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Natural Ageing of Automotive Polymer Components: Characterisation of New and Used Poly(propylene) based Car Bumpers
Author(s) -
Luda Maria Paola,
Ragosta Giuseppe,
Musto Pellegrino,
Pollicino Antonio,
Camino Giovanni,
Recca Antonino,
Nepote Valeriano
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/1439-2054(20020601)287:6<404::aid-mame404>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - materials science , natural rubber , ethylene propylene rubber , polymer , composite material , phase (matter) , elastomer , adhesion , copolymer , organic chemistry , chemistry
The chemical and morphological structure of new and post‐consumer ten years old poly(propylene) based car bumpers has been investigated and their mechanical properties have been correlated to the chemical and physical degradation of the material. Poly(propylene) matrix and a rubbery ethylene‐propylene phase were the constituents of the bumpers. A strong impairment of the mechanical properties has been found in old samples which showed also a distinctive phase separation. The modification of the chemical structure was much less evident: oxidation on the exposed surface involving the poly(propylene) phase has been highlighted in old bumpers, and possible crosslinking. These relatively small changes, however, are responsible for the pronounced physical ageing. A tentative explanation is a poor interfacial adhesion of rubber particles from which the crazes can propagate further to form cracks.