Mechanical Properties, Morphology, Thermal Performance, Crystallization Behavior, and Kinetics of PP/Microcrystal Cellulose Composites Compatibilized by Two Different Compatibilizers

Polypropylene (PP)/microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) composites and PP/MCC composites modified by maleic anhydride grafted PP (PP-g-MA) and methyl acrylic acid glycidyl ester grafted PP (PP-g-GMA) respectively were prepared in a twin-screw extruder. The mechanical properties, morphology, and thermal performance were investigated. The nonisothermal crystallization, melting behavior, and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics were investigated by DSC. The results indicated that the addition of MCC had led to the increase of the tensile strength, impact strength, and flexural strength of PP. PP-g-GMA modification was more conducive to the improvement in tensile strength, impact strength, and flexural strength. The three types of PP/MCC composites have higher thermal decomposition temperatures, Vicat softening temperatures, and dimensional stability. Nonisothermal crystallizations of PP/MCC composites were in accordance with tridimensional growth with heterogeneous nucleation. Meanwhile, MCC was acted as the nucleating agent in PP matrix, which increased the crystallization temperature. PP-g-GMA further increased the crystallization temperature while PP-g-MA weakened the heterogeneous nucleation effect of MCC. Avrami equation and Mo method give a satisfactory description of the crystallization kinetics process. The activation energy of crystallization, nucleation constant, and fold surface free energy of PP were markedly reduced in PP/MCC composites and its compatibilized composites. The value of F(T) systematically increased with increasing relative degree of crystallinity. The addition of microcrystalline cellulose has greatly reduced the spherulitic size of PP.