Tiger stripe of injection molding of polypropylene (PP)/elastomer/talc blends was analyzed in terms of the morphology of the dispersed phase comprising elastomer components by using gloss and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the contribution of the polymer design of PP, i.e., industrial block-type grade consisting of a homo-PP portion as the matrix and an ethylene propylene random copolymer portion as the domain is discussed. Local gloss measurement of the injected specimen along with the flow direction of the molten blends indicates a periodic fluctuation repeating higher and lower degrees of gloss, corresponding to the period of glossy and cloudy portions of the tiger stripe, respectively. These local gloss degrees are highly dependent on the morphologies of the dispersed phases near the surface layer of the injected specimen. The gloss increases when the ratio long axis (L) and diameter (D), L/D, of the dispersed phase are increased, and the gloss decreases when the L/D is decreased. Increasing the intrinsic viscosity of the ethylene-propylene rubber portion of the PP is an effective design factor for restricting the deformation against shear strain during injection process by giving the dispersed phases high elasticity.

Unique deterioration with a periodical striped pattern on the injection moldings of polypropylene/rubber blends is reported. After exposure to ultraviolet irradiation with a sunshine fade meter, striped patterns appeared on the injection moldings along the flow direction of the molten resin during the filling process of injection molding, even though the initial specimen showed no sign of any stripe pattern on its surface. The stripe was carefully observed with ultrasonic echo imaging, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. As a result, a number of microvoids were observed inside the injected body at a depth of 50-100 mm from the surface. It became clear that the difference in the number of voids along the flow direction formed the stripe pattern. Surprisingly, these voids occurred in domains comprising a rubber phase. The distribution of voids in depth indicated the existence of a trace of a snakelike flow caused inside the injected body during the injection-molding process.

Unique deterioration with a striped pattern caused by thermal heating is reported for injection molding comprising polypropylene/ethylene–α‐olefin rubber blends. This stripe is due to the formation of glossy and cloudy parts in alternation approximately perpendicular to the flow direction of the molten resin. On the surface of the cloudy part, a number of micro‐objects appear. They have a dome shape about 10 μm in diameter and 2 μm height. Some experimental evidence indicates that the objects are composed of the rubber contained in the blends. On the other hand, only a few objects appear in the glossy region after heating. This is the reason that the stripe with the micro‐objects (migrating rubber to the surface) is examined in terms of a higher order structure of injection molding with laser scanning microscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, and microhardness (Martens hardness). Consequently, we have concluded that this thermally deteriorated stripe depends on periodic changes in the crystallinity along the flow direction. The evidence indicates that a snakelike flow occurs during the injection process of the molding. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008

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