Effects of composition on microstructure and crystallization behavior for impact polypropylene copolymer investigated by restructuring the complex core-shell dispersed particles in ternary blends

A series of ternary blends of polypropylene/ethylene-propylene random copolymer/ethylene-propylene segmented copolymer(HPP/EPR/Eb P) whose microstructures are similar to those of impact polypropylene copolymer(IPC) were prepared in order to systematically investigate the effects of composition on microstructure and crystallization behavior of IPC. The observation of primary phase morphology reveals that the dispersed phase with core-shell structure could be rebuilt in certain composition and excessive EPR leads to a bicontinuous phase structure in ternary blends. After undergoing same quiescent crystallization including isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization, these blend samples exhibit special composition-dependent melting behavior, i.e., the melting point increases markedly with the increase of EPR content until it turns down at a critical content(about 30 wt%). The crystallization behavior is mainly ascribed to the different nucleation abilities. It is suggested that although the compatibility between EPR and HPP components becomes worse with the increase of EPR content due to the increased interfacial area and the decreased concentration of Eb P, higher EPR content in the blend facilitates to heterogeneous nucleation except for the appearance of obvious bicontinuous phase structure.     

The orientation of the dispersed phase and crystals in an injection-molded impact polypropylene copolymer

The orientation of the dispersed phase and crystals in the injection-molded bar of an impact polypropylene copolymer (IPC) containing isotactic polypropylene (iPP), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) and a β-nucleating agent (β-NA) were studied simultaneously. In the IPC, iPP and EPR act as the matrix and dispersed phase, respectively. The EPR is amorphous and the iPP is crystallizable in α- and β-crystalline forms in the presence of the β-NA. The orientation and orientation distribution for both of the EPR phase and the iPP crystals, as well as the crystallization behavior of iPP, were investigated by two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction (2D-WAXD), two-dimensional small-angle X-ray scattering (2D-SAXS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results of the experiment show that orientation exists for both the EPR phase and the iPP crystals. But their orientation distribution manifests an opposite tendency. The EPR phase was observed to be highly oriented in the core layer but the orientation of the iPP crystals was weakened gradually from skin to core. The difference in the orientation behavior between the EPR phase and the iPP crystals reflects the distinct response of the micrometer-scale EPR particles and nanometer-scale iPP chains upon the flow field and temperature gradient in the mold. The diffraction geometry of the β-crystals has also been discussed in detail. The observations in this study may shed light on the study in the structure and property relationship for the IPC injection-molded products.     

制备方法对iPP/EPR合金晶相结构的影响

用示差扫描量热仪(DSC)和广角X射线衍射仪(WAXD)研究了溶液共混法和熔融共混法制备的等规聚丙烯/二元乙丙橡胶(iPP/EPR)(85:15,W/W)合金的晶相结构.发现溶液共混法制得的iPP/EPR合金晶相中仅存在α-iPP,而熔融共混样品中则同时生成了α-iPP和β-iPP.这一结果表明,EPR并不是iPP/EPR合金中β-iPP生成的关键因素.考察了结晶温度和熔体热处理对iPP/EPR合金晶相结构的影响,发现通常的热处理并不能消除合金中β-iPP的生成.     

抗冲共聚聚丙烯及其级分的流变学研究

比较了抗冲共聚聚丙烯(IPC)和等规聚丙烯(iPP)熔体的动态流变行为, 确定了IPC的乙丙无规共聚物(EPR)、乙丙嵌段共聚物(EbP)和丙烯均聚物(HPP)3种级分的熔体动态流变行为. 研究发现, IPC在低频区域表现出偏离经典线性黏弹性理论的行为, 即出现了"第二平台". 经过二甲苯完全溶解的IPC试样的熔体流变行为研究结果表明, IPC分散相的团聚会提高熔体的模量. 对IPC 3种级分的动态流变行为的研究结果表明, 各级分间的动态储能模量(G')及黏度存在明显差异, 这主要是由于分子量和分子链链长的不同所致. EPR和HPP级分在低频区域的流变行为符合经典线性黏弹性理论, 为均相体系特征, 而EbP级分则出现"第二平台", 表现出非均相体系的特征. 对IPC中HPP/EPR共混物的流变行为的进一步研究发现, 当HPP/EPR质量比达到IPC中的比例时即可在低频区域产生"第二平台"; 当将EPR的比例增加至EPR和EbP组分之和时, EPR产生的平台要比IPC更为明显, 表明IPC中HPP与EPR存在的相分离足以使IPC产生"第二平台"现象.     

