The Effects of Lower Percentages of Filler Addition to the Mechanical and Morphological Properties of PP/MWCNTs Composites

• Main Authors: ABD RAZAK , JEEFFERIE, Mohd Salled, Mohamad Amran, Abd Rashid, Suraya, Ahmadun, Fakhrur'Razi, Ibrahim, Nor Azowa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Penerbit UTeM 2010
• Subjects: TS Manufactures
• Online Access: http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/13686/1/The_Effects_of_Lower_Percentages_Addition_to_the_Mechanical_and_Morphological_Properties_of_PP-MWCNTs_Composites.pdf; http://eprints.utem.edu.my/id/eprint/13686/; http://journal.utem.edu.my/index.php/jamt
• Institution: Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

In this work, well uniform dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in polypropylene (PP) matrix was achieved by melt blending technique using internal mixer. Appropriate selection of the melt processing parameter results the affirmative properties enhancement. Potential of as-produced MWCNTs as reinforcement, stiffening and toughening agent for the composites application were fully tested. The results obtained from the tensile, flexural and impact testing indicates that the addition of lower amount of MWCNTs (less than 1 wt.%0 led to an increase in the tensile strength and flexural strength about 42.82% and 57.20% respectively, in comparison to the virgin PP system. Addition of only 0.75 wt.% of MWCNTs, considerably enhanced the numerical value of tensile modulus, flexural modulus and Izod impact strength, to the maximum before it decreased with further addition of MWCNTs at 1.00 wt.%. The reinforcing effects of MWCNTs were well justified by the morphological observation through the scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation. Fractured surfaces of PP/MWCNTs composites had shown distinctively changed with the presence of nanotubes, even at the very little amount of addition. The beneficial effects of as-produced MWCNTs incorporation were underlined comparing the results obtained from different types of mechanical testing analysis.