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Different crystallization mechanisms in polypropylene–nanoclay nanocomposite with different weight percentage of nanoclay additives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 March 2012

Raghavendra R. Hegde ,
Joseph E. Spruiell  and
Gajanan S. Bhat
Raghavendra R. Hegde
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2200
Joseph E. Spruiell
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2200
Gajanan S. Bhat*
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2200
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: gbhat@utk.edu
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Abstract

Polypropylene–clay (Cloisite Na+) composites with clay contents in weight percentage (wt%) ranging from 1 to 15% were characterized for crystallization mechanism and kinetics. Combination of differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and polarized light microscopy was used to investigate the crystallization behavior. Different crystallization mechanisms were observed in the matrix with 1–5 wt% nanoclay compared to the matrix with 10 and 15 wt% of nanoclay additive. TEM micrographs revealed intercalated and flocculated morphology for all the concentrates. At lower wt%, well-dispersed clay platelets acted as antinucleating agent and reduced polymer chain mobility. At high wt%, nucleation rate overcomes the slow diffusion rate. In the case of samples with higher wt% of nanoclay additives, segregation and precipitation of clay was observed in the interspherulite region. On the basis of crystallization kinetics and morphology results, a schematic model of the nanocomposite formation is proposed.

Keywords

MorphologyCrystal growthKinetics
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 27 , Issue 10: Focus Issue: Crystallization Processes in Polymer-Based Materials , 28 May 2012 , pp. 1360 - 1371
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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