Premium
Thermal properties of polypropylene nanocomposites: Effects of carbon nanomaterials and processing
Author(s) -
Radhakrishnan Vinod K.,
Zagarola Stephen W.,
Davis Edward W.,
Davis Virginia A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.21848
Subject(s) - materials science , nanomaterials , polypropylene , carbon nanotube , nanocomposite , extrusion , composite material , polymer , thermal decomposition , plastics extrusion , crystallization , thermal , carbon fibers , interphase , polymer nanocomposite , degradation (telecommunications) , composite number , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , chemistry , physics , meteorology , engineering , telecommunications , biology , computer science , genetics
Design of experiments was used to elucidate the complex interactions that determine nanocomposite properties and enable predictive models for optimization. The thermal properties of nanocomposites containingpolypropylene, single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), dodecyl‐functionalized SWNTs, and vapor‐grown carbon fibers were investigated as a function of extrusion temperature, screw speed, and time. The effects of extruder processing conditions on thermal properties was dependent on the fraction of polymer chains stabilized in the interphase, the extent of polymer degradation, and the type of nanomaterial incorporated. Melting and crystallization temperatures were primarily affected by nanomaterial type. However, thermal decomposition temperature was affected significantly by processing conditions and the response wasdependent on the type of nanomaterial incorporated. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers