Modification of Polypropylene by adding long chain branches through melt radical reaction

JORGE GUAPACHA; LIDIA MARÍA QUINZANI; MARCELO DANIEL FAILLA; ENRIQUE M. VALLÉS

Praga

Congreso; 7th MoDeSt Conference (MoDeSt 2012); 2012

Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry

Polypropylene (PP) has become one of the most widely used commercial polyolefins. It has many excellent properties, such as low density, high melting temperature and good chemical resistance. However commercial PP is a highly linear polymer. This limits its use in applications such as thermoforming, foaming and blow molding because it lacks of melt strength and good extensional properties. One of the most effective strategies to improve elongational properties is to modify the structure of the linear polymer molecules by incorporating long branches. In this work long chain branched PP was prepared by reaction in the molten state in the presence different concentrations of glycerol. The modified PPs exhibit improved rheological properties and higher melt strength.