Evaluation of anti-scratch properties of graphene oxide/polypropylene nanocomposites

Abstract

Graphene oxide/polypropylene (GO/PP) nanocomposites were fabricated by varying the concentration of GO in the presence of octyltriethoxysilane (OTES) using an internal batch mixer to enhance the anti-scratch properties of pristine PP. Mechanical properties, including hardness, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness, of the prepared GO/PP nanocomposites were analyzed by nanoindentation. As a compatibilizer, OTES increased dispersibility, interfacial interactions, and mechanical interlocking between the GO nanofiller and the PP matrix, improving mechanical strength. A 286% increase in hardness, 127% improvement of elastic modulus and 117% enhancement on fracture toughness are achieved by addition of only 1.0 wt% of GO and OTES. For scratch tests, several GO/PP nanocomposite samples were analyzed according to various scratch parameters. Furthermore, scratch hardness, elastic recovery, and tangential forces acting on the scratch probe were investigated to provide insight into scratch behavior. The outstanding resistance to scratch deformation such as a maximum increase in scratch hardness of 189% was likely due to the excellent mechanical properties of the GO/PP nanocomposites.