Crystallization behaviour of new poly(tetramethyleneterephthalamide) nanocomposites containing SiO2 fillers with distinct morphologies

authors	Esteves, ACC; Barros-Timmons, AM; Martins, JA; Zhang, W; Cruz-Pinto, J; Trindade, T
nationality	International
journal	COMPOSITES PART B-ENGINEERING
author keywords	polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); nano-structures; thermal properties; thermal analysis
keywords	IN-SITU POLYMERIZATION; SILICA NANOCOMPOSITES; COMPOSITE-MATERIALS; THERMAL-STABILITY; NANOPARTICLES
abstract	Polyamide-based nanocomposites containing surface-modified SiO2 nanofillers with different morphologies were prepared by in situ polymerisation. The nanocomposites microstructure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, which showed a high degree of dispersion of the fillers. The isothermal crystallization kinetics, recorded with a differential scanning calorimeter, has shown a strong influence of the nanofillers morphology on the poly(tetramethyleneterephthalamide) crystallization behaviour. The strong nucleating effect of the inorganic substrate is interpreted as the combined result of a lower activation energy for the primary nucleation and a higher activation energy for the transport of chain stems to the growing lamellae. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
issn	1359-8368
year published	2005
volume	36
issue	1
beginning page	51
ending page	59
digital object identifier (doi)	10.1016/j.compositeb.2004.04.005
web of science category	Engineering, Multidisciplinary; Materials Science, Composites
subject category	Engineering; Materials Science
unique article identifier	WOS:000225216800006