Properties of polypropylene single-polymer composites produced by the undercooling melt film stacking method

Abstract Polypropylene (PP) single-polymer composites (SPCs) were produced by the undercooling melt film stacking method within a large usable processing temperature window from 125 to 150 °C. Samples with good stiffness and strength could be made using 145 ± 5 °C. The undercooling compaction temperatures were all lower than the hot compaction temperatures in traditional processing. Tensile and peel tests were carried out. The effects of compaction temperature, holding time and compaction pressure on mechanical properties of the PP SPCs were investigated. The compaction temperature is the main factor in influencing the properties of the PP SPCs. At different compaction temperature, both holding time and compaction pressure have different influences. Especially, the holding time at undercooling temperature showed different effects compared with the traditional SPCs processing. The morphological properties of the PP SPCs were also examined, good interfacial adhesion were shown.