RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Effect of the elastomer viscosity on the morphology and impact behavior of injection molded foams based on blends of polypropylene and polyolefin elastomers A1 Muñoz Pascual, Santiago A1 Sáiz Arroyo, Cristina A1 Vananroye, Anja A1 Moldenaers, Paula A1 Rodríguez Pérez, Miguel Ángel K1 Elastomers K1 Elastómeros K1 Foams K1 Espumas K1 Mechanical properties K1 Propiedades mecánicas K1 Rheology K1 Reología AB The impact resistance of injection-molded polypropylene (PP) parts is severely reduced when they are foamed. It is necessary to implement strategies, such as elastomer toughening, to increase the impact behavior of foamed parts. However, the knowledge on the effect of elastomer addition on the morphology, cellular structure, and impact of injection-molded cellular parts is very limited. In this work, foamed parts based on blends of PP and polyolefin elastomers have been produced and characterized. A high and a low viscosity octene-ethylene copolymer (EOC) and a high viscosity butene-ethylene copolymer (EBC) were employed. The blends have been thermally and rheological characterized. Solids materials and foams (relative density 0.76) were injection-molded. The solid phase and cellular structure morphologies were studied using scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that elastomer toughening has been successful to obtain an improvement of the impact behavior in solid and cellular polymers. In this case, EOC materials provide an appropriate interfacial adhesion and optimized cellular structure which results in high impact resistance. The optimum elastomer to improve the properties is the EOC with a higher viscosity which provides impact resistance with n values below 3 due to the toughening of polymer matrix, thick skin thickness, and low cell size. PB Wiley SN 1097-4628 YR 2021 FD 2021 LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/49210 UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/49210 LA eng NO Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2021, vol. 138, n. 2, 50425 NO Producción Científica DS UVaDOC RD 23-nov-2024