Non-isothermal degradation kinetics and morphology of PP/TiO₂ nanocomposites using titanium n-butoxide precursor

This study investigates the influence of the addition of TiO₂, obtained by hydrolysis–condensation reaction of titanium dioxide precursors, on the kinetics of polypropylene (PP) Non-Isothermal Degradation. The dispersion of nanoparticle and its relation to the degree of crystallinity by XRD also was investigated. The results indicated that the addition of the TiO₂ increased the degree of crystallinity of PP and there was an increase of the E _ad which may be associated with an increase in thermal stability. As could be seen the TEM micrographs showed nanoparticles of TiO₂ with regions homogeneously distributed and some also aggregated. In degradation kinetics, the nanocomposites could demonstrate an increase in the thermal stability of PP in the initial mass loss stages, so that, the PP/TiO₂b1,5 nanocomposites were the sample that showed better influence the thermal stability 100 °C in T _onset . The nanoparticles by presenting a good dispersion in the PP matrix may difficult the volatile products diffusion.