Characterizations of Polypropylene/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites Prepared by the Novel Melt Processing Technique with a Controlled Residence Time

Abstract

Melt processing is considered one of the favored techniques to produce polymer nanocomposites with various inorganic fillers such as graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Due to their superior conductivity and tensile properties, among others, CNTs have been applied in broad applications. When a low filler fraction is desired, a high degree of dispersion is required in order to benefit from the intrinsic properties of CNTs. However, due to their high cohesive energy, dispersing CNTs in polymer melts is a difficult task. This study employed the melt mixing technique with a controlled residence time of 20 min to disperse single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) into a polypropylene matrix. The composites were prepared by using a corotating twin-screw extruder equipped with a back-conveying element with varying amounts of SWNTs from 0.29 to 6.56 wt.%. Mechanical, electrical, morphological, and rheological properties were evaluated. Due to the filler effect, storage, loss modulus, and complex viscosity increased with the SWNT content. Based on the van Gurp–Palmen plot, 0.29 wt.% SWNTs was the rheological percolation threshold, and the electrical property measurement revealed a 1.4 wt.% SWNT electrical percolation threshold based on the statistical percolation theory. Relatively large agglomerates were found when the SWNT content increased more than 1.28 wt.%.