Molecular weight and tacticity effect on morphological and mechanical properties of Ziegler–Natta catalyzed isotactic polypropylenes

The morphological and mechanical properties of Ziegler–Natta catalyzed isotactic polypropylenes as influenced by the molecular weight and tacticity was investigated. Polypropylene samples were injection moulded into standard disks with a HAAKE MiniJet II injection moulder at 190 °C and 200 bar for morphological and mechanical tests. The morphological and mechanical properties of specimens were investigated by means of optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microhardness (MH) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The samples exhibited a typical α-modification spherulite structure of isotactic polypropylenes crystallized from the melt. It was found that the most important factor affecting the structure and properties of these polymers is the isotacticity content. A clear molecular weight effect was also found for samples with low molecular weights. The microhardness and storage modulus values increased as crystallinity did. Accordingly, isotacticity degree is considered as the main parameter affecting the crystallinity of samples.

mechanical property; molecular weight; morphological property; polypropylene; tacticity