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A new crystallization process in polypropylene highly filled with calcium carbonate

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Abstract

The influence of high amounts of calcium carbonate filler on the crystallization behavior of polypropylene (PP) is investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fast scanning DSC measurements. The non-isothermal crystallization process at industrially relevant cooling rates of about 100 K/s is significantly influenced by the calcium carbonate filler. Isothermal crystallization measurements indicate a new crystallization process in the temperature range between 45 and 80 °C caused by the filler content. To find an explanation for the origin of this process, we have analyzed the interaction between polymer and filler, the crystalline structure, and the crystallization kinetics. From the experimental results, we conclude that the newly observed crystallization process is governed by an additional nucleation process for the growth of α-phase crystals.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Regina Strässle (KATZ, Aarau) for providing the samples and Michael Knerr (Omya International AG, Oftringen, Switzerland) for helpful discussion. The work of P.A. Vermeulen was in part supported by the EU through the Erasmus Lifelong Learning Programme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. METTLER TOLEDO AG, Sonnenbergstrasse 74, CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland

    Jürgen E. K. Schawe & Paul A. Vermeulen

  2. Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Paul A. Vermeulen

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Technology Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Martin van Drongelen

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  1. Jürgen E. K. Schawe
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Correspondence to Jürgen E. K. Schawe.

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Schawe, J.E.K., Vermeulen, P.A. & van Drongelen, M. A new crystallization process in polypropylene highly filled with calcium carbonate. Colloid Polym Sci 293, 1607–1614 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-015-3571-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-015-3571-2

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