Study on high weld strength of impact propylene copolymer/high density polyethylene laminates

The impact propylene copolymer(IPC)and isotactic polypropylene(iPP)were separately selected to prepare laminates with high density polyethylene(HDPE)by hot press.The peel forces of IPC/HDPE and i’PP/HDPE laminates were examined,and it was found that the welded joint strength in IPC/HDPE laminate was dramatically higher than that of iPP/HDPE laminate.According to the special microstructure of IPC,the co-crystallization of the ethylene segments in ethylene-propylene block copolymer(EbP)component of IPC and the PE chain in HDPE was proposed to explain the high-strength welding.The DSC results indicated that there indeed existed some interaction between IPC and HDPE,and the crystallizable PE component in IPC could affect the crystallization of HDPE.The scanning electron microscope(SEM) observations of IPC/HDPE blends demonstrated that HDPE tended to stay with the PE-rich EbP chains to form the dispersed phase,indicating the good miscibility between HDPE and EbP components of IPC.According to the above results,the effect of co-crystallization of the PE components of the IPC and HDPE on the high weld strength of IPC/HDPE laminate was confirmed.     

Characterization of the microstructure of impact polypropylene alloys by preparative temperature rising elution fractionation

Two polypropylene alloys (Samples A and B), as impact polypropylene (PP) with similar ethylene contents and melt indices but different impact properties at low temperatures, are fractionated into eight fractions using preparative temperature rising elution fractionation. The microstructure of the original samples and their fractions are studied using high-temperature gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicate that the two alloys are mainly composed of four portions: ethylene–propylene random copolymer (EPR), ethylene–propylene segmented copolymer, ethylene–propylene block copolymer, and propylene homopolymer. Sample A contains more EPR and more fractions with higher isotacticity eluted at 120 and 140 °C than Sample B. The difference in the microstructure distributions of both PP alloys results in observable differences in their mechanical properties: Sample A has better impact toughness and possesses higher rigidity than Sample B. Sample A also exhibits better balance between toughness and stiffness.     

Morphology – Property Correlations of PP Materials by Means of Microhardness

The present work deals with the influence of crystallization temperature, cooling rate and annealing conditions on microhardness, indentation modulus and creep behaviour of ethylene/propylene (E/P) random copolymers with 4, 6 and 8 mol% ethylene as well as α- and β-spherulites in a homopolymer and an E/P random copolymer. The materials are unnucleated, the formation of β-spherulites occurs sporadically. Additionally the indentation creep behaviour of α- and β-nucleated PP is investigated. A nearly linear correlation between hardness as well as indentation modulus and crystallintity of the E/P copolymers can be proved. An increasing cooling rate leads to decreasing hardness and modulus values due to the hindered crystallization. For the investigation of the α- and β-phases different crystallization and annealing temperatures are used. Independent of these conditions, microhardness and modulus determined by indentation testing are lower for the β-phase in both materials. Increasing crystallization temperature and annealing lead to an increasing hardness and modulus in both phases. However, an effective annealing effect takes place only at short times and elevated temperatures above 100 °C. The increasing of microhardness and modulus is correlated with an increasing in lamellae thicknesses. Additionally, indentation creep experiments were carried out on nucleated materials that show the stronger creep tendency of the β-phase PP and the stronger influence of annealing on this phase.     

Investigations in annealing effects on structure and properties of β-isotactic polypropylene with X-ray synchrotron experiments

The influence of annealing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of β-form isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was investigated via in situ synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Transition of β-iPP to α-iPP was investigated via recrystallization at high annealing temperatures (T _a?>?120 °C). And crystallinity, crystal sizes, and long period of ordered structure increased with increasing annealing temperature. Abrupt changes were found in both mechanical properties and structural features at the same T _a range (～120 °C). The in situ synchrotron SAXS and WAXD shows that the destruction of b phase at yielding and after yielding should account for the ductility of β-iPP. The thermodynamics and kinetics of annealing were investigated with DSC and X-ray synchrotron experiments. A characteristic annealing time was investigated, which measures the rate of phase evolution in annealing of β-iPP. Eventually, a hypothesized model can be used to describe the property/structure relations during this process.     

