An effective nucleating agent for isotactic polypropylene (iPP): Zinc bis- (nadic anhydride) double-decker silsesquioxanes. (2nd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xian; Zhao, Shicheng; Kuo, Shiao-Wei; Chen, Wei-Cheng; Mohamed, Mohamed Gamal; Xin, Zhong
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 220(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-02
• Subjects: Isotactic polypropylene -- POSS-based nucleating agent -- Fast scanning calorimetry (FSC); Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2021.123574
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: The zinc bicyclo [2.2.1]-heptane-2, 3-dicarboxylate-double-decker silsesquioxanes (Zn2 (DDSQ-ND)) was firstly synthesized and the crystallization behavior of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) filled with different amount of Zn2 (DDSQ-ND) (0–1 wt %) was investigated in detail. With the addition of Zn2 (DDSQ-ND), the crystallization temperature enhanced significantly, indicating that it acted novel and effective nucleating agent in the iPP system. The morphology of spherulites, nucleation density, and the crystal structure of the samples were characterized using POM and WAXD. Besides, ultra-fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) was employed to study the effects of Zn2 (DDSQ-ND) on the non-isothermal and isothermal crystallization behaviors of the sample iPP/Zn2 (DDSQ-ND) under the high cooling rates and wide crystallization temperature ranges, as well as the cold crystallization and recrystallization behavior during the heating process. The data suggested that Zn2 (DDSQ-ND) accelerated the formation of α-phase iPP and acted as a novel α-nucleating agent in the iPP system. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A novel and effective POSS-based nucleating agent for isotactic polypropylene was synthesized. . The influence of Zn2 (DDSQ-ND) on crystallization behavior of isotactic polypropylene was investigated in detail. FSC was employed to investigate the non-isothermal and isothermal crystallization behavior of the composites.