3 - Characterizations of Carbon-Based Polypropylene Nanocomposites

Abstract

In the past decade, growing interest in the use of carbon-based nanocomposites in industrial applications has been observed because of their excellent mechanical, thermal, electrical, physical, and barrier properties. Various carbon-based nanoparticles, including graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), have very different physical and electrochemical properties from each other. In this chapter, an overview of carbon-based polymer nanocomposites is presented with special emphasis on the most important and novel studies conducted to explore the properties of polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites reinforced with GNPs and CNTs. Enhancement in the characteristic features of PP matrix with the incorporation of carbon-based nanoparticles has been observed. The nanocomposites reinforced with carbon-based nanoparticles having extraordinary specific strength and stiffness represent tremendous opportunity for application in the 21st century. Mechanical and thermal properties are the focus of this chapter as the properties are important for industrial applications. Further research in this area is also being proposed.