Influence of polycaprolactone and titanium phosphate in the composites based upon recycled polypropylene

Abstract

The influence of polycaprolactone (PCL) and nano titanium phosphate, pristine (TiP) and Jeffamine™ modified (JETiP), was investigated in composites derived from recycled polypropylene/polycaprolactone/titanium phosphate (PPr/PCL/TiP and PPr/PCL/JETiP). The TiP was synthesized and chemically modified with amine and the composite processed in a Haake rheometer. Improvement of PPr thermal stability was revealed. Reduction of PPr cooling crystallization temperature (9°C) and crystallinity degree (∼5–10%) were registered. Hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance time domain revealed enhance of molecular mobility which was associated to the diminution of PPr crystallinity. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the composite PPr/PCL/JETiP did not show phosphate diffraction angle. It was understood as polymer intercalation into modified titanium phosphate galleries. At low temperature, the storage modulus increased by the presence of PCL and phosphates evidencing reinforcement. Both PPr/PCL/TiP and PPr/PCL/JETiP composites yielded phase separation systems revealed by two peaks in the loss modulus curves. Also, the high PPr participation effectiveness degree on the PCL-rich phase was understood as owing to the interaction between PCL and phosphates.