Non-isothermal degradation kinetics and morphology of PP/TiO2 nanocomposites using titanium n-butoxide precursor

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of the addition of TiO2, obtained by hydrolysis–condensation reaction of titanium dioxide precursors, on the kinetics of polypropylene (PP) Non-Isothermal Degradation. The dispersion of nanoparticle and its relation to the degree of crystallinity by XRD also was investigated. The results indicated that the addition of the TiO2 increased the degree of crystallinity of PP and there was an increase of the E ad which may be associated with an increase in thermal stability. As could be seen the TEM micrographs showed nanoparticles of TiO2 with regions homogeneously distributed and some also aggregated. In degradation kinetics, the nanocomposites could demonstrate an increase in the thermal stability of PP in the initial mass loss stages, so that, the PP/TiO2b1,5 nanocomposites were the sample that showed better influence the thermal stability 100 °C in T onset . The nanoparticles by presenting a good dispersion in the PP matrix may difficult the volatile products diffusion.