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High impact strength of polypropylene composites with complex titanate whiskers/multiwalled carbon nanotubes

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Abstract

Isotactic polypropylene (PP) composites achieved high impact strength by melt mixing with complex titanate whiskers/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The complex fillers, obtained via coupling agent γ-aminopropyl triethoxysilane, triggered additional reinforcement with stiff backup of whiskers and strengthened interfacial adhesion generated from MWCNTs, forwarding positive synergy on the PP composites. In presence of compatibilizer maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene, 5 wt% of the complex fillers brought about impact strength 6.3 ± 0.3 kJ/m2 to the composite, which was 103% higher than PP. Meanwhile, tensile strength was also improved with 34.8 ± 0.5 MPa as compared with that of PP (32.6 ± 0.3 MPa). Morphology witnessed by scanning electron microscope revealed that the complex fillers favored dispersion of MWCNTs in polymer matrix, fulfilling bridging for reinforcement. Detection of differential scanning calorimetry also indicated that the complex fillers facilitated crystallization of PP in the composites. Upon high impact strength and improved tensile property, the PP composites could find potentials with facile processing manipulation in applications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Liaoning, Anshan, 114051, Liaoning, China

    Ke Guo & Zhiqiang Zhang

  2. Ansteel Mining Design Research Institute Corporation, Anshan, 114004, China

    Ke Guo & Renfeng Song

  3. School of Materials Science and Engineering, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China

    Tao Wang, Xuechun Wang, Yunhui Zhao & Xiaoyan Yuan

Authors
  1. Ke Guo
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  2. Tao Wang
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  3. Xuechun Wang
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  4. Renfeng Song
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  5. Zhiqiang Zhang
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  6. Yunhui Zhao
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  7. Xiaoyan Yuan
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Correspondence to Zhiqiang Zhang or Yunhui Zhao.

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Guo, K., Wang, T., Wang, X. et al. High impact strength of polypropylene composites with complex titanate whiskers/multiwalled carbon nanotubes. J Polym Res 27, 233 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-020-02171-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-020-02171-9

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