Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) nanocomposites were prepared through a solution casting method using Multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) as nanoparticles and their morphological and thermal properties investigated. The X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy measurements showed that decreasing the ratio of MWCNT to OMMT for the same amount of OMMT creates better conditions for intercalation of PET macromolecules and promotes the transformation of OMMT nanostructures from the intercalated to exfoliated state. It was concluded that the Ozawa’s model was not suitable to interpret the crystallization behavior of the nanocomposites. Based on Liu’s model, it was found that the sample containing the lower ratio of MWCNT to OMMT had the highest crystallization rate. Investigation of activation energy and nucleation activity using Vyazovkin’s and Dobreva’s models revealed that the sample having the smallest ratio of MWCNT to OMMT had the lowest energy absorption and highest nucleation activity.
SahooNGRanaSChoJW. Polymer nanocomposites based on functionalized carbon nanotubes. Prog Poly Sci2010; 35: 837–867.
2.
KiliarisPPapaspyridesCD. Polymer/layered silicate (clay) nanocomposites: An overview of flame retardancy. Prog Polym Sci2010; 35: 902–958.
3.
GoodarziVMonemianSAMalekiF. In situ radical copolymerization in presence of surface-modified TiO2 nanoparticles: influence of a double modification on properties of unsaturated polyester (UP) nanocomposites. J Macromol Sci Phys2008; 47: 472–484.
IijimaS. Helical microtubules of graphitic carbon. Nature1991; 354: 56–58.
6.
SchartelBPötschkePKnollU. Fire behaviour of polyamide 6/multiwall carbon nanotube nanocomposites. Eur Polym J2005; 41: 1061–1070.
7.
RamaratnamAJaliliN. Reinforcement of piezoelectric polymers with carbon nanotubes: pathway to next-generation sensors. J Intell Mater Syst Struct2006; 17: 199–208.
DeshmukhSOunaiesZ. Single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)-polyimide nanocomposites as electrostrictive materials. Sens Actuat Part A Phys2009; 155: 246–252.
10.
WuDWuLSunY. Rheological properties and crystallization behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotube/poly (e-caprolactone) composites. J Polym Sci Part B Polym Phys2007; 453: 137–147.
11.
KashiwagiTGrulkeEHildingJ. Thermal and flammability properties of polypropylene/carbon nanotube nanocomposites. Polymer2004; 45: 4227–4239.
12.
AjayanPStephanOColliexC. Aligned carbon nanotube arrays formed by cutting a polymer resin–nanotube composite. Science1994; 265: 1212–1214.
ZhaoYQiuZYangW. Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the crystallization and hydrolytic degradation of biodegradable poly(l-lactide). Compos Sci Technol2009; 69: 627–632.
15.
SongYIYangCMKimDY. Flexible transparent conducting single-wall carbon nanotube film with network bridging method. J Colloid Interf Sci2008; 318: 365–371.
MakelaTJussilaSKosonenH. Magnetic field alignment and electrical properties of solution cast PET–carbon nanotube composite films. Polymer2010; 50: 898–904.
20.
SteinertBWDeanDR. Magnetic field alignment and electrical properties of solution cast PET-carbon nanotube composite films. Polymer2009; 1: 1–7.
21.
MakelaTJussilaSKosonenH. Utilizing roll-to-roll techniques for manufacturing source-drain electrodes for all-polymer transistors. Synth Metal2005; 153: 285–288.
GaoYWangYShiJ. Effect of functionalized MWCNTs on microstructure of PP-g-MA/OMMT/f-MWCNTs nanocomposite. J Appl Polym Sci2009; 112: 2413–2424.
24.
StarkweatherHWZollerPJonesGA. The heat of fusion of 66 nylon. J Polym Sci Polym Phys1983; 21: 295–299.
25.
XuWGeMHeP. Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites. J Polym Sci Part B Polym Phys2002; 40: 408–414.
26.
ChungJWSonSBChunSW. Thermally stable exfoliated poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET) nanocomposites as prepared by selective removal of organic modifiers of layered silicate. Polym Degrad Stab2008; 93: 252–259.
27.
KimJYChoiHJKangCS. Influence of modified carbon nanotube on physical properties and crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene terephthalate) nanocomposite. Polym Compos2010; 31: 858–869.
28.
