CORRELATION BETWEEN MICROSTRUCTURE AND PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES IN STYRENE ETHYLENE COPOLYMERS

The structural organization and the physical properties of a new copolymer styrene-ethylene have been analyzed. The composition was 80% of ethylene units, corresponding to 52% in weight, with a distribution of styrene units in the chain implying the absence of styrene-styrene sequences. The length of the polyethylene chains, limited by the insertion of the phenyl group, is not sufficient to allow good crystallization, and in fact the copolymer shows a very low crystallinity, of the order of 5-10%, and a broad melting range, with a peak centered at 120 degrees C. The small crystalline domains are segregated into an amorphous matrix, producing a thermoplastic elastomer. The mechanical properties at large deformation were analyzed at different temperatures. The copolymer shows good elastic properties, in terms of deformation reversibility as well as of energy dissipation in the hysteresis cycles. Also the stress level and the elastic recovery are very good, if compared with others thermoplastic elastomers. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.