Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of poly (lactic acid)/modified carbon black composite

• DOI: 10.1007/s00289-009-0047-x
• Publication Date: 2009-03-11T10:53:16Z
• Authors: Zhizhong Su; Weihong Guo; Yongjun Liu; Qiuying Li; Chifei Wu
• Keywords: Isothermal process

A novel method was employed to modify the surface of carbon black (CB) by an organic small molecule in a Haake Rheomix mixer. Jeziorny equation, the Ozawa model and Mo equation were employed to describe the non-isothermal crystallization process of poly (lactic acid) (PLA), PLA/CB and PLA/modified carbon black (MCB) composites. It is found that the Ozawa model fail to describe the non-isothermal crystallization process for PLA and its composites, while Jeziorny equation and Mo’s theory provide a good fitting. The comparison of crystallization kinetics between PLA/MCB and PLA through Lauritzen–Hoffman model indicates that there appears a transition from regimes II to III in PLA and PLA/MCB. The fold surface free energy σ e of PLA/MCB composite is higher than that of neat PLA, implying that the existence of nucleating agent is unfavorable for the regular folding of the molecule chain.