Shear-induced crystallization in a blend of isotactic poly(propylene) and poly (ethylene-co-octene)

Shear-induced crystallization in a blend of isotactic poly(propylene) and poly(ethylene-co-octene) (iPP/ PEOc) has been investigated by means of in-situ optical microscopy and a shear hot stage under various thermal and shear histories. Cylindrites are observed after shear in the phase-separated iPP/PEOc blends for the first time. The nuclei (shish) come from the orientation of the entangled network chains, and the relationship between the shear rate and the network relaxation time of the oriented iPP chains is a very important factor that dominates the formation of the cylindrites after liquid-liquid phase separation. The cylindrites can grow through phase-separated domains with proper shear rate and shear time. In addition, the number of spherulites increases with shear rate, which is consistent with the notion of fluctuation-induced nucleation/crystallization.