Thermal behavior of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet (XGNP) filled impact modified polypropylene nanocomposites

Published: 2011

Author(s):
Duguay, J. A.
Nader, J.
Kiziltas, A.
Gardner D. J.
Dagher, H.

Publication Name: Proceedings of the 56th International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition

Publication URL: https://www.nasampe.org/store/viewproduct.aspx?ID=4394385

Research Area:
Keywords:

Abstract:

Exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet (xGnP)-filled polymer composites have demonstrated excellent physical, thermal and mechanical properties and are garnering attractiveness as a nanoscale reinforcing filler in academic and industrial R&D activities. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of particle diameter, filler loading and coupling agent on the thermal behavior of impact modified polypropylene (IMPP) nanocomposites. xGnP-filled IMPP composites were manufactured via melt mixing with and without the addition of polypropylenegraft-maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA). The thermal behavior of the nanocomposites was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The DSC results indicated that the addition of xGnP slightly increased the melting temperature (Tm) and increased the crystallization temperature (Tc) of IMPP by 2 to 3 °C which is attributed to the heterogeneous nucleation of the xGnP. The TGA results indicated that the degradation temperature of IMPP shifts to a lower temperature with the addition of PP-g-MA, indicative of the poor thermal stability of PP-g-MA. However, the thermal stability of the composites increases with xGnP loading because of the high thermal stability of the xGnP and the hypothesized tortuosity effect of the graphite nanoplatelets inhibiting diffusion of oxygen and volatile products throughout the composites during thermal decomposition.