Abstract: Poly(ether ester)/montmorillonite composites were prepared by transesterification polycondenzation based on dimethyl terephthlate, ethylene glycol, poly(ethylene glycol) (M_n=2000) and Namontmorillonite treated by cation exchange and surface modification. Their crystallization behavior and morphologies, in comparison with pure poly(ether ester), were studied by depolarized light intensity, DSC, polarizing optical micrograph, and SALS. When crystallization temperature T_cwas higher than 473K and the montmorillonite content was less than 1% the montmorillonite obviously increased crystallization rate of poly(ether ester), but the difference between them did not become apparent as T_c below 473 K. DSC cooling scanning curves showed that the peak temperature of the composite shifted to a higher temperature. By using CHCl₃to get phase separation, poly(ether ester) and its composite showed spherulites and dendrites when T_c<473 K, but when T_c>473 K, both of them showed fourleafclover pattern. According to the experimental results we conclude that montmorillonite plays a role of nucleating agent in the matrix, but at the same time there is an interaction between poly(ether ester) and montmorillonite, which restricts the movement of chain segment and becomes more notable when T_cis lower and the content of montmorillonite is higher.

Key words: Poly(ether ester), Crystallization kinetics, Crystallization morphology, Nucleating agent, Montmorillonite