Effect of MWCNTs on Wetting and Thermal Properties of an Immiscible Polymer Blend

Abstract

Poly (trimethylene terephthalate)/Polypropylene blend (PTT/PP) is prepared using melt mixing method and 1 wt% multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are incorporated to study its effect on the thermal and wetting properties. The droplet morphology reveals the immiscibility of the neat polymers in the blend and there is a reduction in the domain size of the dispersed phase with the addition of MWCNTs due to the compatibilization effect of MWCNTs. With the addition of MWCNTs, there is a slight improvement in the melting temperatures of both PTT and PP while an increase in the crystallization temperature and glass transition temperature (Tg) is observed that may be due to the nucleation effect of MWCNTs. On blending with PP, the thermal stability of PTT matrix is increased and with the addition of MWCNTs there is not much improvement in the thermal stability of the polymer components is observed. With the addition of MWCNTs the contact angle of the blend slightly increased, may be attributed to the hydrophobic nature of MWCNTs.