Effect of highly filled ferrites on non-isothermal crystallization behavior of polyamide 6 bonded ferrites

The aim of this study is to characterize the non-isothermal crystallization of polyamide 6 bonded highly filled ferrites which were prepared by the melt extrusion. Especially, the effect of ferrite concentration and its surface property on the non-isothermal crystallization were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry. The highly filled ferrite particles acting as obstacles could severely hinder the motion of surrounding chain segments, which were irrespective of surface nature. The ferrite could be modified by silane and obtain a visually enhanced interaction with polymer matrix which evoked the heterogeneous nucleation. Increasing this enhanced interfacial area between polymer–particle can promote the heterogeneous nucleation. However, a strong interaction can slow the motion of surrounding chain segments of particles, thereby producing a competitive effect on the crystallization rate and crystallinity. The plot of crystallization activation energy against concentration also can evaluate dispersion performance of hydrophilic fillers within hydrophobic polymer.