Crystallization behavior of polymer/montmorillonite nanocomposites. Part I. Intercalated poly(ethylene oxide)/montmorillonite nanocomposites

The influence of montmorillonite (MMT) silicate layers on the semicrystalline morphology development of the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrix of PEO/MMT nanocomposites has been investigated by using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, light microscopy and time-resolved simultaneous small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering. The silicate layers act as nucleating agents for the crystallization of PEO, but at high contents also have a retarding effect on the crystal growth. In that case they are non-crystallisable barriers in the crystallization of the PEO matrix. The lamellar semicrystalline structures of pure PEO and the PEO/MMT nanocomposites are, however, identical.