Improved tensile and impact responses of microcellular PP/γ-irradiated elastomer blends corroborating microstructure and crystallinity

• Published in: Journal of macromolecular science. Part A, Pure and applied chemistry Pure and applied chemistry, 2021-12, Vol.58 (12), p.899-911
• Main Authors: Dutta, Anindya, Banerjee, Debjyoti, Ghosh, Anup K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: crosslinking; Crystal structure; Crystallinity; Crystallization; Elastomers; Foaming; gamma irradiation; Impact strength; mechanical property; Mixtures; Modulus of elasticity; Necking; Plastic foam
• ISSN: 1060-1325; 1520-5738
• DOI: 10.1080/10601325.2021.1967168

The purpose of the present study was to compare the tensile and impact performances of foams of PP/γ-irradiated elastomer blends with that of the foams of PP/unirradiated elastomer blends. Furthermore, the morphological and crystallinity studies were considered to correlate the tensile and impact behavior of foams. Foaming of blends was carried out in a batch foaming set up with supercritical CO 2 . A continuous decrease in crystallinity was observed for both types of blends along with the relative change in the number of different crystal forms. Remarkable necking phenomenon and strain-induced crystallization were observed in foams. The tensile modulus of samples significantly increased up to 3 times than that of the neat samples at lower temperature foaming. The maximum modulus of foams was attained for the blends with 10% irradiated elastomer concentration. The impact strength of foam was also improved at the same condition, where the tensile modulus was highest.