Nonisothermal Crystallization of Highly-Filled Polyolefin/Calcium Carbonate Composites

Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of highly-filled polyolefin composites was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Two types of commercial calcium carbonate based fillers (modified with stearic acid and nonmodified one) were used for our investigations. In order to evaluate the crystallization kinetics changes of composites, the Avrami theory modified by Jeziorny was used. Validity of mineral fillers modification with stearic acid has been proved by thermal analysis. Because of the suppression of the heterogeneous nucleation effect resulting from calcium carbonate with stearic acid modification, an increase in the processability of highly-filled polyolefin cast films might occur. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.