Influence of nucleation and growth mechanisms on the heat deflection temperature of a reactively processed polypropylene nanocomposite

Bandyopadhyay, JayitaMekoa, Raphaahle CMakwakwa, Dimakatso MSkosana, SifisoRay, Suprakas S2021-06-232021-06-232021-02Bandyopadhyay, J., Mekoa, R.C., Makwakwa, D.M., Skosana, S. & Ray, S.S. 2021. Influence of nucleation and growth mechanisms on the heat deflection temperature of a reactively processed polypropylene nanocomposite. Polymer Engineering and Science, 61(4). http://hdl.handle.net/10204/120280032-38881548-2634https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.25666http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12028The development of a reactively processed polypropylene nanocomposite (PPNC) with consequential improvements in the heat deflection temperature (HDT), Vicat softening temperature (VST), and crystallization peak temperature (Tc) is reported herein. Neat PP without nanoclay was also reactively processed to elucidate the effects of fillers on the improvement in physical properties. The results show a considerable improvement in the HDT of PPNC (77.9 °C) compared to those of neat PP (62.6 °C) and reactively processed branched PP (BPP; 69.2 °C). Moreover, the Tc of PP in PPNC improved by ~14% compared to that of neat PP. Various models of nonisothermal crystallization kinetics were employed to elucidate the nucleation and crystal growth mechanisms, and to correlate them with the observed HDT improvement in PPNC. Thermal transitions investigated by modulated differential scanning calorimetry explained the changes observed in the VSTs of all the samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on a significant improvement in HDT along with a marked increase in Tc. Such simultaneous improvements in HDT, VST, and Tc are highly desirable for applications involving the use of PP-based materials in rigid packaging.AbstractenCrystallizationHeat deflection temperaturePP nanocompositeReactive processingThermal propertiesInfluence of nucleation and growth mechanisms on the heat deflection temperature of a reactively processed polypropylene nanocompositeArticleBandyopadhyay, J., Mekoa, R. C., Makwakwa, D. M., Skosana, S., & Ray, S. S. (2021). Influence of nucleation and growth mechanisms on the heat deflection temperature of a reactively processed polypropylene nanocomposite. Polymer Engineering and Science, 61(4), http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12028Bandyopadhyay, Jayita, Raphaahle C Mekoa, Dimakatso M Makwakwa, Sifiso Skosana, and Suprakas S Ray "Influence of nucleation and growth mechanisms on the heat deflection temperature of a reactively processed polypropylene nanocomposite." Polymer Engineering and Science, 61(4) (2021) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12028Bandyopadhyay J, Mekoa RC, Makwakwa DM, Skosana S, Ray SS. Influence of nucleation and growth mechanisms on the heat deflection temperature of a reactively processed polypropylene nanocomposite. Polymer Engineering and Science, 61(4). 2021; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12028.TY - Article AU - Bandyopadhyay, Jayita AU - Mekoa, Raphaahle C AU - Makwakwa, Dimakatso M AU - Skosana, Sifiso AU - Ray, Suprakas S AB - The development of a reactively processed polypropylene nanocomposite (PPNC) with consequential improvements in the heat deflection temperature (HDT), Vicat softening temperature (VST), and crystallization peak temperature (Tc) is reported herein. Neat PP without nanoclay was also reactively processed to elucidate the effects of fillers on the improvement in physical properties. The results show a considerable improvement in the HDT of PPNC (77.9 °C) compared to those of neat PP (62.6 °C) and reactively processed branched PP (BPP; 69.2 °C). Moreover, the Tc of PP in PPNC improved by ~14% compared to that of neat PP. Various models of nonisothermal crystallization kinetics were employed to elucidate the nucleation and crystal growth mechanisms, and to correlate them with the observed HDT improvement in PPNC. Thermal transitions investigated by modulated differential scanning calorimetry explained the changes observed in the VSTs of all the samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on a significant improvement in HDT along with a marked increase in Tc. Such simultaneous improvements in HDT, VST, and Tc are highly desirable for applications involving the use of PP-based materials in rigid packaging. DA - 2021-02 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR J1 - Polymer Engineering and Science, 61(4) KW - Crystallization KW - Heat deflection temperature KW - PP nanocomposite KW - Reactive processing KW - Thermal properties LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2021 SM - 0032-3888 SM - 1548-2634 T1 - Influence of nucleation and growth mechanisms on the heat deflection temperature of a reactively processed polypropylene nanocomposite TI - Influence of nucleation and growth mechanisms on the heat deflection temperature of a reactively processed polypropylene nanocomposite UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12028 ER -24595