Nucleation and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics in cross-linked polyethylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites

Abstract

In the present study organic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposites of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) with 0, 2, 5 and 10 wt% of trimethoxyoctyl-silane surface treated ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by melt mixing. Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics is examined in detail to reveal the crystallization characteristics of the cross-linked system (XLPE) in the presence of nanomaterials (ZnO) as the dispersed phase. Based on the diffusion controlled growth theory, all the nanocomposites of the present system, exhibit a constant nucleation rate or the growth of nanometer aggregates that constitutes nuclei, with an increasing nucleation rate. Non-isothermal crystallization kinetic parameters and the theoretical estimation of nucleation activity certify the nucleating capability of ZnO nanomaterials in the cross-linked continuous phase of XLPE. The experimental results confirmed that, even at very fast cooling rates, the promising role of nanoparticles for nucleation is able to compensate for the negative effect of fast cooling.