Crystallization behavior of polyethylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites prepared by in situ polymerization

Polyethylene/montmorillonite (PE/MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization. The crystallization behavior of PE/MMT nanocomposites at different MMT concentrations (from 0.1 to 1.2 wt %) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The equilibrium melting points increase by the addition of MMT. The crystallization rates of PE/MMT nanocomposites are faster than those of pure PE. The addition of MMT facilitated the crystallization of PE, with the MMT functioning as a heterogeneous nucleating agent at lower content; at higher concentrations, however, the physical hindrance of the MMT layers to the motion of PE chains retarded the crystallization process.