Effects of toughening propylene/ethylene graft copolymer on the crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of polypropylene random-copolymerized with a small amount of ethylene

Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) was grafted onto the backbone chains of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) during reactive melt-extrusion to produce a novel toughening modifier, propylene/ethylene graft copolymer (PEGC), to improve the properties of iPP random(-copolymerized with a small amount of ethylene) (PPR). The crystallization behavior as well as the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of the PEGC modified PPRs were investigated via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). The fractured surface topography was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the mechanical properties through notched impact and tensile testing as well as dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The results show that, at a PEGC content of 8 wt%, notched impact strength of the PEGC modified PPR increased by 30.6% at low temperature (−25 °C). As regards crystalline morphology, the PEGC, as an effective heterogeneous nucleating agent, fostered nucleation of the PPR to elevate its crystallization temperature as well as rate of crystallization, thus refining the PPR (iPP) spherulites and improving the interfacial structure between iPP spherulites. The Jeziorny approach was unsatisfactory for simulation of the non-isothermal crystallization process of the PEGC modified PPRs; however, the Mo method described consistently the crystallization kinetics over the entire isothermal process.