Processing and Characterization of Polypropylene Filled with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube and Clay Hybrid Nanocomposites

Abstract

Nanocomposites reinforced with hybrid fillers of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and clays were developed, aiming at enhancing the dispersion of nanofillers with balanced mechanical properties while lowering the cost of the final product. Polypropylene-based nanocomposites were prepared by the master batch dilution technique with varying combinations of CNTs and clays as fillers by using commercially available highly concentrated master batches of polypropylene/organoclays and polypropylene/multiwalled carbon nanotubes using high-shear twin-screw extrusion. Their mechanical and morphological properties were then evaluated. It was shown that the addition of hybrid filler to polypropylene enhanced the ductility and flexural properties of nanocomposites, confirming the synergistic effect of nanofillers as a multifunctional fillers. The novelty of this work lies in the synergy arising from the combination of two nanofillers with unique dimensions and aspect ratios as well as different dispersion characteristics, which have not been specifically considered previously.