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Crystallization kinetics behavior, molecular interaction, and impact-induced morphological evolution of polypropylene/poly(ethylene-co-octene) blends: insight into toughening mechanism

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Abstract

In this paper, SEM, POM, DSC, FTIR, polarized FTIR, and part-impact test were performed to investigate the effect of dispersed POE phase on crystallization kinetics behavior, molecular interaction, and impact-induced morphological evolution in polypropylene/poly(ethylene-co-octene) (PP/POE) blends. The main focus was to establish a systematic and deep toughening mechanism from microscopic molecular interaction to macroscopic deformation. The results showed that the existence of POE particles played the role of an obstacle during the crystallization process of a PP matrix, which could increase the growth path of PP lamellae or ordered PP molecules and reduce the growth space of spherulites, resulting in a slower spherulite growth rate and smaller spherulite size. This behavior was explained by a crystallization model. Most interestingly, a coated structure was formed in the interface, which was a transition state structure of molecules with different morphologies. The as-formed coated structure can be considered the origin of the cavitation effect and impact-induced morphology evolution of POE particles during the impact process. Moreover, micro-plastic deformation in PP/POE blends during the fracture process was a multi-stage mechanism, in which the POE content played a decisive role.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51273132, 51227802 and 51121001) and Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-13-0392) are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, People’s Republic of China

    Jianfeng Wang, Jiwei Guo, Chunhai Li, Shuo Yang, Hong Wu & Shaoyun Guo

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  1. Jianfeng Wang
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  2. Jiwei Guo
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  3. Chunhai Li
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  4. Shuo Yang
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  5. Hong Wu
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  6. Shaoyun Guo
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Correspondence to Hong Wu or Shaoyun Guo.

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Wang, J., Guo, J., Li, C. et al. Crystallization kinetics behavior, molecular interaction, and impact-induced morphological evolution of polypropylene/poly(ethylene-co-octene) blends: insight into toughening mechanism. J Polym Res 21, 618 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-014-0618-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-014-0618-x

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