Using dynamic mechanical spectroscopy to monitor the crystallization of PP@IAPP blends in the presence of wood

AbstracG-Crystal morphology of thermoplastics is known to be strongly influenced by the presence of solid suhstrntes like fibers or fillers. For wood, this interphase development is govemed by the chemical composition of the thermoplastic and substrate. The crystallization of PP/MAPP blends WBS observed using polarized light microscopy and quantified using DSC and DM.4. Techniques are presented to assess degree of crystallinity and temperatures associated with the onset (I&j and maximum rate C&c, of crystallization using DMA. Strain history of the specimen during crystallization was evahndted and does not significantly infiucnce either To or Tc. Crystallization temperatures of PP as assessed using DSC or DMA increase with the addition of MAPP or the presence of wood. Values for Tc are higher when measured by DMA than DSC. This difference appears to be related more to the relative interfacial dominance in the specimens, rather than to an inherent difference between techniques.