Origin of toughness in β-polypropylene: The effect of molecular mobility in the amorphous phase

Chlorinated Water Induced Aging of Pipe Grade Polypropylene Random Copolymers

Polypropylene random copolymers (PP-R) are common materials for pressurized hot water pipes. In many pipe systems, potable water is disinfected by chlorine to prevent waterborne diseases. This paper deals with hot chlorinated water induced aging of two PP-R grades with varying morphology. One material had a conventional monoclinic α crystal form (PP-Rα), whereas the other was explicitly beta-nucleated resulting in a trigonal β crystal form with a fine spherulite structure (PP-Rβ). Micro-sized specimens with a thickness of 100 µm were used for aging experiments at 60 °C in chlorinated water with 5 mg/L free chlorine, and aging indicators were monitored for exposure times of up to 2000 h. On the other hand, superimposed mechanical-environmental tests were carried out by using cracked round bar specimens with a diameter of 14 mm to determine the fatigue crack growth (FCG) resistance of both PP-R grades at 60 °C in non-chlorinated and chlorinated water. PP-Rβ was found to outperform PP-Rα with an about 30% higher time-to-embrittlement value of 2000 h. Furthermore, PP-Rβ exhibited an enhanced FCG resistance in both non-chlorinated and chlorinated water. The effect of chlorine content on the deterioration of the FCG resistances was significantly more pronounced for PP-Rα.

Crystallinity-Based Product Design: Utilizing the Polymorphism of Isotactic PP Homo- and Copolymers

The polymorphism of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) in combination with the strong response of this polymer to nucleation can be utilized for expanding the application range of this versatile polymer. Based on three “case studies” related to β-iPP pressure pipes, ethylene-propylene (EP) random copolymers for thin-wall injection molding and transparency and sterilization resistance of cast films we demonstrate ways of combining polymer composition, nucleation and process settings to achieve the desired application performance. The importance of considering interactions between polymer design, nucleation and processing parameters for designing application properties is highlighted.

Crystalline CO2-based polycarbonates prepared from racemic catalyst through intramolecularly interlocked assembly

The crystalline stereocomplexed polycarbonates can be prepared by mixing enantiopure polymers with opposite configuration, which derived from the asymmetric copolymerization with CO₂ using enantiopure catalyst or/and chiral epoxides. Herein, we develop a powerful strategy for producing crystalline intramolecular stereocomplexed polycarbonates from racemic catalysts, which possess similar thermal stability and crystalline behaviour in comparison with the stereocomplexes by mixing opposite enantiopure polymers. Living polymer chains shuttle between catalyst molecules with different configurations to produce diastereomeric active species which is suggested to be responsible for the formation of isotactic multiblock polycarbonates in racemic bimetallic cobalt catalyst-mediated stereoselective copolymerization of CO₂ and meso-epoxides. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy study suggests that the interaction in the carbonyl and methine regions is responsible for the strong crystallization capacity and compact package structure in the crystalline polycarbonates.

Crystalline polycarbonates can be formed by mixing enantiopure polymers with opposite configurations. Here, the authors produce crystalline intramolecular stereocomplexed polycarbonates using a racemic catalyst, and show that these display similar properties to those formed by mixing the two enantiomers.