Effect of Metallic Salts of Glutaric Acid on the Formation of β-crystalline Form in Isotactic Polypropylene

• Published in: Journal of elastomers and plastics 2009-11, Vol.41 (6), p.509-522
• Main Authors: Dou, Qiang, Lu, Qu-Liang, Li, Huai-Dong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Crystallization; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Properties and characterization
• ISSN: 0095-2443; 1530-8006
• DOI: 10.1177/0095244309339789

The effects of glutaric acid and the lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, zinc, and cadmium salts of glutaric acid on the formation of β-crystalline form in isotactic polypropylene (iPP) at the crystallization temperatures 120 and 130°C have been investigated. It is found that glutaric acid and the sodium, potassium, and zinc salts of glutaric acid inhibit the formation of β-crystalline form in polypropylene. Lithium glutarate has a limited positive effect on the formation of β-crystalline form. Magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium salts of glutaric acid exhibit increased β-nucleation abilities with the increasing atomic radii of the combined metals. Cadmium glutarate is a good β-nucleating agent and the formation of β-crystalline form is favored at the crystallization temperature of 120°C. The increases in the orientation of b-axes of the nucleated iPP samples are due to the presences of sodium and zinc salts of glutaric acid.