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Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene/polytetrafluoroethylene fibrillated composites

  • Polymers & biopolymers
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Abstract

Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene (PP)/polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibrillated composites is presented. In-situ fibrillated PP/PTFE-composites containing 1 and 3 wt% PTFE were prepared by melt compounding using a twin-screw extruder. The morphology and non-isothermal crystallization behavior of the composites were examined using scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. The Mo equation was used to analyze the kinetics of non-isothermal crystallization behavior. The PTFE created a three-dimensional (3-D) network. A low PTFE content promoted crystallization through fast nucleation, whereas a high PTFE content decreased the crystallization kinetics through hindering the crystal growth. These findings are all based on the Mo equation analysis. The activation energy and nucleation activity were also evaluated, and the way in which the PTFE nanofibers affected the crystallization was discussed in detail. Polarized optical microscopy images revealed that the size of PP spherulites decreased with the increase of PTFE content. Finally, the effect of PTFE on the crystalline phase of PP was investigated by wide angle X-ray diffraction.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are also grateful for the China Scholarship Council (201607040007), the donations of PP and PTFE received from the Braskem Co. Ltd. (U.S.A.) and from the Mitsubishi Rayon Company (Japan), respectively.

Funding

This work was funded by the National Natural Science fund of China (grant number U1909219), Scientific and Technological Research Project of Henan Province (grand number 202102210028), 111 Project of Henan Province and the National Natural Science fund of China (grant number 51775001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, People’s Republic of China

    Yuhui Qiao, Shiwei Wang, Jianhua Hou & Qian Li

  2. National Center for International Research of Micro-Nano Molding Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, People’s Republic of China

    Yuhui Qiao, Shiwei Wang, Yongchao Jiang, Jianhua Hou, Jing Jiang & Qian Li

  3. Microcellular Plastics Manufacturing Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3G8, Canada

    Yuhui Qiao, Amirjalal Jalali, Jinian Yang, Yuguang Chen & Chul B. Park

  4. School of Materials and Engineering, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232001, People’s Republic of China

    Jinian Yang

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  1. Yuhui Qiao
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  2. Amirjalal Jalali
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Correspondence to Qian Li or Chul B. Park.

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Qiao, Y., Jalali, A., Yang, J. et al. Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene/polytetrafluoroethylene fibrillated composites. J Mater Sci 56, 3562–3575 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-05328-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-05328-5

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