Characteristics of PP/VGCF Composite Films with Highly Orientated Vapor Grown Carbon Nanofiber by Extruding and Drawing Process

Abstract

Polypropylene (PP) /vapor grown carbon nanofiber (VGCF) composite films with highly orientated VGCF of 10-30 vol% were developed by drawing and subsequent extruding for functional micro device applications. Furthermore, the anisotropy of the mechanical, electrical and thermal properties were investigated. Good performance such as low electric resistivity, high storage modulus, high Young's modulus and high tensile strength was achieved in a drawing direction of the PP/VGCF composites. In the drawing direction, significant VGCF content dependences of these properties also appeared. On the other hand, these properties in a direction inclined at 45° and 90° to drawing direction were the nearly same.