Crystallization, mechanical and thermal properties of sorbitol derivatives nucleated polypropylene/calcium carbonate composites

The effect of a phase nucleating agent (NA) 1,3:2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol (DMDBS) on crystallization and physical properties of polypropylene/calcium carbonate (PP/CaCO3) composites has been comparatively investigated. Compared with binary PP/CaCO3 composites, in which CaCO3 exhibits weak heterogeneous nucleation, inconspicuous reinforcement and toughening effects for PP, the introduction of a few amounts of DMDBS induces a great increase of the degree of crystallinity. Largely improved tensile properties, fracture toughness at relatively higher temperature and heat deformation temperature (HDT) are observed for DMDBS nucleated PP/CaCO3 composites.