in its most stable state annealing and recrystaUization can raise the temperature at which it dissolves (78). Low crystallinity polymers dissolve at a lower temperature, forming metastable solutions. However, on standing at the dissolving temperature, they gel or become turbid, indicating recrystaUization into a more stable form. 

Prepa.ra.tlon, There are several methods described in the Hterature using various cobalt catalysts to prepare syndiotactic polybutadiene (29—41). Many of these methods have been experimentally verified others, for example, soluble organoaluminum compounds with cobalt compounds, are difficult to reproduce (30). A cobalt compound coupled with triphenylphosphine aluminum alkyls water complex was reported byJapan Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd. (fSR) to give a low melting point (T = 75-90° C), low crystallinity (20—30%) syndiotactic polybutadiene (32). This polymer is commercially available. 

It has to be kept in mind that the polymer properties desired in polychloroprene latex formulations may be totally different from those needed in dry grades. Polychloroprene latices generally exhibit lower contactability than dry polychloro-prenes because of the presence of residual soaps and salts, appreciable gel content and segregation of tackifier [79]. For this reason, the polychloroprene latices have usually medium to low crystallinity. 

Synthetic rubber (elastomers) are high molecular weight polymers with long flexible chains and weak intermolecular forces. They have low crystallinity (highly amorphous) in the unstressed state, segmental mobility, and high reversible elasticity. Elastomers are usually cross-linked to impart strength. 

Polypropylene (PP) is a major thermoplastic polymer. Although polypropylene did not take its position among the large volume polymers until fairly recently, it is currently the third largest thermoplastic after PVC. The delay in polypropylene development may be attributed to technical reasons related to its polymerization. Polypropylene produced by free radical initiation is mainly the atactic form. Due to its low crystallinity, it is not suitable for thermoplastic or fiber use. The turning point in polypropylene production was the development of a Ziegler-type catalyst by Natta to produce the stereoregular form (isotactic). 

Polyvinyl chloride can also be produced in emulsion. Water is used as the emulsion medium. The particle size of the polymer is controlled using the proper conditions and emulsifier. Polymers produced by free radical initiators are highly branched with low crystallinity. 

Soft carbon is also classified by its crystallinity. For example, acetylene black and carbon black are regarded as typical carbon materials with low crystallinity. Coke materials are carbon materials with intermediate crystallinity. It is easy to obtain these materials because they are made from petroleum and coal and they were actively studied in the 1980s. In contrast, there are some graphite materials which have high crystallinity their capacity is greater than that of coke materials, and these materials have been studied more recently, in the 1990s [76-80]. 

Because of the low crystallinity of 8 — Mn02 and birnessite samples, Giovanoli et al. used high-resolution diffraction... 

Concerning the analysis of crystallinity of xylan, the X-ray diffraction detects a few and small peaks, which indicate that xylan presents a low crystallinity (Figure 6). 

Copolymerization of ethylene and styrene by the INSITE technology from Dow generates a new family of ethylene-styrene interpolymers. Polymers with up to 50-wt% styrene are semicrystalline. The stress-strain behavior of the low-crystallinity polymers at ambient temperature exhibits elastomeric characteristics with low initial modulus, a gradual increase in the slope of the stress-strain curve at the higher strain and the fast instantaneous recovery [67], Similarly, ethylene-butylene copolymers may also be prepared. 

Both polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate exhibit partial crystallinity in the solid state. The molecular weight of the polymer and the time permitted for cooling define the degree of crystallinity of the polymer. Very slow cooling results in high crystallinity and opacity, while fast quenching creates low crystallinity, high clarity material. 

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