Polypropylene/talc/graphene nanoplates (GNP) hybrid composites: Effect of GNP content on the thermal, rheological, mechanical, and electrical properties

Abstract

Polypropylene (PP)/talc composites are used extensively in the automotive, aeronautical, and consumer goods industries; however, the increasing demand for more efficient, safe, and less environmentally impact materials makes it necessary to include new reinforcements. In this way, the use of graphene nanoplates (GNP) is a good alternative because this carbon‐based material allows the achievement of new multifunctional nanocomposites with improved properties and process optimization. In this work, PP/talc (80/20) composites were prepared with the addition of 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt% of GNP using the extrusion process and injection molding. Morphological, thermal, rheological, mechanical, electrical, and electromagnetic characterizations were performed. The addition of GNPs led to a linear reduction in the melt flow index (MFI) of the samples. A rheological percolation was observed in the sample with the addition of 7 wt% of GNP. The addition of 5 and 7 wt% of GNP led to significant increases in elastic modulus and Shore D hardness. The electrical and electromagnetic evaluation showed that the increase of GNP in the compositions contributed to improvements in electrical conductivity and permittivity, resulting in a proportional increment in the total attenuation component (SET).

Sustainable Engineered Designs and Manufacturing of Waste Derived Graphenes Reinforced Polypropylene Composite for Automotive Interior Parts

“…No noticeable difference was observed in the T m of the CopoPP composites when various additives were incorporated, indicating that the crystal structure of PP remained constant despite the addition of talc, hybrid additive, and GNP. 41,50 Similar results were reported by Sarturato et al 49 However, it is worth noting that the commercially available CopoPP sample exhibited a double melting peak, underscoring the significant influence of crystal forms on T m . In miscible polymer blends, the uniform mixing of polymer components at a molecular level creates a single-phase system, and the properties of miscible blends are a combination of the properties of their pure components.…”

“…Figure shows the melting and the crystallization peaks of the DSC curves of neat CopoPP, CopoPP + 15% talc (commercial), and the “49% CopoPP + 45% HomoPP + 4% talc + 1% hybrid + 1% GNP” composites obtained from first cooling and second heating cycles while Table provides the DSC results of the melting peak temperature ( T m ), melting enthalpy (Δ H m ), crystallization peak temperature ( T c ), crystallization enthalpy (Δ H c ), and crystallinity percentage ( X c ) of the neat and reinforced CopoPP composites. X c was calculated based on eq , where Δ H m is the melting enthalpy of the samples, w represents the weight fraction of the PP phase and Δ H m ° is the theoretical melting enthalpy of 100% crystalline PP taken as 207 J/g for HomoPP and 190 J/g for CopoPP. , X c = normalΔ H m normalΔ H m ° × w × 100 …”

“…X c was calculated based on eq 1, where ΔH m is the melting enthalpy of the samples, w represents the weight fraction of the PP phase and ΔH m °is the theoretical melting enthalpy of 100% crystalline PP taken as 207 J/g for HomoPP and 190 J/g for CopoPP. 48,49…”

Fused Deposition Modeling of Isotactic Polypropylene/Graphene Nanoplatelets Composites: Achieving Enhanced Thermal Conductivity through Filler Orientation

“…This often results in the printed part detaching from the build platform, eventually causing printing failures. After adding fillers such as graphene, it may also act as a heterogeneous nucleating agent to accelerate the crystallization kinetics of PP [ 37 ]. Therefore, there are currently few studies on 3D printing of PP and its based composites.…”