Toward understanding the crystallization behavior of polypropylene-based nanocomposites: Effect of ethylene-octene copolymer and nanoclay localization

The crystallization properties of polypropylene (PP), a widely used polymer in industry, can be modified to overcome its mechanical limitations. In the current work, we investigated the effect of ethylene octene copolymer (EOC), blend morphology, nanoclay loading, nano-localization, and component ratios on PP/EOC crystallization behavior in various aspects, including crystallization rate, degree of crystallinity, nucleation state, and crystalline phases. The results revealed that adding EOC with varying ratios can decrease PP crystallinity both in degree and rate due to the partial miscibility of components through grafting. Furthermore, it was found that the effect of the nanoclay on the crystallization behavior of PP is dependent on the nanoclay loading and its localization in the blend. The nanoclay, therefore, served as a nucleation agent at low nanoparticle contents, accelerating the crystallization rate regardless of the blend's microstructure. However, the crystallization rate of the blend samples at high nanoclay contents (above the rheological percolation threshold) was strongly influenced by the type of morphology. Accordingly, high nanoclay concentrations in blends with matrix-dispersed morphologies reduced crystallization rates (increasing half-time from 164 to 216 and 186 s), primarily because PP chains slowed down due to their interactions with nanoparticles and nanoclay hindrance. In contrast, in a blend with a co-continues-type morphology, the crystallization rates increased (decreasing half-time from 624 to 270 and 236 s) due to nano-localization at the interface and morphology transformation to the matrix-dispersed one. The blends and nanocomposites based on PP/EOC were also investigated to determine the relationship between the crystallization behavior and mechanical properties.

Automated summary

The crystallization properties of polypropylene (PP) can be modified by adding ethylene octene copolymer (EOC) and nanoclay. The presence of EOC decreases the crystallinity and crystallization rate of PP due to partial miscibility. The effect of nanoclay on PP crystallization depends on its loading and distribution, serving as a nucleation agent at lower contents but hindering crystallization at higher contents.