Induction of β phase nucleated polypropylene using a CaCO3 micrometer in industrial conditions

Abstract

With the aim of inducing the β modification in isotactic propylene (iPP), three industrial processes were tested, and calcium carbonate with a particulate size of 0.7 microns was used as the nucleating agent. A surface modification was carried out as a part of the calcium carbonate with stearic acid and it was used; however, the other part was used without surface modification. They were made from master batches using TSE. Dilutions in cast film were made from master batches using single screw extruder (SSE). Finally, annealed films were made with a heating press. So, β phase content of the TSE sample, SSE sample, and the annealed sample were measured by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and their thermal behavior was measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The β spherulites where also observed by Product Lifecycle Management (PLM).