USE OF A HEXAFUNCTIONAL COUPLING AGENT TO CONTROL FREE RADICAL-INDUCED MOLECULAR WEIGHT DEGRADATION DURING REACTIVE PROCESSING OF POLYPROPYLENE

摘要

Variable quantities of a hexafunctional coupling agent were reacted with polypropylene (PP) in a twin-screw extruder. An increase in the z-average molecular weight was observed, and attributed to the formation of PP crosslinks through the coupling agent, which tended to offset molecular weight degradation due to p-scission. The mechanical properties and morphologies of the resultant extrudates were analyzed. Notched Izod impact and tensile strengths were enhanced over those of the control, which lacked added coupling agent. The presence of coupling agent crosslinks resulted in increased nucleation and growth rate during crystallization from the melt.