Poly(propylene) nanocomposites containing various carbon nanostructures

PP nanocomposites containing different carbon nanofillers (CNTs, CNFs, GnPs, CB) are fabricated and further processed by hot compression molding. A high level of nanofiller dispersion is found. The NCs exhibit improved thermal stability and higher crystallinity. Both electrical conductivity and real permittivity increase with increasing nanofiller loading. A strongly aspect ratio dependent electrical conductivity percolation is observed at loadings of 15.0, 12.0, 5.0, and 3.0 wt% for CB, GnPs, CNFs, and CNTs, respectively. The rheological behavior of the NC melts is also investigated. A small concentration of the nanofillers is found to affect the modulus and viscosity of the PP melts significantly. PP nanocomposites reinforced with various carbon nanostructures are made via a PP/xylene hot-solution method. The electrical percolation is found to be highly related to the aspect ratio of fillers. The resultant PNCs are analyzed using XRD, SEM, thermal analysis (TGA and DSC), dielectric analysis, and melt rheology.