Super‐toughed polymer blends derived from polypropylene random copolymer and ethylene/styrene interpolymer

In this article, blends of polypropylene random copolymer (PP‐R) with a novel impact modifier, namely ethylene/styrene interpolymer (ESI), were prepared to evaluate the effectiveness of ESI in toughening PP‐R and the influence of ESI content on the mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of polymer blends. Results showed that super‐toughened PP‐R/ESI blends (ca. Izod impact strength ≥ 500 J/m) were readily achieved with only 5 wt % ESI. The blends exhibited significant improvement in both impact strength and elongation, while small loss in tensile strength and elastic modulus when increasing ESI content. ESI had a nucleating effect that caused PP matrix to crystallize at higher temperatures, whereas PP‐R/ESI blends presented lower melting temperatures (Tm) than PP‐R matrix and Tm decreased with the increment of ESI content. Rheology study indicated that both PP‐R matrix and PP‐R/ESI blends presented shear thinning behaviors during melt processing.