Mechanical reinforcement and crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) nanocomposites induced by modified carbon nanotube

Poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PEN) nanocomposites reinforced with a very small quantity of carbon nanotube (CNT) were prepared by melt compounding using a twin-screw extruder. Morphological observations revealed that the modified CNT was uniformly dispersed in the PEN matrix and increased interfacial adhesion between the nanotubes and the polymer matrix, as compared to the untreated CNT. Furthermore, a very small quantity of the modified CNT can improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the PEN nanocomposites. This study also demonstrates that the non-isothermal crystallization behaviors of the PEN nanocomposites are strongly dependent on the presence of the modified CNT and cooling rate. The variations of the nucleation activity and activation energy for crystallization reflected the enhancement of crystallization of the PEN nanocomposites induced by the modified CNT. Combined Avrami and Ozawa analysis was found to be effective in describing the non-isothermal crystallization of the PEN nanocomposites in the presence of the modified CNT.