Preparation of Polypropylene Co-Polymer (PPCP) Based Composites with Improved Properties in Presence of MWCNT and MAgPP Fillers

In the study, polymer nanocomposites were prepared by considering polypropylene co-polymer (PPCP) as a polymer matrix. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAgPP) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used as fillers to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. In the study, the properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength, compressive strength, impact strength and thermal stability of the composites were determined following standard procedures. From the SEM analysis, it is noticed that MWCNTs were distributed uniformly throughout the polymer matrix. From the findings, it was also observed that the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were improved in presence of MWCNT over the composite without MWCNT. Around 6% increment in tensile strength, 25% hike in flexural strength, 11% increase in compressive strength, and 6% improvement in Izod impact strength were obtained to the composites in presence of MWCNTs. It was further observed that around 25% increase in thermal stability up to 5% mass loss was obtained in presence of MWCNTs at a loading of 2 wt%; whereas it was around 9% up to a mass loss of 95%. From the study, it can be concluded that the fillers played a great role in obtaining the composites with improved properties.