A simple melt blending method for preparing PP/HMSPP foaming composites with superior surface appearance and mechanical performance

Abstract

AbstractIncreasing mold temperature is effective to improve the surface quality of injection molding foamed products, but high mold temperature often leads to deteriorative cellular quality. Based on this, the polypropylene/high melt strength polypropylene (PP/HMSPP) composites with temperature insensitivity were prepared by a simple melt blending method, the rheological behavior and crystallization behavior of PP/HMSPP composites were studied by rotational rheometer and DSC at different cooling rates, respectively. In addition, foamed PP/HMSPP composites were prepared by chemical foaming injection molding, and their cellular quality, surface quality, and mechanical properties were analyzed. The results showed that when the content of HMSPP came to 50 wt%, the effect of the cooling rate on the rheological behavior of PP/HMSPP composites could be ignored. Furthermore, when the mold temperature increased from 60 to 120°C, the surface quality increased significantly, with the average cell diameter only increasing from 15.92 μm to 19.03 μm, and the cell density decreasing from 2.3 × 107 cells/cm3 to 1.9 × 107 cells/cm3. The tensile strength, bending strength, and impact strength were maintained at 24.15 MPa, 38.11 MPa, and 3.24 kJ/m2, respectively. This temperature‐insensitive PP/HMSPP composite foaming material can be used as guidance for the industrial stable production of PP injection molding chemical foaming. And this work suggested new thinking for future research on the modification of other polymer foam products at a high mold temperature.