The effect of electron beam irradiation on dynamic shear rheological behavior of a poly (propylene‐co‐ethylene) heterophasic copolymer

In this study the effect of electron beam irradiation on rheological properties of a poly (propylene‐co‐ethylene) heterophasic copolymer is evaluated. Using dynamic viscoelastic measurement in the linear viscoelastic range of deformation, it is observed that the complex viscosity and dynamic modulus of polypropylenes were decreased by increasing the irradiation dose. Polypropylene heterophasic copolymers consist of ethylene propylene rubber phase dispersed in polypropylene homopolymer matrix. The high energy electron beams simultaneously affect both isotactic polypropylene (iPP) matrix and ethylene propylene dispersed phase. The molecular chains of polypropylene homopolymer phase breakdown to smaller species, those are prone to degradation and branching as well. Increase in the melt flow rate behavior and shifting the cross‐over point to higher frequencies and increase in melt strength are due to this phenomenon. At the same time, the ethylene propylene phase of the polypropylene copolymer cross‐links due to irradiation, and a significant effect on the rheological behavior of samples are observed. The mathematical modeling of complex viscosity behavior revealed the conformity of experimental data with modified Carreau equation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

等规聚丙烯β晶型向α晶型的相转变行为研究进展

等规聚丙烯(iPP)是典型的多晶型半结晶性聚合物,其常见晶型有单斜(α),三方(β),三斜(γ)以及四方或双四方(e),其中稳定性最好的α晶型和处于亚稳态的β晶型工业和经济价值较大,因此二者之间的相转变行为得到了人们的广泛关注.本文综述了近年来β→α-iPP生长相转变的研究进展.在高临界温度(141°C)和低临界温度(100°C)区间内,β-iPP生长速率高于α-iPP,而温度高于141°C,或低于100°C,由于α-iPP在动力学上占优势,β-iPP会发生向α-iPP的生长转变.但由于α-iPP是热力学上最稳定的晶型,β-iPP熔融重结晶过程也会发生β→α-iPP相转变.此外,拉伸形变过程中也会发生β→α-iPP相转变,广泛用于制备聚丙烯气体交换膜、过滤膜或锂电池隔膜等.目前对变形过程中的β→α-iPP相转变机理还存在争议,本文也对2种主要的机理进行了介绍,并对聚丙烯晶型转变行为的研究方向进行了展望.     

Reconstruction of core-shell dispersed particles in impact polypropylene copolymer during extrusion

We reported an approach to reconstruct the complex phase morphology of impact polypropylene copolymer(IPC) with core-shell dispersed particles and to optimize its toughness in approximate shear condition. The molten-state annealing results indicate that the phase structure with core-shell dispersed particles is unstable and could be completely destroyed by static annealing, resulting in the degradation of impact strength. By using a co-rotating twin screw extruder, we found that the dispersed particle with core-shell structure could be rebuilt in appropriate condition with the recovery of excellent impact strength due to both the huge interfacial tension during solidification and the great difference in viscosity of components. Results reveal that almost all the extruded IPCs show the impact strength 60%-90% higher than that of annealed IPCs at room temperature. And the twice-extruded IPC shows the highest impact strength, 446% higher than that of IPC annealed for 30 min. As for low temperature tests, the impact strength of extruded IPCs also increases by 33%-58%. According to adjusting the processing conditions including extrusion speed, extrusion frequency and temperature, an optimization of toughness was well established.     

Combination of TREF, high-temperature HPLC, FTIR and HPer DSC for the comprehensive analysis of complex polypropylene copolymers

A novel, powerful analytical technique, preparative temperature rising elution fractionation (prep TREF)/high-temperature (HT)-HPLC/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)/high-performance differential scanning calorimetry (HPer DSC)), has been introduced to study the correlation between the polymer chain microstructure and the thermal behaviour of various components in a complex impact polypropylene copolymer (IPC). For the comprehensive analysis of this complex material, in a first step, prep TREF is used to produce less complex but still heterogeneous fractions. These chemically heterogeneous fractions are completely separated by using a highly selective chromatographic separation method—high-temperature solvent gradient HPLC. The detailed structural and thermal analysis of the HPLC fractions was conducted by offline coupling of HT-HPLC with FTIR spectroscopy and a novel DSC method—HPer DSC. Three chemically different components were identified in the mid-elution temperature TREF fractions. For the first component, identified as isotactic polypropylene homopolymer by FTIR, the macromolecular chain length is found to be an important factor affecting the melting and crystallisation behaviour. The second component relates to ethylene–propylene copolymer molecules with varying ethylene monomer distributions and propylene tacticity distributions. For the polyethylene component (last eluting component in all semi-crystalline TREF fractions), it was found that branching produced defects in the long crystallisable ethylene sequences that affected the thermal properties. The different species exhibit distinctively different melting and crystallisation behaviour, as documented by HPer DSC. Using this novel approach of hyphenated techniques, the chain structure and melting and crystallisation behaviour of different components in a complex copolymer were investigated systematically.

