Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7892605 | Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing | 2013 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
Isotactic polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of various diameters (10-50 nm) were fabricated by extrusion and compression-molding techniques and characterized by X-ray diffraction measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical test and differential thermal analyses. The pure PP exhibits both the a- and b-axes oriented α-crystal, whereas the MWCNTs induce the b-axis orientation of the α-crystal along with the formation of minor γ-phase crystal in nanocomposites. Crystallinity, long period of lamellae, tensile strength, tensile modulus (TM) and microhardness (H) of PP considerably change by different loading and sizes of MWCNTs. The estimated values H/TM = 0.09-0.10 for all samples approach the predicted value of 0.10 for polymers. The increase in crystallinity has been demonstrated by both XRD and DSC studies. Mathematical models have been invoked to explain the changes in mechanical properties. An increase in thermal stability of polymer matrix occurs with increasing MWCNTs size and loading.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Materials Science
Ceramics and Composites
Authors
Md. Khairul Hassan Bhuiyan, Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Md. Forhad Mina, Muhammad Remanul Islam, Md. Abdul Gafur, Afia Begum,