| Abstract: | Some organic pigments, present in very small amounts (0.1 to 0.2%), can cause warpage and shrinkage phenomena in moulded parts of linear polyethylene. Investigations on such phenomena have been carried out by dilatometric and morphological analysis. The influence on polyethylene crystallisation kinetics and morphology of such organic and inorganic pigments, which do not cause any deformation effect, has been studied. The experimental results show that only organic pigments increase the crystallisation rate, by acting as nucleating agents; in these cases, moreover, the crystalline grain is smaller and the typical morphology of polyethylene crystallised in bulk is altered. A possible correlation between the nucleating action and the warpage effect of organic pigments on moulded polyethylene is discussed. |
