Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.128, No.6, 3734-3742, 2013
Poly(propylene) composite with hybrid nanofiller: Dynamic properties
Mechanical, impact, and relaxation properties of in situ synthesized carbon nanotubes-polyaniline (CNT-PANi) hybrid nanoparticle-filled poly(propylene) (PP) composites with or without an amphiphilic dispersing agent were investigated using tensile testing, notched Charpy impact testing, and dynamical mechanical testing methods. The reference material was MWCNT filled PP composite. Ethyl gallate (EG) was the dispersing agent which realizes high conductivity in PP composites with hybrid filler. Measured properties showed quite similar behavior of CNT-PANi hybrid and neat CNT filled composites. Addition of 20% EG in PP did not cause essential differences compared to the neat PP. When the dispersing agent was added in filler containing PP composites, remarkable effects were observed, especially in PP-hybrid composites. Mechanically, these materials had improved tensile properties, but they were brittle compared to the materials without dispersing agent. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed improvement in storage modulus, and in loss modulus the transition was well observable. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013