Supernucleation and Orientation of Poly(butylene terephthalate) Crystals in Nanocomposites Containing Highly Reduced Graphene Oxide.

ABSTRACT: The ring-opening polymerization of cyclic butylene terephthalate into poly(butylene terephthalate) (pCBT) in the presence of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is an effective method for the preparation of polymer nanocomposites. The inclusion of RGO nanoflakes dramatically affects the crystallization of pCBT, shifting crystallization peak temperature to higher temperatures and, overall, increasing the crystallization rate. This was due to a supernucleating effect caused by RGO, which is maximized by highly reduced graphene oxide. Furthermore, combined analyses by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS) showed the formation of a thick α-crystalline form pCBT lamellae with a melting point of ∼250 °C, close to the equilibrium melting temperature

SUBMITTER: Colonna S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5747490 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature