| Abstract: | A study of miscibility, morphology, crystallization, and dynamic mechanical properties of polypropylene in the presence of a low-molecular-weight compound, hydrogenated dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), is described. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical microscopy (OM), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used for this purpose. The blends exhibit composition-dependent melting point depression and reduced degree of crystallinity. Isothermal crystallization measurements show that the crystallization takes place at a lower temperature with an increase in crystallization half time with respect to pristine PP. This indicates retardation in crystallization of PP in the blends. The observed changes in the melting and crystallization behaviors are ascribed to the miscibility of the two components. The interaction parameter estimated using the Flory–Huggins equation shows negative values, suggesting the presence of strong specific interaction between PP and DCPD. |
