Thermomechanical properties of poly(1‐butene) synthesized by Ziegler–Natta catalyzed polymerization of 1‐butene in the presence of nucleating agents

Isotactic poly(1‐butene)s ( i PBs) 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 resultant i PBs were systematically investigated. Both α‐ and β‐NAs effectively improve the impact resistance of i PB. Specifically, the addition of β ‐ NAs increases the molecular weight, tensile strength, elastic and flexural moduli of i PB without affecting catalytic activity during polymerization, while the α ‐ NAs have no affirmative effect on improving the tensile strength and elastic modulus of i PB. The β ‐ NAs also accelerate the crystal transition rate of i PB from form II to form I. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry