Abstract
Palladium (Pd) nanoparticles were incorporated into isotactic polypropylene (iPP) film by a one-step dry process. iPP film was exposed to the sublimed Pd(acac)2 vapor in a glass vessel at 180oC. The Pd nanoparticles were observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), and it was found that metallic nanoparticles were selectively loaded on the amorphous regions between the lamellae in iPP. Thermal degradation kinetics was investigated by introducing the data of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to Flynn & Wall equation. TGA data showed that thermal degradation temperature (Td) of the neat iPP was improved about 35oC by loading 0.27 wt% Pd nanoparticles. Thermal degradation activation energy (Ed) for iPP/Pd nanocomposite was 227.85 kJ/mol while that of neat iPP was 220.57 kJ/mol. These results meant that the Pd nanoparticles acted as a retardant in the thermal degradation of neat iPP polymer chain.
Highlights
Dispersed metallic nanoparticles into a polymer matrix can offer new functional materials in the various applications such as catalysts, optics, senses, magnetics and electrics
Palladium (Pd) nanoparticles were incorporated into isotactic polypropylene film by a one-step dry process. iPP film was exposed to the sublimed Pd(acac)2 vapor in a glass vessel at 180oC
The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve of the iPP/Pd nanocomposite prepared by the exposure to Pd(acac)2 vapor for 30 min was very different from that of neat iPP
Summary
Dispersed metallic nanoparticles into a polymer matrix can offer new functional materials in the various applications such as catalysts, optics, senses, magnetics and electrics. Crystalline polypropylenes have strong mechanical properties and their numerous and versatile applications can be achieved by wide range of PP homopolymers and copolymers and by easy processability. It was reported that the onset temperature of the thermal degradation, Td of alkyl polymer chains was improved by the incorporation of very small amount of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles [10,11]. It was maybe due that the dry process, the above method 5 could incorporate metallic nanoparticles into the polymer films without the destruction of bulk shape and even without the change of crystallinity, because metallic nanoparticles were generated and positioned on the amorphous regions in sPS. Ed values could be calculated from the linear relationships between logβ and T-1 at each selected degradation fraction, α, which was obtained from the dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves at various heating rates
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
