Spherulite growth in isotactic polypropylene-based blends: Energy and morphological considerations

The kinetics of isothermal crystallization of polymer blends in which the matrix is a crystallizable polymer is considered. It is shown that depending on the difference in interfacial energies the inclusions are rejected or engulfed by the growing spherulite. Other factors influencing rejection, engulfing, and/or deformation of dispersed particles of the second polymer are the viscosity of the melt, the spherulite growth rate, and the size of dispersed particles. If the difference in interfacial energies is positive, then rejection or engulfing requires additional work to be done by the crystallization front. This dissipation of energy decreases the spherulite growth rate. It is estimated that the rejection of the second component is the most important phenomenon in the crystallization of blends. The spherulite growth rate of isotactic polypropylene in blends with low-density polyethylene and several elastomers was studied as a function of crystallization temperature and concentration. The comparison of growth rate data with morphological changes occuring during crystallization of blends studied shows very good agreement with the theoretical predictions based on energetics considerations.