Spherulite nucleation in isotactic polypropylene based nanocomposites with montmorillonite under shear

The crystallization of nanocomposites of isotactic polypropylenes with organo modified montmorillonite compatibilized by maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene was studied by light microscopy in isothermal conditions in quiescent state and in shear. The isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization of the composites was also investigated by DSC method. Only weak nucleation activity of montmorillonite was observed during crystallization in static conditions. The clay nucleation activity was greatly enhanced in shear-induced crystallization and resulted in a drastic decrease of spherulite sizes. In nanocomposite films crystallized isothermally the intense nucleation of isotactic polypropylene spherulites was observed when the polymer was forced to flow to compensate the volume shrinkage due to crystallization. It was also found that the presence of a glass support enhances spherulite nucleation in nanocomposites which is caused possibly by shear due to a difference in thermal shrinkage of a polymer matrix and a glass support.