MORPHOLOGY AND CRYSTALLIZATION OF POLY(4-METHYLPENTENE-1) AND ITS BLENDS WITH HYDROGENATED OLIGOCYCLOPENTADIENE

The paper discusses the morphology, melting behavior, and process of c rystallization of poly(4-methylpentene-1) (P4MP1) and its blends with an amorphous oligomer, hydrogenated oligocyclopentadiene (HOCP). The s tudy was performed by using optical and electron microscopy, different ial scanning calorimetry and X-ray scattering. In all ranges of compos itions and temperatures investigated, P4MP1 and HOCP components were n ot miscible. The HOCP formed segregated domains in the P4MP1 matrix. D epending on thermal treatment, different melting behaviors and morphol ogies were obtained. In particular, varying the crystallization condit ions and composition one or two populations of lamellae of different t hickness formed. The half-time of crystallization drastically increase d following the addition of HOCP. This increase was mainly accounted f or by the additional energy required to perform the occlusion of the H OCP domains by the P4MP1 molecules during the crystallization.