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Fabrication and properties of nano‐ZnO/glass‐fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites
Author(s) -
Cui YiHua,
Wang XinXin,
Li ZhiQi,
Tao Jie
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of vinyl and additive technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.295
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1548-0585
pISSN - 1083-5601
DOI - 10.1002/vnl.20231
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , crystallization , polypropylene , nanocomposite , ultimate tensile strength , scanning electron microscope , toughness , differential scanning calorimetry , nano , izod impact strength test , glass fiber , microstructure , fabrication , chemical engineering , medicine , thermodynamics , physics , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering
Polypropylene (PP) is widely used in many fields, such as automobiles, medical devices, office equipment, pipe, and architecture. However, its high brittle transformation temperature, low mechanical strength, dyeing properties, antistatic properties, and poor impact resistance, considerably limit its further applications. Nano‐ZnO treated by KH550 coupling agent and glass fibers (GFs) were introduced in order to improve the mechanical performance and flowability of PP in this research. The crystallization behavior and microstructure of nano‐ZnO/GFs/PP hybrid composites were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of crystallization behavior on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites was investigated and analyzed. The results indicated that nano‐ZnO surface‐coupled by KH550 could be uniformly dispersed in the PP matrix. The incorporation of nano‐ZnO and GFs resulted in increases of the crystallization temperature and crystallization rate of PP and a decrease of the crystallization degree. The introduction of nano‐ZnO and GFs also enhanced the tensile strength and impact toughness of the hybrid composites and improved their fluidity. Composites containing 2% of nano‐ZnO and 40% of GFs possessed the optimum mechanical properties. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers