Crystallization of isotactic polypropylene containing beta-phase nucleating agent at rapid cooling

The crystallization behavior of isotactic polypropylene containing a β-phase nucleating agent has been investigated, focusing on evaluation of the effects of cooling rate and/or supercooling of the melt on the generation of different polymorphs. It has been found that β-crystals only form on cooling the melt at rates lower than about 50 K s−1 while cooling at rates between 50 and 300 K s−1 leads to formation of α-crystals; even faster cooling is connected with mesophase formation or vitrification of the entire melt. Fast scanning chip calorimetry revealed different mechanisms of nucleation at low and high supercooling. In comparison to non-nucleated iPP the presence of the β-phase nucleating agent only affects the crystallization kinetics at low supercooling, supporting the idea that ordering at high supercooling is governed by homogeneous nucleation. β-crystals, formed initially on slow cooling, melt below about 420 K on slow heating, followed by formation of few α-crystals on continuation of heating. The mesophase initially formed on fast cooling and aging at ambient temperature, in contrast, re-crystallizes directly into α-structure. The results of the present work provide comprehensive information about the condition of formation and the stability of different polymorphs in isotactic polypropylene containing a β-phase nucleating agent.