The impact properties of two selected metallocene-catalyzed ethylene-butene copolymers and one conventional copolymer were evaluated using Izod impact test. It is found that the metallocene-catalyzed copolymer shows superior impact properties. This result was explained on the basis of the more homogeneous inter-molecular composition distribution and narrower molecular weight distribution, which leads to more homogeneous morphology with fewer defects. Stepwise crystallization improves the impact properties, especially in the crack propagation process, to a large extent. This is due to the decrease of entanglements by stepwise crystallization, which is advantageous for the chain slip and shear. The polymer with heterogeneous intra-molecular composition distribution exhibits a more evident improvement of impact properties under stepwise crystallization.
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