Synthesis and Crystallization Studies of Thermo-plastic Polyster/Titania Nanocomposites

Abstract

The present work reports the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of PET-TiO 2 nanocomposites. The average particle size of TiO 2 nanoparticles, prepared by chemical route, has been calculated 32 nm using Debay-Scherrer's formula in XRD peaks. PET-TiO 2 nanocomposites have been synthesized using solution casting method. The investigation of non-isothermal crystallization behavior has been conducted by means of Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). The crystallization temperature shift to lower temperature for both PET pristine and PET-TiO 2 nanocomposites due to decrease in mobility of chain segments and heterogeneous nucleation. Also, the inclusion of TiO 2 nanoparticles may accelerate nucleation rate in nanocomposites that causes the crystallization time and absolute crystallinity fraction. The thermal conductivity of inorganic filler TiO 2 nanoparticles may affect the crystallization temperature.