Polyamide 6-Cellulose Composites: Effect of Cellulose Composition on Melt Rheology and Crystallization Behavior

Abstract

Melt rheology and crystallization behavior of polyamide 6 (PA 6) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) composites were systematically studied in this research. The incorporation of MCC into the PA 6 matrix resulted in higher complex viscosities (|*|), storage modulus (G), and shear viscosities than those of neat PA 6, especially at low frequencies. The orientation of rigid molecular chains in the composites introduced by the addition of MCC induced a strong shear thinning behavior with an increase in MCC loading. The non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of PA 6 and MCC composites were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The Avrami and Tobin model were applied to describe the process of non-isothermal crystallization and to determine the crystallization parameters of the composites. Analysis of the crystallization kinetics indicated that the Avrami (n(a)) and Tobin exponent (n(t)) was altered by the MCC. It was also found that the Avrami and Tobin equations fit the empirical data well. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:739-746, 2014. (c) 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers