Crystallization Behaviour of TiO2 Nanoparticle Reinforced Polypropylene

Composites of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) with different TiO(2) nanoparticle loads (0.5 vol.%, 2 vol.% and 4 vol.%) were compounded by optimized twin screw extrusion. The crystallization behaviour of these semicrystalline nanocomposites was examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and polarized optical light microscope (POM) combined with a hot stage module to pursue in-situ the structure development. Wet chemical etching was applied to highlight morphological details like spherulites and lamellar structures for SEM observations. An obvious influence of TiO(2)-nanoparticles on the crystallization could be verified.