Abstract: β-form containing polypropylene was prepared using a liquid crystal monoacrylate monomer (RLC) as a nucleating agent. Polarized light microscope was adopted to study the nucleation process, crystallization behavior, and spherulites morphology of the polypropylene. The crystal structure was also investigated by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). When the mass fraction of RLC was 0.5 wt % and the crystallization temperature was 110 ℃. Compared with α-form, β-form was thermodynamically metastable and could be affected by the temperature fluctuation. The metalstable β-form could transform into αcrystal form, while a higher heating rate would inhibit this transformation.

Key words: isotactic polypropylene, β-polymorph, liquid crystal nucleating agent, blending modification