Non-isothermal crystallization of in situ polymerized poly(ε-caprolactone) functionalized-SWNT nanocomposites

The non-isothermal crystallization behavior of three in situ polymerized, partially tethered poly(ε-caprolactone) with functionalized single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) nanocomposites are examined using differential scanning calorimetry and corroborated using small and wide angle X-ray scattering. While the nanotubes are strong nucleators of the crystals of poly(ε-caprolactone) and dramatically accelerate the crystallization of the polymer, they do not alter the unit-cell, the melting temperature and the fractional crystallinity of the polymer crystals.