The crystallization characteristics of polypropylene and low ethylene content polypropylene copolymer with copolyesters

The crystallization characteristics of polypropylene (PP) and low ethylene content PP copolymers with and without nucleating agents were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). PP and PP copolymers was blended with three different kinds of co[poly(butylene terephthalate-p-oxybenzoate)] copolyesters, designated B28, B46, and B64, with the copolyester level varying from 5 to 15 wt.%. All samples were prepared by solution blending in hot xylene solvent at 50 °C. The crystallization behavior of samples was then studied by DSC. The results indicate that these three copolyesters accelerate the crystallization rate of PP and PP copolymers in a manner similar to that of a nucleating agent. The acceleration of crystallization rate was most pronounced in these blend systems with a maximum level at 5 wt.% of B28. The observed changes in crystallization behavior are explained by the effect of the composition and the amount of copolyester in the blends.