Effects of nucleating agent 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid tris(cyclohexylamide) on properties and crystallization behaviors of isotactic polypropylene

Amide derivatives of 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid are a type of novel nucleating agents for isotactic polypropylene (iPP). Effects of nucleating agent 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid tris(cyclohexylamide) (BTCA-TCHA) on properties and crystallization behaviors of iPP were investigated and the results were compared with those of iPP nucleated with a highly effective commercial nucleating agent Millad 3988. The results showed that BTCA-TCHA was highly effective and it improved greatly the mechanical and optical properties of iPP and increased crystallization peak temperature of iPP obviously. When the addition concentration of BTCA-TCHA was 0.2 wt.%, tensile strength and flexural modulus of iPP were increased by 9.7 and 12.4 %, respectively, and the haze value of iPP was decreased by 53.5 %. When the cooling rate was 20 °C/min, the crystallization peak temperature of iPP was increased from 114.6 °C of virgin iPP to 126.8 °C. In addition, it was found that the nucleation efficiency of BTCA-TCHA was comparable for that of Millad 3988.