Surface‐directed morphology evolution in ternary blends of polyethylene,polypropylene, and ethylene–propylene copolymer: A study by laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy

With laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy, we demonstrate a novel type of morphology evolution in moderately thick films (70–100 μm) of ternary blends of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and ethylene–propylene rubber (EPR), in which EPR is labeled with a benzothioxanthene dye (HY‐EPR). The blends are prepared by solution blending, and the phase morphology evolves during the annealing of the blend films in a stainless steel mold. Our results indicate that wetting of the mold surface is a driving force in morphology evolution for the two blend compositions investigated. For 81/14/5 PP/PE/HY‐EPR, phase evolution within the mold results in a laminar structure and hydrodynamic channels, features which have previously been found in thin films of polymer blends as a result of surface‐directed spinodal decomposition. In a blend with a lower weight fraction of the dispersed phase (92/7/1 PP/PE/HY‐EPR), we find that the PE/HY‐EPR domains are larger and more polydisperse closer to the surface because of wetting of the mold wall. We also show that the phase morphology in these films can be controlled by the nature of one or both of the surfaces being varied. When one of the mold surfaces is replaced with a thin film of PP homopolymer, we observe draining of PE/HY‐EPR from the PP to the mold surface, which results in a bilayer structure. A trilayer morphology is likewise obtained by the replacement of both mold surfaces with PP. We also carry out three‐dimensional image reconstruction on a single PE/HY‐EPR particle within the 81/14/5 PP/PE/HY‐EPR blend to obtain detailed information on the interphase structure. We find that HY‐EPR of this composition (30/70 ethylene/propylene) fully coats the PE dispersed phase and partially penetrates the PE droplets. This result falls between the interphase structures found for previously investigated EPR compositions (40/60 and 80/20 ethylene/propylene). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 637–654, 2003     

Morphology, crystallization behavior and properties of impact-modified polypropylene copolymer with or without sodium benzoate as a nucleating agent

 The morphology, crystallization behavior, and properties of an impact-modified polypropylene (PP) copolymer with or without sodium benzoate were investigated. The contents of ethylene–propylene rubber (EPR) in the reactor-made PP copolymer is about 15 wt%. For comparison, blends of PP and EPR containing the same EPR composition were prepared by melt-mixing. Morphological studies by scanning probe microscopy indicated that the impact-modified copolymer consists of three different phases, i.e., polyethylene, PP, and EPR phases, which is considerably different from the morphology of the conventional PP/EPR blend of the corresponding composition. The impact-modified PP copolymer exhibited a higher crystallization rate in terms of the lower crystallization half-time and thus higher thermal and mechanical properties, such as impact strength and hardness, than the PP/EPR blend did. The addition of sodium benzoate as a nucleating agent to the copolymer increased the crystallization rate and the mechanical properties. Received: 4 June 2001 Accepted: 31 October 2001     

Crystallization behavior of a propylene-1-butene random copolymer in its α and γ modifications

A random propylene-based copolymer containing 1.0 mol% 1-butene as co-unit, synthesized with Ziegler-Natta catalyst and then fractionated to make the sample having a uniform in molecular microstructure, was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In the DSC curves, one can see clearly the endothermic peaks corresponding to the melting of α-iPP crystals and a group of broad endothermic peaks associated to the melting of the γ-iPP crystals. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction results indicate that both the α and γ modifications can be formed in the copolymer in a wide temperature range. The γ fraction increases first with increasing the crystallization temperature at the expense of its α component, which has been explained according to crystalline structures of iPP in its α and γ forms, and then decreases with increasing crystallization temperature as the crystallization of iPP in its γ phase has been suppressed at high temperatures. The γ-iPP content in the copolymer reaches maximum at the temperature of 130 °C. The in situ X-ray diffraction characterization on the isothermal crystallization process at 130 °C indicates that, as long as the γ-iPP can be detected, it takes always ca. 25% of the overall crystallinity. This leads to the conclusion that α- and γ-iPP crystals grow simultaneously during the crystallization process. The fact that the α and γ phases cannot be distinguished by morphological observation leads to the conclusion that they may intermix within one spherulite.     

抗冲共聚聚丙烯的结晶与相形态

用POM、DSC、WAXD、DMA、AFM对两种乙烯含量、相对分子量及其分布、橡胶相含量几乎完全相同的、韧性差异很大的抗冲共聚聚丙烯(IPC)的结晶、相形态进行了研究.实验结果表明,两者的结晶形态、结晶行为相似.相比IPC-B,IPC-A中分散相和基体的相容性较好.IPC基体、分散相的组成分析发现,分散相的外层为软的乙丙无规共聚物(EPR),内部为硬的聚乙烯(PE)晶区,构成一种复杂的包藏结构.IPC的增韧效果主要来自于相形态和分散状况的贡献.提出了IPC的相结构模型,以描述IPC多相体系的相结构及两种IPC中E-b-P的作用与差异.     

