Fundamental studies on shear-induced nucleation and beta-phase formation in the isotactic polypropylene—effect of the temperature

• Published in: Journal of polymer research Vol. 28; no. 11
• Main Authors: Bednarek, W. H., Paukszta, D., Szostak, M., Szymańska, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-11-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Beta phase; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Crystallization; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Nucleation; Original Paper; Polymer Sciences; Shear; Temperature dependence; Supermolecular structure; Spherulites formation; Shear-induced crystallization; Isotactic polypropylene
• ISSN: 1022-9760; 1572-8935
• DOI: 10.1007/s10965-021-02652-5

The complex and incompletely understood phenomenon of shear-induced crystallization of polymers may be nowadays analysed via the in situ POM-shear stage methodology. In this research, the two main issues were investigated with the use of the Linkam CCS450 shear stage connected with POM microscope. It was found that the secondary nucleation in the tree well-known temperature regimes plays the greater role in the overall crystallization kinetics than the shear induced primary nucleation. Furthermore, it was found that the tendency towards β-phase formation in shear conditions is dependent on the temperature value during shear treatment. It may be concluded that the temperature is the key parameter in the primary and secondary nucleation process and beta-phase formation in the iPP melts.