Preparation of Isotactic Polypropylene/Polydimethylsiloxane Composite by in situ Polymerization of Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

Blends of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are usually immiscible and have phase-separated morphology. In this study, the composite comprising iPP and PDMS with a hydrophobic surface was developed. This composite was obtained by a synthetic method using supercritical carbon dioxide. Results of attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that PDMS was formed within the iPP substrate. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements showed that iPP and PDMS were blended at the nanometer level. Water dynamic contact angle (DCA) measurement revealed that the hydrophobicity of iPP had been improved by incorporating PDMS.