Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol.46, No.1, 41-47, 2008
Structure and properties for transparent polypropylene containing sorbitol-based clarifier
Relation between structure and properties is studied for polypropylene (PP) containing 1,3:2,4-di-benzylidene sorbitol (DBS) that forms network structure composed of nanofibrils in a molten PP. It is found that the aggregation state of DBS, which can be controlled by the applied flow field and thermal history, affects the spherulite texture of PP and thus the transparency. When injection-molded products, in which the nanofibrils of DBS orient to the flow direction, are reprocessed at 180 degrees C, that is, lower temperature than the melting point of DBS, the obtained material shows high level of transparency, although it has been believed that sorbitol-derivatives have to be melted and dissolved into the molten PP at high temperature, for example, 240 degrees C. Further, it is found that the particle flow occurs in the blend at 180 degrees C. The applied shear force generates the particles, that is, flow units, by the fragmentation of the network structure. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.