Abstract
Pimelic acid (PA) was used to modify the surface of magnesium sulfate whiskers (M-HOS). The treated M-HOS and its effects as a function of concentration on the crystallization and morphology of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), thermogravimetic analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that PA reacted with M-HOS and formed magnesium pimelate on the surface after the reaction. The results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopy (PLM) showed that the treated M-HOS had the ability to induce β-spherulites, increase the crystallization temperature and decrease the size of spherulites in iPP. It was the most effective to form β-spherulites when the content of PA treated M-HOS was 5 wt%.