The interaction mechanisms of triacontane paraffin with semi-crystalline poly(ethylene-butene) random copolymers in dilute solution studied with SANS

Two interaction mechanisms take place when paraffin wax is mixed with a random copolymer of ethylene and butene in dilute solution: either a polymer-paraffin co-crystallization or a paraffin crystallization on the polymer template occur. We present here a quantitative analysis of the SANS results obtained from an aggregation behavior of the PEB-7.5 copolymer and triacontane (C30) paraffin in decane. This mixture best displays both interaction mechanisms as they depend on the solution conditions (temperature, paraffin content). The geometrical and density parameters of the aggregates were obtained using a structural model derived on the basis of the identified morphologies