Crystallization of paraffin in decane in the presence of PEB-7 ethylene-butene random copolymers

The crystallization of diluted solutions of C24H50 tetracosane and C36H74 hexatriacontane in decane was studied in the presence of PEB-7 poly(ethylene-butene) random copolymers by SANS. The measurements were performed in the temperature regimes between 80 C and minus 30 C to observe single coil and aggregation behavior. The structure of paraffin molecules and the copolymer was distinguished by contrast matching. The aggregated structure of the two paraffin molecules is different. The aggregation of tetracosane is controlled by the copolymer, while, on the other hand, the hexatriacontane molecules control the aggregation mechanism; a periodic structure of two-dimensional platelets is formed by tetracosane and the PEB-7, while well-defined two-dimensional and large three-dimensional objects are observed in the hexatriacontane solution. (orig.)