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Keywords
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carbon nanotube, crystallinity, mechanical properties, polyolefin, random copolymers, rheology
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Abstract
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Polypropylene (PP) offers numerous benefits to industrial applications due to its excellent processability and cost-effectiveness. However, the widespread utilization of this commodity thermoplastic is constrained by its inherently low-impact resistance. Herein, we suggest a ternary system with the addition of ethylene-butene copolymer (EBC) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to improve the overall performance of PP. We unveil the role of MWCNTs on the crystalline behavior of the PP/EBC blends when various ratios are considered. The calculated half-time crystallization from the Avrami equation indicates that 1.5 wt% MWCNTs accelerate the crystallization of the PP/EBC blend nearly threefold. The formation of a semisolid microstructure is also reported using the rheological measurements. An upturn in complex viscosity, along with a frequency-independent storage modulus, indicates strong interactions between MWCNTs and polymer chains. We confirm such robust interactions by employing temperature ramp sweep on the prepared nanocomposites as the decomposition temperature of the materials shifts to higher values. The dynamic mechanical analysis further interprets the role of MWCNTs as compatibilizers by bridging the gap between the glassy temperature of PP and EBC components.
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