Isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of poly(butylene succinate) with nanoprecipitated calcium carbonate as nucleating agent

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) nanocomposites filled with nanoprecipitated calcium carbonate (NPCC) were prepared via melt blending. The hybrid materials were crystallized under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions in order to understand the influence of NPCC on the crystallization behavior of PBS matrix. For both of these conditions, the nucleating effect induced by the addition of NPCC was clearly shown by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) additionally to an increase of crystallinity. The analysis of isothermal crystallization by Avrami theory allowed to notice a variation of the crystallization mechanism in the presence of the filler and the apparition of secondary stage crystallization. The nanocomposites exhibited higher nucleation activity than the neat PBS and a faster crystallization process as indicated by the values of the half-time of crystallization. Ozawa and Mo theory applied on DSC data highlighted the variations of PBS crystallization behavior in the presence of NPCC. Finally, the crystallization ability of each material was evaluated via the theories of Takhor and Augis-Bennett. The crystallization activation energy showed a promotion of polymer chain diffusion that was correlated with the simultaneous apparition of secondary crystallization stage.