Effect of nucleating agent on the structure and properties of polypropylene/poly(ethylene-octene) blends

The effect of the sorbital nucleating agent on properties of the ethylene-octene copolymer (POE) toughened polypropylene (PP) was studied. The results show that the addition of POE increases notched Izod and Charpy impact strength significantly but impair the tensile strength and flexural modulus. As a nucleating agent (1,3,2,4-di(p-methylbenzylidene) sorbitol, DM) was added, the toughness and stiffness of toughed PP increased simultaneously at the same content of POE. This result shows that the toughness and stiffness of toughed PP are in balance. Polarized light microscopy analysis shows that with the addition of POE and nucleating agent, only a low level of PP spherulites were observed.