Correlations between microstructure of α‐row nuclei and polymorphism of shear‐induced iPP/carbon fiber cylindrite

Abstract

ABSTRACTHerein, we reported the formation mechanism of hybrid crystalline (cylindrite) in isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/carbon fiber (CF) via pulling a CF within the iPP melt. The α‐row nuclei layer closely attached to the surface of CF acts as a self‐nucleation site, rather than a heterogeneous nucleation one, to grow cylindrites. As a result, the polymorphic feature of iPP/CF cylindrite is significantly influenced by the microstructure of α‐row nuclei. With decreasing crystallization temperature (Tc), the polymorphic cylindrite changes from pure α‐form to mixed α‐/β‐form and to β‐rich form. The main characteristics of this change include: (a) the outlines of α‐row nuclei layer correspond to wave‐like, saw‐like, and straight lines; (b) the orientation level of iPP molecules in the α‐row nuclei layer become higher; (c) the α‐lamellae rearrange from loose to compact; and (d) the distance between the growth sites of β‐sectors and the surface of CF is evidently longer than in the case of α‐sectors. Moreover, this study provides a guideline for developing the interfacial enhanced iPP/CF composites through manipulation of polymorphic structure in cylindrites. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 368–377