Nonisothermal crystallization and microstructural behavior of poly(ε-caprolactone) and granular tapioca starch-based biocomposites

ABSTRACT

The nonisothermal crystallization behavior of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) in the presence of varying concentrations of granular tapioca starch (GTS) was studied. Various crystallization parameters were studied by differential scanning calorimeter at four different cooling rates and these parameters were analyzed using Jeziorny, Ozawa, and Liu models. Kissinger method was used to estimate the activation energy (ΔE) of the PCL/GTS composites. The ΔE results suggested that the speed of crystallization was inhibited by GTS particles. Polarized light optical microscopy suggests formation of spherulite structure in PCL and PCL/GTS composites while no evidence of nucleation by GTS particles was observed.

KEYWORDS:

• Nonisothermal crystallization
• nucleation
• PCL
• spherulite growth

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Ministry of Human Resource Development for providing research facilities and financial assistance to one of the authors (Achla).