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 …