聚丙烯“催化合金”组成对结晶行为的影响

用示差扫描量热仪(DSC)和偏光显微镜(POM)研究了聚丙烯“催化合金”(PP-cats)组成对等温结晶行为与动力学的影响,并与等规聚丙烯(iPP)进行比较.结果表明,与纯PP相比较,PP-cats的平衡熔融温度明显下降,表明PP-cats中作为主要组分的丙烯均聚物和乙丙无规共聚物之间存在较强的相互作用.PP-cats的结晶初期动力学可用Avrami模型很好地描述,结晶过程均为预先成核和三维生长方式.PP-cats的结晶速率随体系中乙丙共聚物含量的增加而增大,而PP-cats的晶体生长速率随体系中乙丙共聚物含量的增加而减小.由于PP-cats熔体的粘度远高于纯PP,使得PP-cats中PP分子链运动能力降低,导致了PP-cats较低的晶体生长速率.此外,与纯PP相比,PP-cats的成核密度大幅度提高,被认为是PP-cats具有快的结晶速率的主要原因.     

The effect of compatibilizers on the crystallisation, melting and polymorphic composition of β-nucleated isotactic polypropylene and polyamide 6 blends

Non-compatibilized and compatibilized blends of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and polyamide 6 (iPP/PA6) as well as their β-nucleated versions were prepared using maleic anhydride functionalized iPP (MAPP) with different anhydride contents as compatibilizer. Ca-suberate, a highly efficient and selective β-nucleating agent was added to the blends in order to promote the formation of the β-modification of iPP. The melting and crystallisation characteristics, as well as the polymorphic composition of the blends were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The supermolecular and phase structure of the blends were studied by polarised light microscopy (PLM). iPP and PA6 form blends with heterogeneous phase structure; the PA6 component is dispersed in the iPP matrix in the concentration range studied. The compatibilizer promotes the dispersion of PA6 resulting in smaller particles than without MAPP. In the non-compatibilized β-nucleated blends, an iPP matrix consisting mainly of the α-modification was formed already at low PA6 content. On the contrary, predominantly β-iPP matrix developed in the presence of MAPP compatibilizers. The formation of α-iPP matrix in the absence of compatibilizer is related to the selective encapsulation of the nucleating agent in the polar PA6 phase. The influence of the blending technique on the polymorphic composition of the matrix supports the hypothesis of selective encapsulation. Compatibilizers, besides their traditional benefits assist the distribution of the β-nucleating agent between both phases of the blends and promote the formation of a matrix rich in β-iPP. In the presence of β-nucleating agent MAPP with low anhydride content and blends of iPP containing maleated polypropylene crystallise predominantly in the β-form.     

Effect of Ethylene-Propylene Copolymer Composition on Morphology and Surface Properties of Impact Poly(propylene) Copolymer

Summary: Impact poly(propylene) copolymers (IPC) having various ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) compositions were prepared using a high activity Ziegler-Natta catalyst. EPR composition was characterized by temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. Effect of EPR composition on the morphology and surface properties of IPC was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), 3D profiler, and gloss meter. Composition and amount of amorphous and crystalline EPR were quantified by TREF and found to be dependent on the ethylene content in EPR. From the SEM result, it was found EPR composition has a strong influence on its shape and size. IPCs containing propylene-rich EPR exhibited a finer dispersion of EPR phase. The surface roughness decreased with decreasing ethylene content in EPR. The comparison of EPR composition and morphology and surface properties exhibited strong correlations.     

Degradation kinetics of electron beam irradiated poly(propylene-co-ethylene) heterophasic copolymer

This study considers the effects of electron beam radiation on degradation kinetics of a poly(propylene-co-ethylene) heterophasic copolymer. Polypropylene heterophasic copolymers are composed of ethylene–propylene rubbery phase dispersed in crystalline polypropylene homopolymer matrix. Electron beam radiation can affect both polypropylene homopolymer matrix and ethylene–propylene dispersed phases simultaneously. Both phases undergo degradation and crosslinking reactions, but degradation is more probable in the polypropylene homopolymer matrix. The aim of this work is to study kinetics of degradation in this material. A high power electron accelerator irradiated raw samples under nitrogen atmosphere. The samples are analyzed using TGA in non-isothermal mode, and the degradation kinetic parameters were determined using Kissinger, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Coats–Redfern methods. The kinetic parameters resulted from these methods are compared. Results of kinetics studies show that orders of degradation reactions occurring in nitrogen atmosphere are all less than one. It indicates degradation takes place due to thermal dissociation of the chemical bonds.