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Crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of polypropylene copolymer by in situ copolymerization with a nucleating agent and/or nano‐calcium carbonate
Author(s) -
Zhu Weiping,
Zhang Guangping,
Yu Jianyong,
Dai Gance
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.13096
Subject(s) - copolymer , crystallization , materials science , nucleation , polypropylene , chemical engineering , calcium carbonate , nano , polymer chemistry , kinetics , composite material , chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
The crystallization behavior of polypropylene (PP) copolymer obtained by in situ reactor copolymerization with or without a nucleating agent and/or nano‐CaCO 3 particles was investigated both by thermal analysis and by polarized light microscopy. The Avrami model is successfully used to describe the crystallization kinetics of the studied copolymer. The results of the investigation show that a dramatic decrease of the half‐time of crystallization t 1/2 , as well as a significant increase of the overall crystallization rate, are observed in the presence of the nucleating agent. These effects are further promoted in the presence of the nano‐CaCO 3 particles. The incorporation of the nucleating agent and nano‐CaCO 3 particles into PP copolymer remarkably improved the mechanical properties and heat distortion temperature. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 431–438, 2004