LMPP Effects on Morphology, Crystallization, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of iPP/LMPP Blend Fibres

The thermal properties and morphological characterisation of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) homopolymer and its blends with low molecular low modulus polypropylene (LMPP) were studied. Firstly blends were prepared with variant LMPP contents, and their properties were characterised using SEM, DSC, XRD, and DMA. Later the mechanical properties of iPP/LMPP blend fibres were investigated. SEM results showed that the iPP/LMPP blends produced smoother surfaces when the LMPP content was increased, as well as the miscibility. All the T-g values with different LMPP percentages were in-between pure iPP and LMPP. The XRD results indicated the LMPP percentage decreased along with the degree of crystallinity of the iPP/LMPP blends (5% to 15%), which increased and then decreased as compared to pure iPP. The elongation at break increased when the LMPP content increased, with the maximum elongation at break of the LMPP 25% blend reaching 12.95%, which showed great stretch-ability, whereas the elastic modulus of iPP/LMPP blends decreased.