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Hot air aging behavior of polypropylene random copolymers
Author(s) -
Grabmann Michael K.,
Wallner Gernot M.,
Maringer Leila,
Buchberger Wolfgang,
Nitsche David
Publication year - 2019
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.47350
Subject(s) - comonomer , copolymer , polypropylene , materials science , molar mass , embrittlement , ethylene , composite material , morphology (biology) , polymer , crystallinity , polymer chemistry , crystal (programming language) , polymer science , chemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , biology , computer science , genetics , programming language
This article deals with the global aging behavior of three polypropylene random copolymer (PP‐R) materials with varying primary structure and morphology. Hot air aging experiments at elevated temperatures from 95 to 135 °C were carried out using micro‐sized specimens with a thickness of 100 μm. Technological and analytical aging indicators were monitored for an exposure time of up to 750 days. Independent of comonomer type (ethylene vs. butylene) and morphology (α vs. β crystal form) a critical molar mass of 300 kg mol −1 was obtained. The consumption of antioxidants was slower for the β‐nucleated PP‐R grade with finer spherulitic structure. The β‐grade outperformed the α‐crystal PP‐R grades resulting in about 20% higher time‐to‐embrittlement values. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Applied Polymer Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 47350.