Abstract
Polypropylene random co-polymer (PPR)/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SBS) block copolymer blends with high toughness and favorable tensile properties were successfully obtained by blending with traces of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and β-nucleating agents (β-NAs). β-NAs can effectively induce the ductile β-form crystal in the PPR matrix. Although the addition of MWCNTs was reported to be only benefit for the tensile strength of PPR and relatively disadvantageous for the toughness, the obviously synergistic toughening effect in PPR/SBS blends was found when MWCNTs and β-NAs coexisted. The notched izod impact strength of PPR/30 wt % SBS blend with MWCNTs and β-NAs increased from 11.3 to 58.9 kJ/m2; more than 5-fold increment compared with pure PPR. Meanwhile, the tensile strength retention of this PPR blend is still above 72.2%. The micro-morphology indicated that the MWCNTs can act as bridges between SBS particle and PPR matrix, effectively transferring the stress and absorbing impact energy among SBS particles.
Highlights
Polypropylene random co-polymer (PPR), a co-polymerized propylene with a little amount of other olefins, is widely used in packaging, film, and other applications
The results revealed that combining the β-nucleating agents (β-NAs) and other modifiers was an efficient method to improve the toughness of PPR
The results indicated that ternary modifiers showed a significant synergetic toughening effect on the PPR blends, especially under high temperatures
Summary
Polypropylene random co-polymer (PPR), a co-polymerized propylene with a little amount of other olefins, is widely used in packaging, film, and other applications. Feng et al [21] verified that, with the introduction of high β-nucleating efficiency of CaPim and olefin block copolymer (OBC), the PPR blends showed great enhancement of toughness and the brittle-ductile transition at a low OBC content. The results revealed that combining the β-NAs and other modifiers was an efficient method to improve the toughness of PPR. Few works considered the toughness of PPR blends affected by ternary modifiers, i.e., the coexistence of elastomers, β-NAs, and rigid nano-fillers, especially to achieve the balance of toughness and strength of the PPR [22]. The synergetic toughening and reinforcing effect of β-NAs, elastomers, and rigid nano-fillers on the PPR was investigated. The results indicated that ternary modifiers showed a significant synergetic toughening effect on the PPR blends, especially under high temperatures. The combination of β-NAs, SBS elastomers, and MWCNTs displayed an outstanding enhancing effect on the PPR matrix
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