Fast Analytics of High-Impact Polypropylene (HIPP)

High-impact polypropylenes(HIPPs) are complex blends, featuringa crystalline isotactic polypropylene matrix and a dispersed phaseconsisting of an amorphous ethylene/propylene copolymer (EPR). Therelative amount of EPR and its composition heavily affect the applicationproperties of the material and need to be accurately controlled. Standardanalytical methods are time- and labor-intensive and require considerableamounts of sample and of a toxic solvent, xylene. Here, we introducean analytical approach to HIPP characterization based on crystallizationelution fractionation. The approach is fast, can be operated on justa few mg of sample, and does not require sophisticated and expensivetechniques.

Automated summary

High-impact polypropylenes (HIPPs) are complex blends that consist of a crystalline isotactic polypropylene matrix and a dispersed phase comprising an amorphous ethylene/propylene copolymer (EPR). The properties of the material and its application are heavily influenced by the relative amount and composition of EPR, which need to be precisely controlled. Traditional analytical methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and require large amounts of sample and toxic solvent xylene. Here, we present an analytical approach based on crystallization elution fractionation for HIPP characterization, which is fast, requires only a small amount of sample, and does not rely on sophisticated and expensive techniques.