Study on the Non-isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Branched Polypropylene

Branched polypropylenes (PP) with long chain branch were prepared by solid state reaction with three different branching agent of 0.3 wt% content. The chemical structures, non-isothermal crystallization behavior and complex viscosity of the branched PP were investigated by FTIR, DSC, optical microscope, and dynamic rheological measurement. The chemical structure of the branched PP was confirmed by the existence of =C-H stretching peak of the branching agent at 3100 cm(-1). There was no distinct change in melting temperature in case of PP-D-0-3 and PP-F-0-3, but PP-H-0-3 indicated a decrease in melting temperature. The decrease in melting temperature was interpreted by the fact that the degradation reaction of PP was more dominant than branched reaction, and confirmed by a decrease in complex viscosity. The non-isothermal crystallization behavior of the branched PP was analyzed using by Avrami equation. The Avrami exponent of PP was 3, and the values of the branched PP with DVB and FS were below 3. The activation energy of PP calculated by Kissinger method was 25 kJ/mol, and there were no big difference in activation energies of the branched PPs compared to PP.