Analysis of polyolefin blends by crystallization analysis fractionation

Crystallization analysis fractionation (CRYSTAF) is a new technique for the analysis of the composition of polyolefin blends. CRYSTAF fractionates ble nd components of different crystallizability by slow cooling of a polymer s olution. During the crystallization step the concentration of the polymer s olution is monitored as a function of temperature. Different from DSC, blen ds of HDPE, LDPE and PP are separated into the components and quantitative information Can be obtained directly from the crystallization curves. Even very low amounts of one component in PE/PP and HDPE/LDPE binds can be quant ified with good accuracy. The applicability of the technique for the analys is of Ziegler-Natta, and metallocene-catalyzed polyolefins is demonstrated and the analysis of waste plastics fractions is discussed.