THE CRYSTALLIZATION KINETICS OF FILLED POLY(ETHYLENE-TEREPHTHALATE)

The crystallization kinetics of Poly (ethylene terephthalate) was measured under isothermal conditions by DSC in the presence of various fillers and with varying filler concentrations. The fillers used were carbon, titanium dioxide, glass fiber, and calcium carbonate. The kinetics was calculated using the slope of the crystallization vs. time plot, the times for 10% and 50% reduced crystallization, and the Avrami equation. Activation energies were determined from measurements under different isothermal temperatures. The fillers caused athermal nucleation to be inhibited as shown by the increased values of the Avrami exponent, n. Interactions between the polyester and filler were interpreted to reduce the mobility of the polymer in the melt. This decreased the rate of crystallization and increased its activation energy. The order of the filler effect in reducing crystallization was the following: no filler < carbon < titanium dioxide < glass fiber < calcium carbonate. The concentrations of fillers were above those typically used for nucleation and more in the range expected for reinforcement or dilution of the polymer.