Polymorphic Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Isotactic 1-Butene–Ethylene Copolymers from Metallocene Catalysts

A study of the crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of random isotactic butene-ethylene copolymers prepared with a metallocene catalyst is presented. The use of the metallocene catalysis ensures a fine control over the molecular structure with low concentration of rr stereodefects (0.8%), negligible amount of regiodefects, and random and uniform distribution of ethylene constitutional defects. This molecular characteristic has allowed evidencing the only effect of the presence of ethylene units on the polymorphic behavior and mechanical properties of isotactic polybutene (iPB). The presence of ethylene accelerates the transition of form II into form I at room temperature and at concentration of nearly 6 mol % favors the direct crystallization from the melt of the stable form I. The presence of ethylene also affects the mechanical behavior of iPB and produces increase of flexibility and ductility with increasing ethylene content. A significant modification of the properties of iPB is observed for ethylene concentration higher than 8 mol %, with development of elastomeric properties, never observed for the iPB homopolymer prepared with Ziegler-Natta catalysts and not observed in the iPB homopolymer with similar content of stereo defects. In these samples, elastomeric properties are due to the low degree of crystallinity that develops upon aging at room temperature by direct crystallization of form I' from the amorphous phase.