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Combined effect of specific nucleation and rubber dispersion on morphology and mechanical behavior of isotactic polypropylene
Author(s) -
Kotek Jiří,
Ščudla Jaroslav,
Šlouf Miroslav,
Raab Miroslav
Publication year - 2006
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.24426
Subject(s) - tacticity , nucleation , materials science , natural rubber , polypropylene , composite material , ultimate tensile strength , toughness , polymer , dispersion (optics) , amorphous solid , polymerization , chemistry , crystallography , organic chemistry , optics , physics
This study aims to explore the joint effects of specific β‐nucleation and rubber dispersion on morphology and mechanical behavior of materials derived from isotactic polypropylene. A β‐nucleator ( N , N ′‐dicyclohexylnaphthalene‐2,6‐dicarboxamide) and an amorphous EPM rubber were used for the modification of isotactic polypropylene. Four samples were investigated: neat polypropylene, the same polymer modified with 0.03 wt % of β‐nucleator or with 15 wt % of dispersed rubber particles, and finally polypropylene containing both the β‐nucleator and the rubber particles. Tensile and impact behavior were followed at room and cryogenic temperatures. It has been observed that the β‐nucleation and rubber modification have brought about a similar macroscopic softening effect on the tensile mechanical behavior. Microscopy of fracture surfaces, however, has shown different toughening mechanisms caused by specific nucleation on one hand and by rubber dispersion on the other. While a distinct synergy effect of nucleation and rubber modification on the resulting toughness was found at low temperature, no such cooperative effect manifested itself at room temperature. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3539–3546, 2007