To regulate the crystallization of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) retarded by melt blending with polycarbonate (PC), the crystallization of the PTT/PC blend was investigated employing nano-montmorillonite (MMT) as a crystallization promoter with PTT as the continuous phase. The results showed that MMT exhibits a significant promoting effect on PTT crystallization; the presence of 1 wt. % MMT shifts the initial and peak crystallization temperatures of the 70/30 PTT/PC blend to ~17 °C and ~32 °C, respectively. Additionally, the full width at half maximum (FWHM) narrows by ~45%, and the ΔHc increases by 3.7 J.g−1. The accelerating effect of MMT is determined by its distribution and dispersion which depends on the shear intensity, mixing mode, and loading. MMT is easier to exfoliate via the two-step method than by the one-step method. The distribution in the PTT phase is enriched along the phase interface forming an MMT layer. This endows sections of the PTT with abundant nuclei and thus crystallization is promoted markedly compared with the one-step method. Moreover, the finer MMT migrates more readily to the interface to cause a much smoother phase interface. However, a secondary crystallization peak appears when the shear force is not sufficient enough to make MMT finely dispersed, in case of the two-step method and the MMT content is increased to 3 wt. %. The mixing temperature shows little effect on the acceleration of MMT on the crystallization of PTT/PC compared with the shear force. Only when MMT did not exfoliate or uncomplete did the presence of epoxy resin help to promote crystallization because of the improved MMT dispersion.
To reduce the crystallization rate of polyoxymethylene (POM) to meet the requirement of thick‐walled and large‐sized articles production, and maintain high crystallinity as well as obtain refined crystalline grains to ensure the strength and stiffness simultaneously, thermoplastic phenolic resin (PF) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used as crystal growth inhibitor and nucleating agent, respectively, and their effects on the crystallization of POM were studied in details. The results showed that PF is an effective inhibitor and MWCNTs exhibits excellent nucleation effect on POM. Based on the obtained results, their synergistic influences on the crystallization process of POM were investigated. It is found that the objective of decreasing the crystallization rate while maintaining high crystallinity and forming fine crystalline grains can be realized. The 97/3/1 wt% POM/PF/MWCNTs, compared with those of neat POM, The T
c shifts by 3.3°C to a lower temperature, the crystallization enthalpy increases by 16.1 J/g and the full width at half‐maximum widens by 48.5%. The modulation effect of PF and MWCNTs on the crystallization is closely related to the PF content and dispersion, the distribution and dispersion of MWCNTs in the PF and POM phases.
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