Effects of nucleating agents on preparation of polypropylene hollow fiber membranes by melt spinning process

Microporous polypropylene hollow fiber membrane was fabricated from isotactic polypropylenesoybean oil system by melt spinning process. Addition of nucleating agent accelerated the crystallization rate and elevated the crystallization temperature. Nucleating agent increased the number of nuclei and spherulites, which offered more inter-spherulitic amorphous sites for stretching. Benzoic acid, adipic acid, and dibenzylidene sorbitol were selected as nucleating agents, and their characteristics and effects were investigated by thermal and optical analyses. Spherulite growth and micropore formation characteristics were correlated with the kind of nucleating agent. Benzoic acid and adipic acid showed the remarkable nucleating effect, while dibenzylidene sorbitol was less effective than those. Nucleating agents also helped the sample have uniform microporous structure. Increase of nucleating agent composition enhanced the nucleation effect to some extent. Nucleating agents played very important roles in enhancing the membrane porosity and water flux.