Poly(ethylene oxide) crystallization in single walled carbon nanotube based nanocomposites: Kinetics and structural consequences

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 52; no. 21; pp. 4938 - 4946
• Main Authors: Chatterjee, Tirtha, Lorenzo, Arnaldo T., Krishnamoorti, Ramanan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 29.09.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; Barriers; CALORIMETRY; CARBON; Carbon nanotubes; Composites; CRYSTAL GROWTH; crystal structure; CRYSTALLIZATION; differential scanning calorimetry; energy; ethylene oxide; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; KINETICS; LAMELLAE; LITHIUM; LITHIUM IONS; Nanocomposite; Nanocomposites; NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; NANOTUBES; NUCLEATION; NUCLEI; PLASMA SWITCHES; Polymer; Polymer industry, paints, wood; polymers; SCATTERING; Single wall carbon nanotubes; SULFATES; SURFACTANTS; Technology of polymers; TRANSPORT; X-radiation; Polymer; Nanocomposite; Crystallization; Carbon nanotubes; Experimental study; Compatibilizer; Lauryl sulfate; Ethylene oxide polymer; Anionic surfactant; Melt crystallization; Singlewalled nanotube; Kinetics; Isothermal crystallization
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2011.08.029

The overall isothermal crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) based nanocomposites is studied with a focus on growth kinetics and morphological evolution of PEO using differential scanning calorimetry and in-situ small angle x-ray scattering measurements respectively. The characteristic time for crystallization of PEO increases due to the presence of lithium dodecyl sulfate (LDS) stabilized carbon nanotubes. Further, analysis of crystallization data using the Lauritzen–Hoffman regime theory of crystal growth shows the PEO chains stiffen in presence of LDS with an increased energy barrier associated with the nucleation and crystal growth, and the nanotubes further act as a barrier to chain transport or enhance the efficacy of the LDS action. The energy penalty and diffusional barrier to chain transport in the nanocomposites disrupt the crystalline PEO helical conformation. This destabilization leads to preferential growth of local nuclei resulting in formation of thinner crystal lamellae and suggests that the crystallization kinetics is strongly affected by the nucleation and crystal growth events. This study is particularly interesting considering the suppression of the PEO crystallinity in presence of small fraction of Lithium ion based surfactant and carbon nanotubes. [Display omitted]