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Effects of β-nucleating agent and graphene oxide on the crystallization and polymorphic composition of isotactic polypropylene / graphene oxide composites for bridge pavement

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Abstract

To control the polymorphic and crystallization behavior of β-nucleated isotactic polypropylene / graphene oxide (β-iPP/GO) composites for bridge pavement, the roles of β-nucleating agent (β-NA) concentration and GO content in the polymorphic crystallization behavior, morphology and crystallization kinetics were studied by means of differential scanning calorimentry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Results revealed that with the increase of β-NA concentration, the crystallization temperature, the percentage of β-phase βc and relative degree of crystallinity Xc increased evidently. Moreover, the crystallite sizes decreased, and the crystallization activation energy △E decreased, reflecting the strong nucleation effect of the β-NA to the composites; On the other hand, as the GO content increased, the crystallization temperatures and relative degree of crystallinity Xc also increased slightly. Interestingly, GO exhibited strong α-nucleation effect, which was not favorable for formation of β-phase. When the GO content was 2.0 wt%, unusual small banding patterned crystals were observed. In general, to control the polymorphic behavior and morphology of the β-iPP/GO composites, both β-NA concentration and GO content were very important factors.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51702282), and the Key industry technology innovation projects of Chongqing (CSTC2017zdcy-zdyf0297) for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing, 400074, China

    Yang Bo & He Zhaoyi

  2. Chongqing Zhixiang Paving Technology Engineering Co., Ltd., Chongqing, 401336, China

    Yang Bo, Li Lu, Sheng Xingyue & Hao Zengheng

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  1. Yang Bo
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  2. He Zhaoyi
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Correspondence to He Zhaoyi or Li Lu.

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Bo, Y., Zhaoyi, H., Lu, L. et al. Effects of β-nucleating agent and graphene oxide on the crystallization and polymorphic composition of isotactic polypropylene / graphene oxide composites for bridge pavement. J Polym Res 26, 9 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-018-1622-3

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