Experimental Study on the Crystallinity and Mechanical Properties of the Injection Molded Polypropylene

Polypropylene specimens were made by the injection molding experiments under different processing conditions. The crystallinity of each polypropylene specimen was obtained using the X-ray diffraction method. The effects of the injection molding processes on the crystallinity of polypropylene were revealed: (1) the crystallinity decreases as the melt temperature increases, and the higher the melt temperature, the slower the crystallinity decreases, (2) the crystallinity decreases as the mould temperature increases, and the higher the mould temperature, the faster the crystallinity decreases, (3) the crystallinity increases as the injection speed increases, and the larger the injection speed, the faster the crystallinity increases. By the tensile experiments of the injection molded specimens, it is also found that the crystallinity has a major impact on the mechanical properties of polypropylene. The yield strength and tensile strength of polypropylene specimens increase as the crystallinity increases.