The Melting Behavior of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)/ Attapulgite Nanocomposites

Abstract

The melting and recrystallization behavior of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/ Attapulgite(At) nanocomposites after isothermal crystallization from the melt was studied by Step-scan differential scanning calorimetry (SDSC). The influence of At contents, crystallization temperature and crystallization time on the melting process were examined. Two melting endotherms(in the SDSC C P.A curves, reversible part) and one recrystallization exotherm (in the SDSC C P.IsoK curves, irreversible part)of PET/At nanocomposites after isothermal crystallization were observed during the melt process. This ascribes to the melting-recrystallization mechanism .The low temperature endotherm attributes to the melting of primary crystal formed during the isothermal treating and the high temperature endotherm resulting from the melting of recrystallization materials. The reason why more recrystallization happened with the increase of At content was given and the process of recrystallization was described in detail. The effects of crystal perfection and recrystallization were minimized by increasing of crystallization temperature and time.