Isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of modified rape straw flour/high-density polyethylene composites

The isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of modified rape straw flour/high-density polyethylene (MRSF/HDPE) composites were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The Avrami model was applied to describe the process of isothermal crystallization. According to Hoffman–Weeks theory, the values of the equilibrium melting point () increased with an increase in the content of MSRF in the composites. The nucleation constant Kg was obtained through the use of the Hoffman and Lauritzen theory. Several theoretical models were applied to describe the process of non-isothermal crystallization. The results showed that the Avrami analysis modified by Jeziorny and a method developed by Mo could describe the non-isothermal crystallization of the composites very well. However, the Ozawa analysis did not give an adequate description. Kinetic parameters such as the Avrami exponent (n), the kinetic crystallization rate constant (Zc), the peak temperatures (Tpeak), the half-time of crystallization (t1/2), and the like were determined at various scanning rates.