Thermomechanicalproperties of poly(1-butene) synthesized byZiegler-Nattacatalyzed polymerization of1-butenein the presence of nucleating agents

Isotactic poly(1-butene)s (iPBs) were synthesized via bulk polymerization of 1-butene in the presence of a series of nucleating agents (NAs). The effects of the NAs on the polymerization, crystallization and mechanical properties of the resultantiPBs were systematically investigated. Both alpha- and beta-NAs effectively improve the impact resistance ofiPB. Specifically, the addition of beta-NAs increases the molecular weight, tensile strength, elastic and flexural moduli ofiPB without affecting catalytic activity during polymerization, while the alpha-NAs have no affirmative effect on improving the tensile strength and elastic modulus ofiPB. The beta-NAs also accelerate the crystal transition rate ofiPB from form II to form I. (c) 2020 Society of Chemical Industry