Premium
A novel silica‐based nucleating agent for polypropylene: Preparation, characterization, and application
Author(s) -
Li Juan,
He Wentao,
Long Lijuan,
Zhang Kai,
Xiang Yushu,
Zhang Minmin,
Yin Xiaogang,
Yu Jie
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of vinyl and additive technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.295
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1548-0585
pISSN - 1083-5601
DOI - 10.1002/vnl.21525
Subject(s) - polypropylene , thermogravimetric analysis , materials science , chemical engineering , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , crystallization , tacticity , nucleation , characterization (materials science) , composite material , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , chemistry , polymerization , nanotechnology , polymer , engineering
Inorganic silica is widely used as nucleating agents for isotactic polypropylene (iPP), and to achieve a better effect, the amount of addition is generally higher than 5 wt%. A novel silica‐based nucleating agent (SPKSol) was prepared by two steps: aromatic phosphate (MDBP‐POOH) was first supported on the silica sol via chemical reaction with γ‐aminopropyltrimethylsilane (KH550) as the linker, and the obtained product (PKSol) was further processed by spray‐drying. Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the incorporation of MDBP‐POOH on the silica sol. The results demonstrated a spherical particle with an average size of 5 μm, and a slit‐shaped pore structure was formed from the originally formed nano‐sized particles of PKSol after the spray‐drying process. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the SPKSol was well‐dispersed in the iPP matrix. Incorporating a very small amount of SPKSol (0.2 wt%) can effectively increase the crystallization temperature and improve the mechanical properties of polypropylene. In addition, the addition of SPKSol could even shift the haze of polypropylene to a lower value, obviously lower than that with PKSol as the nucleating agent. The preparation, characterization of SPKSol, and their application in iPP composites were explored in detail. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 24:58–67, 2018. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers