Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The nucleation effect of self-dispersed β-nucleating agent in ethylene-propylene block copolymerized polypropylene

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
Colloid and Polymer Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The problem of agglomeration and poor dispersion results in the low nucleation efficiency of β-nucleating agent (β-NA) in polypropylene. In this paper, a self-dispersed β-NA (Adi-Zn) was prepared in situ (IS) by adding adipic acid and zinc oxide at equimolar ratio in PPB powder during extrusion. The results showed that the nucleation efficiency of Adi-Zn (IS) was better than the direct addition of Adi-Zn. The impact strength of PPB nucleated with 0.05 wt% Adi-Zn (IS) was 25% higher than that with the same additive amount of Adi-Zn. Also, the β-crystal content (kβ value) almost reached 1. Crystallization temperature of PPB nucleated with Adi-Zn (IS) was slightly increased compared with that of Adi-Zn. The reaction mechanism of Adi-Zn (IS) was explored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that adipic acid and zinc oxide generated zinc adipate, and zinc adipate acted as β-NA during the crystallization of PPB. By means of energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the reason for the good dispersion of in situ synthetic method was confirmed, which further leads to good nucleation efficiency of Adi-Zn (IS).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhao S, Xu N, Xin Z, Jiang C (2012) A novel highly efficient β-nucleating agent for isotactic polypropylene[J]. J Appl Polym Sci 123(1):108–117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Blomenhofer M, Ganzleben S, Doris Hanft A et al (2005) “Designer” nucleating agents for polypropylene[J]. Macromolecules 38(9):3688–3695

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhao S, Cai Z, Xin Z (2008) A highly active novel β-nucleating agent for isotactic polypropylene[J]. Polymer 49(11):2745–2754

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhao S, Xin Z (2010) Nucleation characteristics of the α/β compounded nucleating agents and their influences on crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene[J]. J Polym Sci B Polym Phys 48(6):653–665

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Zhao SC, Gong HZ, Yu X et al (2016) A highly active and selective beta-nucleating agent for isotactic polypropylene and crystallization behavior of beta-nucleated isotactic polypropylene under rapid cooling[J]. J Appl Polym Sci 133(32):8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Uchiyama Y, Iwasaki S, Ueoka C et al (2010) Molecular orientation and mechanical anisotropy of polypropylene sheet containing N,N′-dicyclohexyl6-naphthalenedicarboxamide[J]. J Polym Sci Part B Polym Phys 47(4):424–433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Guo M, Zhang Y, Li J, Pan G, Yan H, Luo Y, Liu Y (2014) Ultrafine dispersion of a phosphate nucleating agent in a polypropylene matrix via the microemulsion method[J]. RSC Adv 4(23):11931–11938

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Urushihara T, Okada K, Watanabe K, Toda A, Kawamoto N, Hikosaka M (2009) Acceleration mechanism in critical nucleation of polymers by epitaxy of nucleating agent[J]. Polym J 41(3):228–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Urushihara T, Okada K, Watanabe K et al (2006) Acceleration mechanism of nucleation of polymers by nano-sizing of nucleating agent[J]. Polym J 39(1):55–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhang G, Xin Z, Yu J, Gui QD, Wang SY (2003) Nucleating efficiency of organic phosphates in polypropylene[J]. J Macromol Sci B 42(3–4):467–478

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Yi QF, Wen XJ, Dong JY, Han CC (2008) A novel effective way of comprising a β-nucleating agent in isotactic polypropylene (i-PP): polymerized dispersion and polymer characterization[J]. Polymer 49(23):5053–5063

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Yuan W, Guo M, Miao Z et al (2010) Influence of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene on the dispersion of clay in polypropylene|[sol]|clay nanocomposites[J]. Polym J 42(9):3809–3814

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kotek J, Kelnar I, Synková H et al (2010) β-Polypropylene/wood flour composites: effects of specific β-nucleation and coupling agent on mechanical behavior[J]. J Appl Polym Sci 103(1):506–511

