Effect of hydrophobic nano‐silica/β‐nucleating agent on the crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of polypropylene random copolymers

• Published in: Polymer international 2024-02, Vol.73 (2), p.108-118
• Main Authors: Chen, Shiqi, Bai, Luhan, Wang, Xuanlun, Li, Handong, Xu, Ben Bin, Algadi, Hassan, Guo, Zhanhu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Avrami equation; Blending effects; Composite materials; composite nucleating agent; Copolymers; Crystallites; Crystallization; crystallization kinetics; Crystals; hydrophobic SiO2 nanoparticles; Hydrophobicity; Impact strength; Mechanical properties; Melt blending; Nucleation; Polypropylene; polypropylene random copolymer; Silicon dioxide; Tensile strength; β‐nucleating agent
• ISSN: 0959-8103; 1097-0126
• DOI: 10.1002/pi.6575

In this work, hydrophobic nano‐silica (SiO2) and β‐nucleating agent are incorporated into polypropylene random copolymer (PP‐R) matrix by melt blending. The effect of the content of nano‐SiO2/β‐nucleating agent on the crystallization and mechanical behaviors of PP‐R was investigated in detail. For a nano‐SiO2 content of 0.5 wt% and a β‐nucleating agent content of 0.5 wt%, the tensile strength and impact strength of the composite were in a more balanced position. Regarding isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization experiments, nano‐SiO2/β‐nucleating agent significantly accelerated the nucleation and growth of crystallites with a synergistic nucleation effect. Also, the crystallization kinetics of PP‐R/nano‐SiO2/β‐nucleating agent, PP‐R/nano‐SiO2 and PP‐R/β‐nucleating agent composites were analyzed and compared using the Avrami equation. The results showed that the PP‐R/nano‐SiO2/β‐nucleating agent composites have better crystallization rate and shorter semi‐crystallization time. This study shows far‐reaching theoretical and practical implications for accelerating the development of new high‐performance PP‐R materials. © 2023 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry. The rare earth β‐nucleating agent WBG‐II is adsorbed on the surface of nanoparticles and induces the matrix to form ‘vertical’ β crystals with higher nucleation efficiency and crystallization rate.