Effects of poly(propylene carbonate) additive prepared from carbon dioxide on the tensile properties of polypropylene

We investigated the effect of a rubbery poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) additive on the tensile properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP). PPC materials were produced from carbon dioxide gas. Although the elongation of iPP was reduced at higher elongation speeds, PPC addition improved the elongation at break at higher elongation speeds. iPP/PPC blends showed a high drawability while maintaining a high stress level. The failure mechanisms at high elongation speeds were different between the iPP and iPP/PPC samples. Craze‐like voids appeared along the stretching direction for pure iPP, whereas the PPC additive yielded craze‐like voids that were perpendicular to the stretching direction. The addition of PPC doped with carbon nanodots enhanced the yield toughness of iPP at high elongation speeds. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45266.