Controlled Degradation of Polypropylene: A Comprehensive Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

Experimental and modeling studies of the free-radical-induced degradation of polypropylene (PP) in the melt phase have been carried out. Experiments have been performed in a single-screw plasticating extruder using a peroxide as the free-radical source. Concentration of the peroxide was in the range 0.01–0.6 wt%. Results in the form of melt flow index (MFI) values, viscosity curves, and molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the produced resins are presented here. Based on these results, a constitutive equation describing the shear viscosity of the melt as a function of shear rate, temperature, and molecular weight has been derived. The extensional viscosity of these resins has been determined as a function of strain rate using Cogswell's analysis of converging flows. A previously developed kinetic model (plug flow) has been used to simulate the changes of the average molecular weights of the MWD, and a sensitivity analysis of this model has been carried out.