Preparation of high performance PP/ reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites through a combined in situ polymerization and masterbatch method

Document Type : Original research

Authors

1 Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Korea

2 Key Lab. of Synthetic Rubber, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academic of Science, China

Abstract

Despite the great potential of graphene as a nanofiller, achieving homogeneous dispersion remains the key challenge for effectively reinforcing polyolefin (such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP)) nanocomposites. Therefore, in this research, we report a facile combined in situ polymerization and masterbatch method for fabricating PP/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites. In the polymerization stage, the synthesized catalyst exhibited a very high activity toward propylene polymerization, while the resultant PP/rGO with a very high isotactic index (I.I. = 99.3), broad molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 14.9), and thermal stability was produced. After meltblending with commercial PP, a significantly increased modulus along with no observable change in tensile strength and elongation-at-break were achieved via the addition of a very small amount of rGO; these properties resulted from the suitable dispersion and good interface adhesion of the graphene sheet and PP matrix. Thus, this work provides a method for production of high performance PP.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Polyolefins Journal
Volume 4, Issue 1 - Serial Number 7
January 2017
Pages 69-77

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 April 2016
  • Revise Date: 10 July 2016
  • Accept Date: 31 July 2016
  • First Publish Date: 01 January 2017

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