Single-step foaming of polypropylene in rotational molding

It is well known within the plastics industry that foaming of polypropylene is a very challenging process. A new generation of polypropylene, offering improved processability, has been produced recently by using a metallocene catalyst technology. A fundamental study of single-step foaming of the newly developed polypropylene in rotational molding was conducted, using polymer microspheres as a blowing agent. The influence of polymer rheology on tensile properties, flexural modulus, and cell morphology of the foamed polypropylene parts was investigated. Comparisons are made between conventional and metallocene polypropylene materials.