Impact strength of β-nucleated polypropylene

Structural transformations of semicrystalline polymers form an important field of current scientific research. The preparation of controlled supermolecular structure may lead to significant improvements in mechanical, thermal and optical properties. As for isotactic polypropylene (iPP), its properties essentially depend on its crystalline phase composition, which is due to polymorphisin of iPP. Thus, the aim of this work is to analyze the influence of the beta-phase content in polypropylene and of its spatial arrangement on mechanical properties, in particular on its impact strength. Commercially available isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was modified by various amounts of a specific beta-nucleating agent (N, N'-dicyclohexylnaphtalene-2,6-dicarboxamide). From the prepared mixtures standard impact testing bars were injection molded. The structure of the specimens was studied by X-ray diffractometry, and impact properties were determined using Charpy impact tester It was found that addition of the nucleator led to beta-phase content increase, especially in the core region of the injection molded samples. The skin (surface layer of the samples) contained lower amount of beta-phase. Furthermore, notch impact strength dramatically increased with increasing concentrations of the beta-nucleating agent. The concentration of 0.03 wt. % of the nucleator can be considered a "boundary value " due to the fact that the maximum notch impact strength value was reached. With further addition of the nucleating agent the impact strength slowly decreased. Therefore it should be noted that the improvement of impact properties is not only due to the presence of beta-phase, but also there are some synergy-applied factors - such as the structural heterogeneity and spatial arrangement of the beta-phase in injection molded samples.