The effects of phosphate glass (PG) on thermal properties, microstructure and melt crystallization kinetics of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/PG composites were investigated. Morphological observation using SEM and EDX analysis of the control PET and PG/PET composite materials revealed a multi-scale dispersion of PG in PET matrix comprising of nano- and micro-scale dispersed phases. In the isothermal crystallization process, increasing the PG content was found to be associated with enhanced rate of crystallization and lower crystallization time. In addition, the analysis of crystallization using Avrami model revealed a decreasing trend of Avrami index (“n”) with increasing the PG content indicative of severe geometrical restriction of PG on the growth of PET crystals. Besides, higher crystallization temperature in the isothermal crystallization induced lower crystallization rate. In the nonisothermal crystallization process, the shift of the peak of crystallization exotherm towards higher temperatures suggested that PG function as a nucleating agent. The Avrami index value of PET and PG/PET composites showed the presence of three-dimensional spherulites. According to the activation energy obtained in the nonisothermal kinetic analysis, PG/PET composites crystallized slower than control PET.

Melt crystallization kinetics of poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET)/phosphate glass composites

254th National Meeting (2017)

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