Improvement of rigidity for rubber-toughened polypropylene via localization of carbon nanotubes

• Wiwattananukul, Rujirek

• Fan, Bowen

• Yamaguchi, Masayuki

Abstract

A methodology for controlling the localization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was studied using an immiscible polymer blend composed of isotactic polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-co-propylene rubber (EPR). We found that the MWCNTs were localized in EPR domains within the composite, which was prepared at 280 °C. EPR molecules bonded to the MWCNT surface are responsible for the localization in EPR. Conversely, MWCNTs preferentially resided in the matrix when the composite was prepared at 190 °C along with nitrogen gas purging. Because of the selective localization of the MWCNTs in the matrix, the composite obtained via mixing at the lower temperature exhibited a higher Young's modulus and yield strength. These findings demonstrate that mixing conditions greatly affect the MWCNT distribution and thus the mechanical properties of PP/EPR blends.

identifier:https://dspace.jaist.ac.jp/dspace/handle/10119/15745

Journal

• Composites Science and Technology

  Composites Science and Technology 141 106-112, 2017-01-18

  Elsevier

Keywords

• Carbon nanotubes
• Polymer-matrix composites
• Mechanical properties
• Mixing

Details

• CRID: 1050845762947772032
• NII Article ID: 120006584040
• ISSN: 02663538
• Web Site: http://hdl.handle.net/10119/15745
• Text Lang: en
• Article Type: journal article
• Data Source:
  • IRDB
  • CiNii Articles