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Graphene oxide (GO) derived from oxidation of natural graphite contains many active groups that can interact with a great variety of polar moieties. In this work, polypropylene (PP)/graphene oxide nanocomposites using polypropylene (PP) grafted with amine‐alcohol (PPgDMAE) as compatibilizer were prepared by two different methods. Maleic anhydride grafted PP (PPgMA) was reacted with 2‐[2‐(dimethylamine)‐ethoxy] ethanol (DMAE) in the melt for forming amine‐alcohol functionalized polypropylene (PPgDMAE). Nanocomposites were prepared by two methods. In one method, PP/GO nanocomposite was prepared by direct melt mixing in an internal batch mixer using PPgDMAE as compatibilizer. In another method, a previous mixing of PPgDMAE with GO in hot Xilene was done and then, once the solvent was evaporated, it was incorporated into PP by melt‐mixing. The microstructure and interface enhancement of the prepared composites were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, X‐ray difraction (DRX) contact angle, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (STEM), mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties measurements. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the interaction between GO and PPgDMAE. The loading of GO conducted to enhance the composite mechanical properties attributed to the strong interfacial interactions between GO and PPgDMAE. A significant improvement in mechanical thermal stability and electrical properties was observed when nanocomposites were prepared by the solution blending method compared with melt mixing method. This work suggests a potential application of GO in preparation of high performance PP composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:1361–1369, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers

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A comparative study of the mechanical performance of PP and PP/PP-g-MAH blends reinforced with carbon fibre (CF) obtained by two different moulding techniques is presented. Three filler contents were used for fabricating the composites: 1, 3, and 5 pph (parts per hundred). The crystallisation behaviour of the composites was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Morphological and structural features of these samples were observed by atomic field microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Mechanical properties of the injection and compression moulded composites were evaluated by means of tensile and impact resistance tests. The fracture surface of the impacted samples was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The processing method had a noticeable effect on the results obtained in these tests. Young’s modulus was enhanced up to 147% when adding 5 pph CF to a PP matrix when processed by compression moulding. Addition of PP-g-MAH and CF had a favourable effect on the tensile and impact strength properties in most samples; these composites showed improved performance as the filler content was increased.