Attapulgite and ultrasonic oscillation induced crystallization behavior of polypropylene

In this article, the effect of ultrasonic oscillation on the dispersed morphology of attapulgite in polypropylene (PP) and crystallizing kinetics of PP/attapulgite composites prepared through extrusion in the presence and the absence of ultrasonic oscillation were studied. X‐ray diffraction analysis results showed that ultrasonic oscillation did not change attapulgite crystal structure during extrusion in PP/attapulgite composites. On the other hand, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscope photographs indicated that ultrasonic oscillation promoted the dispersion of attapulgite particles in PP matrix. The dispersed morphology of attapulgite and ultrasound oscillation affected the crystalline form, nucleation rate, crystallization temperature, crystallinity, and spherulite size of PP crystals. PP transcrystals were formed on the attapulgite particle surface.