Effect of a sorbitol nucleating agent on fractionated crystallization of polypropylene droplets
Abstract
Abstract The effect of a sorbitol nucleating agent on crystallization of polypropylene (PP) in droplets was studied. Layer‐multiplying coextrusion was used to fabricate assemblies of 257 layers, in which PP nanolayers alternated with thicker polystyrene (PS) layers. The concentration of a commercial nucleating agent, Millad 3988 (MD) in the layers was varied up to 2 wt %. When the assembly was heated into the melt, interfacial driven breakup of the 12 nm PP layers produced a dispersion of submicron PP particles in a PS matrix. Analysis of optical microscope images and atomic force microscope images indicated that the particle size was not affected by the presence of MD. The crystallization behavior of the particle dispersion was characterized by thermal analysis. In the absence of a nucleating agent, the submicron particles crystallized almost exclusively by homogeneous nucleation at about 40 °C. Addition of a nucleating agent to the PP layers offered a unique opportunity to study the nature of heterogeneous nucleation. Nucleation by MD resulted in fractionated crystallization of the submicron PP particles. The concentration dependence of the multiple crystallization exotherms was interpreted in terms of the binary polypropylene‐sorbitol phase diagram. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1788–1797, 2007
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The origin of fractionated crystallization is the lack of efficient nuclei.
“The origin of fractionated crystallization is ascribed to the lack of efficient nuclei, and this hypothesis can also be verified by the addition of nucleating agents.[ 8 , 13 , 32 , 46 , 4 8 , 4 9 ]”
From Fractionated crystallization in semicrystalline polymers (2021) · cites this paper as [46]
With increasing DMBS concentration from 0 to 0.5%, the enthalpy of the homogeneous nucleation exotherm centered at 40 °C decreased, while the enthalpy of the 60 °C peak increased due to the presence of nucleant in the iPP droplets.
“It can be seen that with increasing the concentration of DMBS from 0 to 0.5 %, the enthalpy of homogeneous nucleation exotherm centered at 40 °C decreased, while on the opposite the enthalpy of 60 °C peak increased due to the presence of the nucleant in the iPP droplets.”
From Fractionated crystallization in semicrystalline polymers (2021) · cites this paper as [46]
In iPP nanolayers after thermal breakup and droplet formation, crystallization of iPP shifted to much larger undercoolings at around 40 °C (homogeneous nucleation) and 60 °C.
“In iPP nanolayers, after the thermal breakup and formation of droplets, the crystallization of iPP shifted to much larger undercoolings at around 40 °C (homogeneous nucleation) and 60 °C, as shown in Fig. 34 A (see also section 2.2 ).”
From Fractionated crystallization in semicrystalline polymers (2021) · cites this paper as [46]
Addition of nucleating agents can verify the hypothesis that fractionated crystallization originates from a lack of efficient nuclei.
“The origin of fractionated crystallization is ascribed to the lack of efficient nuclei, and this hypothesis can also be verified by the addition of nucleating agents.[ 8 , 13 , 32 , 46 , 4 8 , 4 9 ]”
From Fractionated crystallization in semicrystalline polymers (2021) · cites this paper as [46]
The selected non-isothermal crystallization temperatures of iPP in isolated polymer domains are ascribed to the homogeneous nucleation mechanism.
“The selected temperatures are ascribed to the homogeneous nucleation mechanism.”
From Fractionated crystallization in semicrystalline polymers (2021) · cites this paper as [46]
With further increase of DMBS concentration, a new crystallization peak appeared and shifted to higher temperatures with concentration, attributed to an increased number of DMBS particles in each droplet augmenting the possibility of nucleation.
“Moreover, with further increase of DMBS concentration, a new crystallization peak appeared and shifted to higher temperatures with the concentration of nucleating agent.This behavior is attributed to an increased number of DMBS particles in each droplet, which augments the possibility of nucleation.”
From Fractionated crystallization in semicrystalline polymers (2021) · cites this paper as [46]
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- Authors
- Jin, Y., Hiltner, A., & Baer, E.
- Affiliations
- Case Western Reserve University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hiltner, A.
- Venue
- Journal of Polymer Science Part B Polymer Physics
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-06-05
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 14
- Pages
- 1788-1797
- ISSN
- 0887-6266 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-0488
- OpenAlex
- W2138487261
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 1.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Polymer Science Part B Polymer Physics (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Crystallization and Solubility Studies
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › nanoparticles nucleation surface interactions
- Keywords
- polypropylene, fractional crystallization, heterogeneous nucleation, homogeneous nucleation, submicron particles, polystyrene matrix, particle size
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