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Dr. Ioannis G. Economou, Dr. Nikolaos P. Kopsias, Dr. Nikolas Zacharopoulos
The macroscopic properties of a polymeric product depend, to a large extent, on the processing conditions that affect the structure of the polymer in the microscopic level. In this project, the processing conditions of semi-crystalline polypropylene (PP) are optimized in order to improve the mechanical properties of the end product which is a net for agricultural applications. Structural (such as extent of crystallinity, size and shape of spherulites etc.), mechanical (Young modulus, elongation at fracture etc.) and other properties (such as melt flow index) of PP samples taken before and after the different stages of processing are measured using several experimental techniques (GPC, DSC etc.). Furthermore, the semi-crystalline PP is simulated using a mesoscopic model that describes polymer chains in the Kuhn statistical segment level. This model has been used previously for the simulation of crystalline polyethylene. It is expected that the combination of experimental measurements with mesoscopic simulation will help in the development of optimum processing conditions for the improvement of the mechanical properties of the polymer. |
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