Microstructure Characterization of Amorphous Phase of Polypropylene Impact Copolymers

In this work, three polypropylene impact copolymers (ICPs) with different chemical compositions are characterized using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with triple detection: infrared (IR), viscometer (VIS) and multi angle light scattering (MALS), crystallization analysis fractionation (CRYSTAF), thermal gradient interaction chromatography (TGIC), nuclear magnetic resonance (C-13-NMR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The average rubber composition is determined and correlated with the ICP morphology and final mechanical properties. GPC-IR is used to analyze the ethylene content and distribution along the molecular weight distribution (MWD). The amorphous phase composition distribution is analyzed as a function of temperature by TGIC. The microstructure and morphology of ICP amorphous phase are studied in detail by C-13-NMR, GPC 3D, TGIC, SEM and AFM allowing to differentiate the samples.