polymerjournals Chemistry, materials, technology
Polymers and Polymer Composites

NUCLEATION EFFECT OF THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMER ON THE CRYSTALLIZATION OF POLY(epsilon-CAPROLACTONE)

February 1, 2010 By: Defeng Wu; Yisheng Zhang; Ming Zhang; Minge Gao Research article

Title: NUCLEATION EFFECT OF THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMER ON THE CRYSTALLIZATION OF POLY(epsilon-CAPROLACTONE)
Page Range: p.91-101
Author(s): Defeng Wu; Yisheng Zhang; Ming Zhang; Minge Gao
File size: 413K
Download the pdf (subscribers only)
Buy the pdf (non-subscribers)
Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 18
Issue No: No.2

Abstract
A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP, an ethylene terephthalate-hydroxybenzoic acid copolymer) was used as a nucleating agent to improve the crystallisation of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL). The PCL/TLCP blend with the maximum TLCP content of 10 wt % was prepared by melt mixing. The non-isothermal crystallisation behaviour of the PCL matrix was studied using DSC and polarised optical microscopy, and the crystallisation kinetics were then further analysed by methods including the Avrami, Ozawa, Mo, Ziabicki, Lauritzen-Hoffman and Kissinger models. The results showed that the presence of the solid TLCP particles could enhance crystallisation temperature of the PCL matrix even at very low content (1 wt %). Although the mobility of the PCL chain segments decreased with increasing TLCP content, heterogeneous nucleation by TLCP particles always played a dominant role in the overall crystallisation. The blends therefore showed higher crystallisation rates and ability than those of pure PCL. The kinetic analysis and the data obtained in this study could be useful to optimise the processing conditions and to improve the crystallisation of PCL. 53 refs.

Related reading

More journal reading and science coverage connected to this topic.