Relaxation map of PETg‐montmorillonite composites: Nanofiller concentration influence on α and β relaxation processes

Samples of polyethylene-1.4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate glycol (PETg) with different filler contents were prepared by a master batch process. The intercalated dispersion state of montmorillonite (MMT) was characterized using X-Ray Diffraction. Two different sample series are put in evidence with different basal distances (3.31 and 3.48 nm). The influence of nanofiller on α and β relaxations was studied by Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The use of these two techniques allowed us to determine accurately the fragility index m at the glass transition temperature T g . For T g , m, the Kauzmann temperature T k , and the relaxation time at T g τ(T g ), we showed a decrease of the values more important for 3.48 nm basal distance than for 3.31 nm. The β did not seem affected in its apparent activation energy E a by the MMT addition.