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The impact of polydispersity, molar mass and branching of novel high-density and linear low-density polyethylene with multimodal molar mass distribution on crystallisation kinetics will be studied. The research focuses on both commercial multimodal polyethylene materials, the crystallisation behaviour of which has not been studied yet, as well as polyethylene blends with broad molar mass distribution acquired under lab conditions. The latter allow observation of how modifications in molar mass distribution influence the kinetics and morphology of crystallisation processes. The second stage of the research will focus on correlations between the crystallisation behaviour and physical-mechanical properties of multimodal polyethylene. The outcome of the research will be models that enable understanding the crystallisation behaviour of multimodal materials and influencing the latter through molar mass distribution, branching and crystallisation conditions; thus eventually pushing the mechanical properties of the materials in the desired direction. One of the essential objectives of the project is developing reliable lab methodology, which would enable the research of polyethylene crystallisation kinetics at high cooling rates under near-processing conditions. Unique hot-stage polarised light microscopy and combined ultrafast calorimetry/small-angle light scattering methods are developed and used. |