Isothermal crystallization kinetics of pure and surface‐modified silica/high‐density polyethylene nanocomposites

Abstract The isothermal crystallization kinetics of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) nanocomposites containing 0, 0.5, 0.75, and 2 wt% of pure and surface‐modified silica were evaluated at three crystallization temperatures (T_c) of 120°C, 121°C, and 122°C using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and applying Avrami, Tobin, and Malkin equations. According to Hoffman‐Weeks theory, the values of the equilibrium melting point () of the nanocomposites decreased with increasing nanoparticle content and were higher in the samples containing AMS nanoparticles, owing to the larger crystal. The results of all three models offered the same trend according to which the change in the crystallization temperature influenced the nucleation mechanism and the crystallization rate. It was found that a greater number of spherulites can be formed via increasing T_c from 120°C to 122°C which also decreased the crystallization rate of the nanocomposites. At the crystallization temperature of 122°C, the lowest melting temperature was recorded for the samples, attributed to the formation of more crystals with a lower thickness. Moreover, in HDPE/AMS nanocomposites, the crystallization rate was higher than that of HDPE/PSN, ascribed to the positive effect of surface modification on nanoparticles. Highlights Increased polymer/particle compatibility and isothermal crystallization. Evaluating the nucleation and crystallization using different models. The impact of isothermal crystallization temperature on crystallinity. Variation of equilibrium melting point with the nanoparticle content.