The influence of a based montmorillonite (MMT) clay on the structure, morphology and crystallization behaviour of iPP is investigated. A low molecular mass hydrocarbon resin, containing hydroxyl and acid groups, suitable to interaction through hydrogen bonding with the polar surface of the clay, was also added to iPP/clay system with the aim to increase the compatibility between iPP and clay and then to improve the performance of such nanocomposites. The results clearly indicate that the phase structure, morphology and isothermal and non isothermal crystallization behaviours of iPP, iPP/clay and iPP/TR/clay are depending on preparation conditions and composition.

It was found that the crystallization conditions dictate the phase structure of the materials: for iPP/TR blend and ternary systems, the higher cooling rate crystallization process preserves the homogeneity of the amorphous phase inhibiting the liquid-liquid phase separation process between iPP and TR. This separation occurs, conversely, when the samples are cooled from the melt at low cooling rate.

The principal finding of this work is that for the ternary system in the condition of isothermal crystallization used the TR in iPP/TR/cay system is able to establish interaction through hydrogen bonding with the polar surface of the clay, providing the lost of clay crystallographic regularity (clay exfoliation). The presence of the third component, miscible or partially miscible with iPP opens a new field of investigation with the analysis of the processes of intercalation of clay by iPP, and the two processes of phase separation that can be observed: liquid-liquid separation and liquid-solid separation due to iPP crystallization. In dependence on crystallization conditions and composition these processes can be in competition and their control offers great possibility to determine the morphology and hence the properties of the resulting material.

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