AvramiM. Kinetics of phase change. II Transformation-time relations for random distribution of nuclei. J Chem Phys1940; 8: 212–224.
29.
SperlingLH. Introduction to physical polymer science, New York: Wiley, 2006.
30.
JeziornyA. Parameters characterizing the kinetics of the non-isothermal crystallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) determined by DSC. Polymer1978; 19: 1142–1144.
31.
LonkarSPMorlat-TheriasSCaperaaN. Preparation and nonisothermal crystallization behavior of polypropylene/layered double hydroxide nanocomposites. Polymer2009; 50: 1505–1515.
32.
OzawaT. Kinetics of non-isothermal crystallization. Polymer1971; 12: 150–158.
LiuTMoZWangS. Nonisothermal melt and cold crystallization kinetics of poly(aryl ether ether ketone ketone). Polym Eng Sci1997; 37: 568–575.
35.
GoodarziVJafariSHKhonakdarHA. Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics and determination of surface-folding free energy of PP/EVA/OMMT nanocomposites. J Polym Sci Polym Phys2009; 47: 674–684.
36.
VassiliouAAPapageorgiouGZAchiliasDS. Non-isothermal crystallisation kinetics of in situ prepared poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/surface-treated SiO2 nanocomposites. Macromol Chem Phys2007; 208: 364–376.
37.
DobrevaAGutzowI. Activity of substrates in the catalyzed nucleation of glass-forming melts. II. Experimental evidence. J Non-Cryst Solids1993; 162: 1–12.
38.
LauritzenJLHoffmanJD. Extension of theory of growth of chain-folded polymer crystals to large under-coolings. J Appl Phys1873; 44: 4340–4352.
39.
HoffmanJDMillerRL. Kinetic of crystallization from the melt and chain folding in polyethylene fractions revisited: theory and experiment. Polymer1997; 38: 3151–3137.
40.
LiuTMoZWangS. Isothermal melt and cold crystallization kinetics of poly(aryl ether ether ketone ketone)(PEEKK). Eur Polym J1997; 33: 1405–1414.
41.
CahnJW. Crystal growth, New York: Pergamon Press, 1967.
42.
XuJSrinivasSMarandH. Equilibrium melting temperature and undercooling dependence of the spherulitic growth rate of isotactic polypropylene. Macromolecules1998; 31: 8230–8242.
43.
HoffmanJDWeeksJJ. Melting process and equilibrium melting temperature of polychlorotrifluoroethylene. Res Natl Bur Stand1962; 66A: 13–18.
44.
JiangXLLuoSJSunK. Effect of nucleating agents on crystallization kinetics of PET. Polym Lett2007; 1: 245–251.
KissingerHE. Variation of peak temperature with heating rate in differential thermal analysis. J Res Natl Bur Stand1956; 57: 217–221.
47.
VyazovkinSSbirrazzuoliN. Variation in activation energy of the glass transition for polymers of different dynamic fragility. Macromol Chem Phys2006; 207: 1126–1130.
48.
VyazovkinSSbirrazzuoliN. Estimating the activation energy for non-isothermal crystallization of polymer melts. J Therm Anal Calorim2003; 72: 681–686.
VyazovkinSSbirrazzuoliN. Isoconversional kinetic analysis of thermally stimulated processes in polymers. Macromol Rapid Commun2004; 25: 733–738.
51.
GoodarziVJafariSHKhonakdarHA. An assessment of the role of morphology in thermal/thermo-oxidative degradation mechanism of PP/EVA/clay nanocomposites. Polym Degrad Stab2010; 95: 859–869.
52.
GoodarziVMonemianSATorabi AngajiM. Improvement of thermal and fire properties of polypropylene. J Appl Polym Sci2008; 110: 2971–2979.
53.
BikiarisDVassiliouAChrissafisK. Effect of acid treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the mechanical, permeability, thermal properties and thermo-oxidative stability of isotactic polypropylene. Polym Degrad Stab2008; 93: 952–967.
54.
ZhangKHongJCaoG. The kinetics of thermal dehydration of copper (II) acetate monohydrate in air. Thermochim Acta2005; 473: 145–149.
55.
BurnhaAKWeeseMRK. Kinetics of thermal degradation of explosive binders Viton A, Estane, and Kel-F. Thermochim Acta2005; 426: 85–92.
