Carbon nanotube/polypropylene composite particles for microwave welding

• Main Authors: Wu, Tongfei, Pan, Yongzheng, Liu, Erjia, Li, Lin
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/100125; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/13597
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polypropylene (PP) composite particles with various compositions were prepared by mechanical grinding of PP microparticles and MWCNT powders in a mortar at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that PP particles were coated by MWCNTs, forming a core-shell structure. The electrical resistivity versus temperature behavior of MWCNT/PP composite particles and the changes in phase structures before and after melting were studied. Furthermore, MWCNT/PP composite particles with 4 wt % MWCNT were used to weld PP substrates under microwave irradiation. The effects of the irradiation duration and the compression pressure on the welding strength were examined. Here, we have demonstrated a simple and economic method for polymer welding.