Isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics modelling of neat and composite PA410

The increased interest in semi-crystalline thermoplastic composites, calls for a profound understanding of the intricate relationship between process parameters and the development of crystalline structures. In this study, the non-isothermal multi-phase crystallization kinetics of PA410 is modelled with the Schneider rate equations. Moreover, the change in crystallization kinetics induced by the addition of carbon-black nanoparticles and glass-fibres to PA410, is quantified by means of Flash-DSC experiments. To this end, a new sample preparation procedure to make unidirectional fibre-reinforced samples, of known fibre volume fraction, suitable for Flash-DSC analysis is introduced and used for the characterization of the reinforced PA410. The investigations showed that the polymorphism of neat PA410 is altered by the introduction of carbon black, which suppresses the formation of β-phase crystals, leading to an α-phase dominant crystalline volume. This finding simplified the crystallization kinetics modelling of both CB-filled and GF-reinforced PA410, for which one single set of Schneider rate equations was sufficient to accurately describe their crystallization behaviour, under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions.