DSC Study of Syndiotactic Polypropylene/Organoclay Nanocomposite Fibers: Crystallization and Melting Behavior

Abstract

The effect of anisotropic particles of organophilic layered silicate on the crystallization and melting behavior of prepared nanocomposite systems was studied. The matrix was syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP). Organophilic layered silicate M-QDA filler was prepared by modification of hectorite SOMASIF ME 100 with octadecyl amine. The compatibilizer was isotactic polypropylene (iPP) grafted with maleic anhydride (iPP-g-MA). The silicate was exfoliated in situ within the sPP during the melting process to produce anisotropic nanoparticles. The sPP/M-ODA nanocomposite was spun at different drawing ratios. The resulting fibers were examined by differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that neither the spinning process nor the presence of nanofiller affected the crystallinity of the sPP matrix of the nanocomposite in comparison with the neat sPP. At a raised drawing ratio of the fibers slightly increased crystallinity of matrix was observed; however, it was still lower than the neat sPP fibers prepared at the same drawing ratio. The presence of M/ODA nanofiller in sPP matrix increased the melting temperature of the fibers.