Investigating the Effect of Nanoclay Loadings and Re-Processing on the Melting and Crystallization Behavior of PP/Clay Nanocomposites

Abstract:

In this study, PP/clay nanocomposites have been fabricated at different nanoclay loadings, i.e. 0, 5, 10, and 5 wt% for the 1^st cycle and 2^nd cycle (re-processing). The prepared nanocomposites were then characterized by a Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to investigate the effects of nanoclay loadings and re-processing on the melting and crystallization of the nanocomposites. The DSC results showed that the melting temperature, T_m was not significantly affected by the nanoclay loadings and re-processing. In the other hand, the degree of crystallinity, X_c of the nanocomposites was higher than that of neat PP, but only reached a maximum at nanoclay loading of 5 wt% (i.e. 51.2% for NC-5-I and 48.3% for NC-5-II). Thereafter, the X_c decreased at higher nanoclay loadings. There was no significant difference in X_c between 1^st cycle and 2^nd cycle. Additionally, in all nanocomposites samples for both cycles, there were two crystallization temperatures, i.e. Tc₁ and Tc₂. In the overall crystallization process, the T_c of nanocomposites increased by 11-12°C compared to that of neat PP. Whereas, the onset crystallization temperature, T_oc also increased by approx. 13°C. Apparently, there was no significant effect of nanoclay loadings and re-processing on the T_c nd T_oc of the nanocomposites.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 951)
• Pages: 21-25
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.951.21
• Online since: April 2019
• Authors: Achmad Chafidz*, Sholeh Ma'mun, Haryanto Haryanto, Wara Dyah Pita Rengga, Prima A. Handayani, Lucky Setyaningsih
• Keywords: Crystallization, Melt Compounding, Melting, Nanoclay, Nanocomposites, Polypropylene

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