Isothermal Melt Crystallization Kinetics of PP/organoclay Blends

Abstract

Abstract. Polystyrene (PP)/organoclay (OMMT) blends were prepared by co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The effects of OMMT on isothermal crystallization behaviors of blends was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Using Avrami equation analysis the crystallization kinetics of materials. The analysis result shows that the OMMT act as effective nucleating agents, accelerating the crystallization of PP, then lead the rate of crystallization increased. Avrami exponent n is between 2.04~3.57, which indicating that PP/OMMT blends crystallization process might correspond to a two-dimensional or three-dimensional growth process. The activation enerigies for isotheraml crystallization were determined by the Arrhenius equation.