Micro/Nanoimprinting of PP/VGCF Nanocomposite Films with Highly Orientated Vapor Grown Carbon Nanofiber

Abstract

Polypropylene/vapor grown carbon nanofiber (PP/VGCF) composite films produced by uniaxial extrusion and sheet drawing process were developed for some functional micro devices. In addition, V-groove micro/nanoimprint performance of the films was examined. VGCFs of the films were highly orientated in drawing direction when VGCFs of 10-30 wt% were added. Tensile strength, Young's modulus, thermal conductivity, storage modulus and loss tangent of the films increased with increasing VGCF content, although these properties in transverse direction of the composite films were smaller than those in drawing direction. Good transcription performance was achieved in the composite films with VGCF more than10wt%. If heated to 130° C lower than melting point of PP, filling rate on transcription attained to 100% under compression stress of 25-125 MPa. In this case, orientation of the films hardly influenced the transcription performance. The good transcription performance was caused by (1) micro dimension and high flexibility of VGCF, (2) increased thermal conductivity, (3) decreased thermal expansion and (4) increased loss tangent by VGCF addition.