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Multiwalled carbon nanotubes‐based polypropylene composites: Influence of interfacial interaction on the crystallization behavior of polypropylene
Author(s) -
Parija Suchitra,
Bhattacharyya Arup R.
Publication year - 2017
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.24399
Subject(s) - materials science , polypropylene , crystallization , maleic anhydride , composite material , carbon nanotube , phase (matter) , adsorption , chemical engineering , polymer , copolymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Composites of polypropylene (PP) and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared via melt‐mixing utilizing Li‐salt of 6‐amino heaxanoic acid (Li‐AHA) modified MWCNTs in the presence of a compatibilizer (polypropylene‐ g ‐maleic anhydride; PP‐ g ‐MA). Improved interaction between the anhydride group of PP‐ g ‐MA and the amine functionality of Li‐AHA was confirmed via FTIR and Raman spectroscopic analysis. A higher glass transition temperature ( T g ) of the PP phase has been observed in these composites as compared to pristine MWCNTs‐based composites. The crystallization temperature ( T c ) of the PP phase was increased as a function of pristine MWCNTs concentration in PP/MWCNTs composites indicating hetero‐nucleating action of MWCNTs. However, T c value was decreased in the presence of Li‐AHA modified MWCNTs indicating the adsorbed Li‐AHA on the MWCNTs surface. Moreover, T c value was higher in the presence of Li‐AHA modified MWCNTs with PP‐ g ‐MA as compared to that of without PP‐ g ‐MA, suggesting the desorbed Li‐AHA from the MWCNTs surface due to melt‐interfacial reaction. Further, MWCNTs were extracted by hot vacuum filtration technique from PP/MWCNTs composites containing Li‐AHA and PP‐ g ‐MA. The isothermal crystallization kinetics showed a variation in crystallization behavior of the PP phase in the corresponding composites as compared to the “extracted MWCNTs.” POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:183–196, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers