Effect of epoxydized carbon nanotube master batch on polypropylene film properties

Abstract

AbstractFirst, the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was modified by epoxidation reaction to create epoxidized CNTs (O<CNTs). Following step, master batches of O<CNTs (MB‐O<CNTs) with different O<CNTs contents (5‐12 wt%) were prepared by melt mixing in the presence of anhydride grafted polypropylene (PPgMAH). The CNTs content dispersed uniformly in master batch is 7 wt%. Finally, the effect of MB‐O<CNTs contents on some properties of polypropylene film (PP film) was studied. The PP film samples with different MB‐O<CNTs content (such that the O<CNTs content in the film varies from 0‐1.0 wt%) were prepared on film blowing extruder. The effects of O<CNTs contents on the mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of PP film samples were investigated. The study found that tensile strength of PP films increased significantly with increasing O<CNTs content while elongation at break decreased. In addition, the presence of O<CNTs slightly increased the degree of crystallization and crystallization temperature of PP films while the melting behavior did not change much. From FE‐SEM analysis, the good dispersion of O<CNTs in the PP films was obtained from PP films with O<CNTs content in the range of 0.2‐0.8 wt%. The presence of O<CNTs also changed the electrical properties of PP. The PP films were achieved the antistatic effect at O<CNTs content in the range of 0.2‐0.4 wt%. In addition, the results showed that the master batch processing helps O<CNTs to disperse more evenly in the PP film.