화학공학소재연구정보센터
Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.47, No.11, 1889-1897, 2007
The effect of nanoclays on the nucleation, crystallization, and melting mechanisms of isotactic polypropylene
The influence of organomodified nanoclay (montmorillonite) on the crystallization and melting mechanisms of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was studied. Films of both neat polymer and clay nanocomposites were prepared after molecular weight optimization through melt extrusion. Products exhibited the tactoidlike morphology since no compatibilizers were used. The effect of introduction of nanoclay within the polymer was studied through isothermal crystallization and linear heating. The results indicated that low nanoclay concentrations induce the formation of the beta-crystalline structure, its formation being inhibited with high nanoclay contents. Dynamic nonisothermal bulk crystallization experiments indicated that nanoclays act as nucleating agents of iPP. Isothermal, bulk crystallization studies indicated that the crystallization process (induction time and crystallization kinetics) is proportionally accelerated by the nanoclay presence. There was also an accelerated formation of secondary crystallization when nanoclays were present in high concentrations.