J Mater Sci Technol ›› 2008, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (02): 279-284.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Preparation and Crystallization of Carbon Nanotube/maleic Anhydride-grafted Polypropylene Composites

Xiaohua CHEN, Jing HU, Lingping ZHOU, Wenhua LI, Zi YANG, Yanguo WANG   

  1. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha 410076, China...
  • Received:2006-10-08 Revised:2007-08-26 Online:2008-03-28 Published:2009-10-10
  • Contact: xiaohua chen

Abstract: Carbon nanotube (CNT)/maleic acid anhydride (MAH)-grafted polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared by in situ grafting method. Infrared spectroscopy showed that the CNTs were linked to PP by MAH grafting. The microstructures and calorimetry analysis indicated that the crystallization behaviors of the filled and unfilled PP were quite different. The addition of CNTs dramatically reduced the spherulite size, increased crystallization rate and improved the thermal stability of PP. These results confirmed the expected nucleant effect of CNT on the crystallization of PP. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed that the CNTs were dispersed homogeneously, indicating that the original CNT bundles were separated into individual tubes by the grafting.

Key words: Carbon nanotubes, Chemical treatment, Resins, Crystallite size