Effect of tetrasilanolphenyl silsesquioxane on properties of sorbitol derivative-nucleated polypropylene cast films

ABSTRACT

Nucleating agents cause an increase in crystallization temperature, making the production of highly oriented films much more difficult. In this study, a nucleating system composed of 1,3:2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol (DMDBS) and tetrasilanolphenyl silsesquioxane (phPOSS) was used to modify isotactic polypropylene (iPP). Oriented films characterised by different draw drown ratios (4.8, 9.7, 14.5) were prepared and analysed. Their mechanical properties, coefficient of friction, thermal properties, and structure as well as optical properties such as gloss, haze, and transparency, were also determined. The macromolecular orientation of films was tested by polarised light Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The proposed nucleating system provides films with superior mechanical and optical properties, which are accompanied by high orientation ability. The application of DMDBS and phPOSS allowed a 26% increase in penetration load at break and Young modulus by 70% compared to iPP. It can be assumed that DMDBS/phPOSS system is an efficient modifier for polypropylene film production.

KEYWORDS:

• Polypropylene
• silsesquioxane
• POSS
• DMDBS
• sorbitol
• nucleation
• cast film
• optical properties

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Milliken & Company for supplying the nucleating agent samples for research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was conducted under Development Project POIG 01.03.01-30-173/09 Nanosil from the European Regional Development Fund within the Innovative Economy Operational Programme and partially co-funded with grants for education allocated by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland executed under the subject of No 0513/SBAD/4774 as well as by the National Science Centre in Poland under the Etiuda project, grant number UMO-2016/20/T/ST8/00399.