Nucleated polypropylene nanocomposites
View Patent ↗nuc-PP nanocomposite is made from the mixing of nuc-PP with olefin elastomer and organoclay, and optionally, a dispersion agent. Unexpectedly, processing properties such as higher melt flow, and performance properties such as higher toughness and higher stiffness, are obtained when compared with commercially available PP nanocomposite.
1. A method of using nuc-PP with organoclay to improve toughness of nuc-PP, comprising mixing organoclay and olefin elastomer into a high flexural modulus nucleated polypropylene to form a nano-nuc-PP compound, wherein the amount of olefin elastomer ranges from 18 and 35 weight percent of the compound, wherein the high flexural modulus nucleated polypropylene is polypropylene resin which has a nucleating agent included in the polypropylene resin and wherein the nucleated polypropylene has a flexural modulus of at least about 1378 MPa, wherein the nano-nuc-PP compound has a stiffness ranging from about 1723 MPa to 2758 MPa, wherein the nano-nuc-PP compound has a toughness ranging from about 8 ft.-lb./in. to about 15 ft.-lb./in., and wherein the nano-nuc-PP compound has a melt flow ranging from about 2 to about 10 g/10 min. @ 230° C.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the organoclay is a smectite clay intercalated with an organic intercalant.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the organoclay is a montmorillonite clay intercalated with an organic intercalant.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the high flexural modulus nucleated polypropylene has a tensile strength of at least about 34 MPa.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the olefin elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), ethylene-octene copolymers, and combinations thereof.
6. A nano-nuc-PP compound, comprising:
(a) high flexural modulus nucleated polypropylene;
(b) at least about 8 weight percent organoclay; and
(c) at least from about 8 to about 35 weight percent olefin elastomer,
wherein the high flexural modulus nucleated polypropylene is polypropylene resin which has a nucleating agent included in the polypropylene resin and wherein the nucleated polypropylene has a flexural modulus of at least about 1378 MPa,
wherein the nano-nuc-PP compound has a stiffness ranging from about 1723 MPa to 2758 MPa, wherein the nano-nuc-PP compound has a toughness ranging from about 8 ft.-lb./in. to about 15 ft.-lb./in., and wherein the nano-nuc-PP compound has a melt flow ranging from about 2 to about 10 g/10 min. @ 230° C.
7. The compound of claim 6 , further comprising:
(d) a dispersion agent.
8. The compound of claim 6 , wherein the compound is made by mixing organoclay and olefin elastomer into a high flexural modulus nucleated polypropylene to form the nano-nuc-PP compound.
9. The compound of claim 8 , wherein the organoclay is a montmorillonite clay intercalated with an organic intercalant.
10. The compound of claim 8 , wherein the high flexural modulus nucleated polypropylene has a tensile strength of at least about 34 MPa.
11. The compound of claim 8 , wherein the olefin elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), ethylene-octene copolymers, and combinations thereof.
12. An article made from the nano-nuc-PP compound of claim 8 .
13. The article of claim 12 , wherein the article is extruded.
14. The article of claim 12 , wherein the article is molded.
15. The article of claim 12 in the form of a film.