Impact of Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers on the Nonisothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer

Crystallization kinetics and morphology of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) were investigated in the presence of bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BCNs). Nano composite samples were fabricated via solution casting method. The neat EVA and EVA/BCN nanocomposites present the same crystal structure via X-ray diffraction. Various kinetic algorithms were examined to compute the kinetics parameters of crystallization. Calorimetric characterization of the nonisothermal crystallization investigated by the Jeziomy and Mo methods provides evidence of the impact of the BCNs on crystallization kinetics. Results displayed that the rate of crystallization is slightly faster for the nanocomposite having 3 wt % of BCNs at a specified cooling rate. It was confirmed that the value of the effective energy barrier for EVA/BCN (3 wt %) is smaller than that of the pure EVA. According to the measurements, it was concluded that the Jeziomy, Mo, and FWO models could successfully describe the crystallization kinetics of EVA/BCN nano-composites.