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Li B, Hu GH, Cao GP, Liu T, Zhao L, Yuan WK (2008) Effect of supercritical carbon dioxide-assisted nano-scale dispersion of nucleating agents on the crystallization behavior and properties of polypropylene[J]. J Supercrit Fluids 44(3):446–456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gutiérrez C, Garcia MT, Mencía R, Garrido I, Rodríguez JF (2016) Clean preparation of tailored microcellular foams of polystyrene using nucleating agents and supercritical CO2[J]. J Mater Sci 51(10):4825–4838

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Libster D, Aserin A, Garti N (2006) A novel dispersion method comprising a nucleating agent solubilized in a microemulsion, in polymeric matrix I. Dispersion method and polymer characterization[J]. J Colloid Interface Sci 299(1):172–181

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Libster D, Aserin A, Garti N (2006) A novel dispersion method comprising a nucleating agent solubilized in a microemulsion, in polymeric matrix II. Microemulsion characterization[J]. J Colloid Interface Sci 302(1):322–329

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Garbarczyk J, Sterzynski T, Paukszta D (1989) Influence of additives on the structure and properties of polymers. 4. Study of phase transition in isotactic polypropylene by synchrotron radiation[J]. Polymer Communications (Guildford) 30(5):153–157

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Leugering VHJ (1967) Einfluß der kristallstruktur und der überstruktur auf einige eigenschaften von polypropylen †[J]. Die Makromolekulare Chemie 109(1):204–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. And JV, Menyhárd A (2007) Effect of solubility and nucleating duality of N, N′-dicyclohexyl-2,6-naphthalenedicarboxamide on the supermolecular structure of isotactic polypropylene[J]. Macromolecules 40(40):2422–2431

    Google Scholar 

  21. Feng J, Chen M, Huang Z et al (2010) Effects of mineral additives on the β-crystalline form of isotactic polypropylene[J]. J Appl Polym Sci 85(8):1742–1748

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang N, Zhang Q, Wang K, Deng H, Fu Q (2012) Combined effect of Î2-nucleating agent and multi-walled carbon nanotubes on polymorphic composition and morphology of isotactic polypropylene[J]. J Therm Anal Calorim 107(2):733–743

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Yamaguchi M, Fukui T, Okamoto K, Sasaki S, Uchiyama Y, Ueoka C (2009) Anomalous molecular orientation of isotactic polypropylene sheet containing,′-dicyclohexyl-2,6-naphthalenedicarboxamide[J]. Polymer 50(6):1497–1504

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Zhang X, Shi G (1994) Effect of converting the crystalline form from α to β on the mechanical properties of ethylene/propylene random and block copolymers[J]. Polymer 35(23):5067–5072

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Menyhárd A, Varga J, Molnár G (2006) Comparison of different nucleators for isotactic polypropylene, characterisation by DSC and temperature-modulated DSC (TMDSC) measurements[J]. J Therm Anal Calorim 83(3):625–630

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhao S, Xin Z (2010) Crystallization kinetics of isotactic polypropylene nucleated with organic dicarboxylic acid salts[J]. J Appl Polym Sci 112(3):1471–1480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Yang Y, Xin Z, Zhao S, Shi Y, Zhou S, Zhou J, Ye C (2017) Nucleation effects of zinc adipate as β-nucleating agent in ethylene-propylene block copolymerized polypropylene[J]. J Polym Res 24(9):143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFB0302201), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 21476085 and 21606084), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (222201717025).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, Department of Product Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, People’s Republic of China

    Yaoding Yang, Wei Qin, Zhong Xin, Shicheng Zhao, Lan Chen & Shuai Zhou

  2. Lanzhou Petrochemical Research Center, PetroChina, Lanzhou, 730060, People’s Republic of China

    Wenxue Zhang

Authors
  1. Yaoding Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wenxue Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wei Qin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhong Xin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shicheng Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Lan Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Shuai Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shicheng Zhao.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yang, Y., Zhang, W., Qin, W. et al. The nucleation effect of self-dispersed β-nucleating agent in ethylene-propylene block copolymerized polypropylene. Colloid Polym Sci 296, 1627–1633 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-018-4378-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-018-4378-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation