The effect of controlled degradation with an organic peroxide on the molecular characteristics and properties of heterophasic propylene-ethylene copolymers (HECO)

• Main Author: Swart, Morne
• Other Authors: Van Reenen, A. J.
• Format: Others
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2013
• Subjects: Heterophasic copolymers; Polymers > Rheology; Peroxides; Fractionation; Dissertations > Polymer science; Theses > Polymer science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/80194

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Heterophasic copolymers (also known as HECO polymers) or often referred to only as impact copolymers or block copolymers comprise a polymer matrix with a dispersed rubbery copolymer phase. The polymer under investigation in this study consists of a polypropylene homopolymer matrix and ethylene-propylene copolymers (EPCs). Due to its diverse range of applications and unique properties, polypropylene is the choice of polymer for a vast array of applications. This has led to the development of an entire class of polypropylene materials known as visbroken or controlled rheology polypropylene. By adding a suitable peroxide to the polymer in the presence of heat, radicals are formed which will attack the polymer chains in a random fashion. The resultant polymers generally have a higher melt flow rate (MFR), a narrower molecular weight distribution than the parent polymer, and good impact-stiffness balance. The main focus of this investigation was to determine if there exist any differences in the molecular structure and physical properties of controlled rheology HECO polymers and if differences do exist, how they influence the physical characteristics of the polymer. Eight HECO polymers with equal ethylene contents were visbroken to varying degrees by making use of two different types of organic peroxide. The effects of the amount of visbreaking on the molecular characteristics and physical properties were subsequently studied by making use various types of fractionation techniques, including preparative temperature rising elution fractionation (PTREF) and crystallisation analysis fractionation (CRYSTAF). Subsequent offline analysis was then done on the fractionated samples that included nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), high temperature size exclusion chromatography (HT-SEC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and deposition of the SEC fractions via the LC Transform Interface (SEC-FTIR) as well as high temperature high performance liquid chromatography (HT-HPLC), a novel technique for the characterization of olefins according to their chemical composition. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Heterofase kopolimere, ook bekend as HECO polimere, of dikwels na verwys net as impak kopolimere of blok kopolimere bestaan uit 'n polimeer matriks met 'n verspreide rubberagtige kopolimeer fase. Die polimeer wat in hierdie studie ondersoek was het bestaan uit 'n polipropileen homopolimeer matriks en etileen-propileen kopolimere (EPCs). As gevolg van sy veelseidigheid van toepassings en unieke eienskappe is polipropileen die keuse van polimeer vir 'n wye verskeidenheid van toepassings. Hierdie veelseidigheid het gelei tot die ontwikkeling van 'n hele klas van polipropileen materiaal bekend as gevisbreekte of beheerde reologie polipropileen. Deur die byvoeging van 'n geskikte peroksied tot die polimeer in die teenwoordigheid van hitte, word radikale gevorm wat die polimeerkettings in 'n ewekansige wyse sal aanval. Die gevolglike polimere in die algemeen het 'n hoë smelt vloeitempo (MFR), 'n smaller molekulêre gewig verspreiding as die moeder polimeer, en 'n goeie impak/styfheid balans. Agt HEKO polimere met gelyke etileen inhoude was gevisbreek in wisselende hoeveelhede deur gebruik te maak van twee verskillende tipes organiese peroksiedes. Die gevolge van die hoeveelheid van visbreeking op die molekulêre eienskappe en fisiese eienskappe was vervolgens gebestudeer deur gebruik te maak van verskillende fraksionasie tegnieke, insluitend preparatiewe TREF (P-TREF) en CRYSTAF. Daaropvolgende analiese is gedoen op die gefraktioneerde monsters en sluit in kernmagnetiese resonansie spektroskopie (KMR), differensiële skandeer kalorimetrie (DSC), 'n hoë temperatuur grootte uitsluitings chromatografie (HT-SEC), Fourier transform infrarooi spektroskopie (FTIR) met deponeering van die SEC fraksies via die LC transform koppelvlak (SEC-FTIR) sowel as 'n hoë temperatuur hoë werkverrigting vloeistof chromatografie (HT-HPLC), 'n nuwe tegniek vir die karakterisering van olefiene volgens hul chemiese samestelling.