Enhancement of the mechanical properties of polypropylene using polypropylene-grafted multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Polypropylene (PP) was grafted onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by melt blending PP containing 0.6 wt% of maleic anhydride and amine-functionalized MWNTs. The mechanical properties of PP/PP-g-MWNTs composites were evaluated. When PP was reinforced with pristine MWNTs, its Young’s modulus and tensile strength were increased, but its ultimate strain and toughness were reduced. On the other hand, the Young’s modulus, tensile strength, ultimate strain and toughness of PP were improved by 108, 141, 49 and 287%, respectively, by the addition of PP-g-MWNTs with an effective MWNTs content of 1.5 wt%. PP-g-MWNTs are more effective than organoclay in enhancing the mechanical properties of PP.