Mechanical and morphological characterization of polypropylene toughened with olefinic elastomer

The effect of incorporating (C2-C8) ethylene-octene elastomer on the mechanical properties and morphology of polypropylene copolymers has been investigated employing two types of PP copolymer, with and without nucleating agent. The results were compared to the ones presented by a commercial PP heterophase (reactor impact modified PP/EPR). The addition of the elastomer increases the toughness of the blends but reduces their stiffness. PP blends in the low elastomer content region (< 20%) show low values of the Izod impact strength and both, elastomer content and impact strength, are directly proportional to the area under the beta damping peak or its maximum intensity of the elastomer. The morphology is a continuous pattern of segregate elastomeric particles with average particle size in the range of 0.27 mum to 0.39 mum. The average particle size and particle size distribution plotted in log-normal distribution curves, increases slightly with the increase in the elastomer content. The reactor modified PP heterophase has a broader particle size distribution and an average particle size of 0.56 mum, at the lower limit but inside the range for good impact performance, as observed.