Preparation and properties of DOSS grafted polypropylene by reactive blending

The octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) grafted polypropylene (PP) was first prepared by reactive blending. The structure and properties of physical blending and reactive blending composites of PP/DOSS were investigated by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). WAXD analysis shows that the DOSS in the reactive blending composites has better compatibility with PP than in the physical blending composites. The beta-form crystalline hence disappears even the non-reactive DOSS can act as an effective beta-nucleating agents. DSC analysis shows the reactive blending composites have higher crystalline temperature while POSS in the physical blending composites have little effect on the crystalline temperature. The modulus of reactive blending composites increases in the presence of POSS, while that of the physical blending composites decreases with increasing POSS content. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.