MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF POLYPROPYLENE/CARBON NANOTUBES (CNT) NANOCOMPOSITES: EFFECT OF 1-OCTADECANOL SURFACE MODIFICATIONS

Abstract

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) functionalized with 1-octadecanol (C₁₈) and characterized by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) before being incorporated into isotactic polypropylene (iPP) matrix. The blends of iPP/CNT composites for both unfunctionalized and functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared by melt blending techniques in a mini blender. The tensile properties of the composite were observed to increase with nanotube loadings (0.1, 0.25, 1.00 and 5.00 wt %). The DSC analysis showed the nucleating effect of the CNTs on the crystallization properties of iPP matrix. TEM images of the composites confirmed better dispersion of CNT-C₁₈ in the iPP matrix in comparison to unfunctionalized CNTs.