Structure and morphology of isotactic poly(butene-1) phase III

Abstract

The morphology and structure of bulk poly-butene-1 phase III samples dried from concentrated solutions is independent of the solvent used for sample preparation. The lamellar spherulitic morphology is similar to that of PB-1 samples prepared by melt crystallization. Phase III represents the least perfect crystal structure of PB-1 and consequently tends to transform to a more perfect phase II and finally to phase I. The phase III recrystallization can proceed in two different ways depending on temperature and on the heating rate or annealing time of the melt close to the melting point. This process could be either the direct III ! II or a partial III ! II transition. Both types of phase III crystal transition to phase II were confirmed by DSC, x-ray and electron microscopy.