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Resolving long-chain branch formation in tandem catalytic coordinative chain transfer polymerization of ethylene via thermal analysis

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Abstract

Characterization of long-chain branches (LCBs) in semi-crystalline polyolefins has been a great challenge in both academia and industry. We have recently utilized a tandem catalytic system in a coordinative chain transfer polymerization, by which, upon repetitive release of growing chains as macromers and re-incorporating them, a branch-on-branch microstructure can be formed. Herein, we employ a tandem catalytic system based on a metallocene catalyst, which is capable of forming polyethylene chains with linear crystallizable sequences. Reactions conditions are varied systematically and their influence on the formation of LCB is studied through the lens of thermal analysis. Evidently, the polymerization temperature is the most influential parameter, which upon decreasing from 80 to 40 °C significantly reduces the average lamellae thickness and alters the crystal growth geometry from 3D spherulite- to 2D disk-like crystals. These results suggest thermal analysis as a sensitive method for quantifying LCBs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Engineering and Color Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Davood Hassanian-Moghaddam & Mostafa Ahmadi

  2. Engineering Department, Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Mortazavi & Saeid Ahmadjo

  3. Department of Research and Development, Amirkabir Petrochemical Company, Tehran, Iran

    Mona Doveirjavi & Abbas Rahmati

  4. Department of Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55128, Mainz, Germany

    Mostafa Ahmadi

Authors
  1. Davood Hassanian-Moghaddam
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  2. Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Mortazavi
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  3. Saeid Ahmadjo
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  4. Mona Doveirjavi
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  5. Abbas Rahmati
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  6. Mostafa Ahmadi
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Correspondence to Saeid Ahmadjo.

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Hassanian-Moghaddam, D., Mortazavi, S.M.M., Ahmadjo, S. et al. Resolving long-chain branch formation in tandem catalytic coordinative chain transfer polymerization of ethylene via thermal analysis. J Polym Res 29, 3 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-021-02860-z

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