Non-isothermal crystallization of poly(ethylene oxide)/silver nanoplate composites

• Published in: Polymer international 2011-09, Vol.60 (9), p.1380-1389
• Main Authors: Rahmansyah, Nandho, Lo, Chieh-Tsung, Syu, Ciou-Mei, Lee, Chien-Liang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Crystallization; differential scanning calorimetry; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Mathematical analysis; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; nanoplates; Nanostructure; Nucleation; Oxides; poly(ethylene oxide); Polymer industry, paints, wood; Silver; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0959-8103; 1097-0126
• DOI: 10.1002/pi.3091

The non‐isothermal crystallization of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/silver nanoplate composites was studied using differential scanning calorimetry. The non‐isothermal crystallization was analyzed by combining the Avrami and Ozawa equations. It was found that the Avrami exponent for neat PEO ranges from 2.51 to 2.53, whereas it ranges from 2.54 to 3.16 for its composites, indicating that the spherical crystal morphology does not change with the addition of nanoplates. However, the rate determination of crystal growth transfers from diffusion to nucleation. The crystallization half‐time showed an increase with the addition of silver nanoplates in PEO, indicating that the overall crystallization rate of PEO decreases with the addition of nanoplates. However, the nucleation activity is larger than unity in the composites and the value increases with an increase in the nanoplate content. This behavior implies that the nanoplates act as anti‐nucleating agents to hinder nucleation. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry The overall crystallization rate of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) decreases with the addition of silver nanoplates. This is correlated with the anti‐nucleating effect of the nanoplates on the crystallization of PEO.