Multi-walled carbon nanotube filled polypropylene nanocomposites based on masterbatch route: Improvement of dispersion and mechanical properties through PP-g-MA addition

Abstract

Abstract. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) filled polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites were prepared through diluting a PP/MWNT masterbatch in a PP matrix by melt compounding with a twin screw extruder. Polypropylene grafted maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) was used to promote the carbon nanotubes dispersion. The effect of PP-g-MA addition on the rheological, mechanical and morphological properties of the nanocomposites was assessed for different MWNTs loadings. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has shown that nanotubes are distributed reasonably uniformly. A better dispersion and good adhesion between the nanotubes and the PP matrix is caused by wrapping of PP-g-MA on MWNTs. When PP-g-MA is added, dynamic moduli and viscosity further increases compared to PP/MWNT nanocomposites. The rheological percolation threshold drops significantly. Tensile and flexural moduli and Charpy impact resistance of the nanocomposites also increases by the addition of PP-g-MA. The present study confirms that PP-g-MA is efficient to promote the dispersion of MWNTs in PP matrix and serves as an adhesive to increase their interfacial strength, hence greatly improving the rheological percolation threshold and mechanical properties of PP/MWNT nanocomposites.

Effect of bisphenol-A on the structures and properties of phthalonitrile-based resin containing benzoxazine

“…Mouritz et al [31] also reported that EP/GF composite laminates exhibited a relatively low mechanical performance with the flexural strength of 212MPa and flexural modulus of 12.9 GPa, with the fiber volume of 34%. Generally, mechanical properties of polymer/GF composite laminates depended on the properties of each primary component, the nature of the interface, and the locus of filler-matrix interaction between the matrix resins and GFs [32]. In our BA-ph/BPA/ GF systems, the good mechanical properties could be attributed to multiple factors.…”

Influence of carbon nanotube–polymeric compatibilizer masterbatches on morphological, thermal, mechanical, and tribological properties of polyethylene

“…Strong coupling between filler and matrix is particularly difficult to achieve with non-polar polymers like polyethylene and polypropylene. Chemical compatibility of nanofiller and polyolefin matrix has been enhanced and the dispersion of nanofiller improved through the addition of polymeric compatibilizers such as maleic anhydride grafted polymers [8][9][10]. Yang et al [8] enhanced the compatibility and dispersion of MWCNTs and polyethylene by melt blending of amine-functionalized nanotubes with PEgMA.…”

“…Xie et al [9] used maleic anhydride grafted styrene-(ethylene-co-butylene)-styrene copolymer (MA-SEBS) as compatibilizer in thermal studies on ultrahigh molecular mass polyethylene-carbon nanotube composites. Prashantha et al [10] found maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PPgMA) to improve the dispersion of MWCNT in polypropylene. By wrapping around MWCNTs, the PPgMA gave higher modulus and strength.…”

Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Filled Polypropylene Nanocomposites: Electrical, Mechanical, Rheological, Thermal and Morphological Investigations

“…They became the points of higher stress concentrations, thus providing sites for crack initiation [2]. The lower impact energy at higher nanotube content was due to the presence some masterbatch agglomerates in the composites [18] as shown in Fig. 6.…”