Preparation of PP/PC light‐diffusing materials with UV‐shielding property

Abstract In this study, we presented a one‐step melt‐blending method to fabricate polypropylene (PP)/polycarbonate (PC) light‐diffusing materials. A promising balance between haze and transmittance was obtained by the addition of small amount of PC to the matrix. On the basis of Mie scattering theory and morphology analysis, the correlation between processing conditions and light‐diffusing properties was built. Low rotor speed and high viscosity ratio were beneficial to optical properties of PP/PC composites. To extend the advanced application, two general anti‐ultraviolet additives nanoscale titanium dioxide (Nano‐TiO₂) and 2‐(2‐hydroxy‐5‐methylphenyl) benzotriazole (UV‐P) were added to impart UV‐shielding property to the composites. Their specific influences on the morphology and comprehensive properties of PP/PC composites were studied. It was found that the introduction of Rayleigh scattering raised by Nano‐TiO₂ could strengthen the scattering effect and cause a significant reduction in light transmittance, while UV‐P had little effect on the optical properties of the light‐diffusing composites. In summary, this study prepared the PP/PC composites with high‐performance light scattering and UV‐shielding properties applying a facile blending method, which showed a potential application in flexible lightings and LCD displays.