Polypropylene nanogel: “Myth or reality”

The objective of this work is the investigation of the nanogel and microgel formation in modified PP. The modified PP in pellets was synthesized by gamma irradiation of pristine PP under a crosslinking atmosphere of acetylene in dose of 5, 12.5 and 20 kGy, followed by thermal treatment for radical recombination and annihilation of the remaining radicals. The thin film gel of the polypropylenes was obtained by extraction in boiling xylene for period of 12 h at 138 °C, followed by decantation in beaker at room temperature of 25 °C with the total volatilization of the xylene and deposition of dried material film on glass substrate under agitation by Settling process. The thin film gel formed of pristine PP and modified PP (i.e., irradiated) was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The PP morphology indicated the nanogels and microgel formation with increase of spherulitic concentration and crystallinity at dose of 12.5 kGy.

► The formation of nanogels comes from irradiated sites prior to crosslink bonds.
► Evolution of nanogels in size creates domains with lower crosslink density and defects.
► In conclusion nanogel is present in the irradiated PP and has crystallinity.