Production and Characterization of Polypropylenecarbon Nanotube Nanocomposites
At the first stage in this research, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were grown by using the floating catalysts chemical vapor deposition (FC-CVD) method. The produced MWCNTs were characterized by using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2009
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/7345/1/FK_2009_42a.pdf |
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| Summary: | At the first stage in this research, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)
were grown by using the floating catalysts chemical vapor deposition (FC-CVD)
method. The produced MWCNTs were characterized by using the scanning electron
microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the high resolution
transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The MWCNTs was incorporated into
polypropylene (PP) to produce the PP/MWCNTs nanocomposites through the direct
melt compounding process using an internal mixer. The mixer parameters were
varied to determine the best parameter to produce the nanocomposites. It was
determined through the tensile test which performed on every nanocomposite which
fabricated from the various combinations of parameters. The best parameters to
produce the nanocomposites were at the temperature of 175°C, rotor speed of 60 rpm
and the compounding time of 8 minutes. In the next stage, the effect of filler loading
was studied. The filler loading was varied from 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00wt.%. The best tensile properties was observed in the nanocomposites with 0.75wt.% of
MWCNTs, with the improvement of 42.82% and 126.90% of the tensile strength and
tensile modulus, compared to the virgin PP matrix. The validation of the tensile test
data was carried out by using the historical data design from the Response Surface
Methodology (RSM) with the aid of the Design Expert Software 6.10. The
PP/MWCNTs nanocomposites which compounded from the best processing
parameter were further characterized for other properties. Physical test on the
nanocomposites density was revealed that the density is decreased with the
increasing percentage of MWCNTs addition. This condition gives benefit on the
weight saving of the materials. Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) and X-Ray
diffraction analysis disclosed that the melt blending between the PP matrix and
MWCNTs filler is entirely physical-mechanical blending, without involving any
chemical interaction. This further explained the reinforcement behavior of the
MWCNTs within the PP matrix. Furthermore, TEM images of the nanocomposites
surface confirmed an excellent dispersion and distribution of the MWCNTs in the PP
matrix. This condition was supported by the significant improvement of the flexural
strength, flexural modulus, impact strength, and storage modulus and loss modulus
properties of the fabricated nanocomposites. In overall, the proper selection of the
melt blending processing parameter and the use of low filler loading was
significantly helped to disperse and distribute the MWCNTs homogenously within
the PP matrix, resulting major improvements to the many of the properties studied |
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