Two metallocene ethylene-oct-1-ene copolymers, differing in comonomer content and in molecular weight, were cross-linked either by dicumyl peroxide or beta-radiation. The effect of high comonomer content on the crystalline morphology, once the materials were cross-linked, was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The gel content was determined in boiling xylene, and the cross-linking process was monitored by FT-IR spectroscopy. Two endotherms were distinguished: the first one was associated to the primary crystallization, and the second one to the shorter sequences that are excluded from the primary crystallization. The successive self-nucleation annealing (SSA) technique has revealed that as the comonomer content increases the crystal size distribution is more homogeneous, and therefore, the melting and crystallization behaviour is reversible, because of its fringed-micellar morphology. In spite of their crystalline morphology with very low crystallites, DCP cross-linked samples displayed a considerable decrease in crystallinity and in crystal size, whereas beta-irradiated samples showed no significant decline in crystal size. Slight changes in crystallinity were detected and attributed to the heat generation that every irradiation process involves and affects smaller crystallites preferentially. DMA analysis has confirmed DSC results on crystalline size and crystallinity variations induced by both cross-linking processes. By means of FT-IR spectroscopy, it was detected that a high comonomer content induces oxidation during cross-linking. Moreover, beta-irradiation samples exhibited a lower degree of oxidation than DCP cross-linked samples.
