Synergetic effect of crystal nucleating agent and melt self-enhancement of isotactic polypropylene on its rheological and microcellular foaming properties

Crystal nucleating agent Bis (3, 4- dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol (DMDBS) was used to tune the melt strength and microcellular foaming properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) in this study. Rheological testing results reveal that the introduction of DMDBS could enhance the storage modulus and complex viscosity of iPP, obviously increase its crystallization onset temperature, compared to its counterparts without DMDBS. The addition of DMDBS could also significantly increase the cell nucleating ability of iPP, due to its large surface, cooperating with a thermal history control treatment. Quite fine microcellular iPP/DMDBS foams were fabricated with relatively small average cell sizes of nano to several micrometers, and cell densities up to 1011∼1012 cells/cm3, using the synergy effect of DMDBS and iPP’s melt self-enhancement. Under a comparatively low re-saturation pressure of 8 to 12 MPa, ideal microcellular foams could be generated, at a temperature zone of 158 to 162°C, which is slightly below to iPP’s original pellets nominal melting point.