Title: Mechanical and tribological performances of polypropylene composites containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Authors: Ali Sinan Dike; Ferda Mindivan; Harun Mindivan

Addresses: Department of Materials Engineering, Adana Science and Technology University, Seyhan, 01180 Adana, Turkey ' Department of Technical Programmes, Bozuyuk Vocational College, Bilecik S.E. University, Bilecik, Turkey ' Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Bilecik S.E. University, 11210 Gulumbe, Bilecik, Turkey

Abstract: Polypropylene (PP)-based composites filled with as-received carbon nanotubes (ASCNTs) and purified carbon nanotubes (PCNTs) at different weight percentages were prepared using twin-screw extrusion and injection moulding. The effects of CNT content and purification procedure on the mechanical properties and wear resistance were examined. The results showed that microhardness, Young's modulus, tensile strength, and wear resistance values of the composites increased after purification procedure compared to the ASCNT-based composites, due to the fact that the enhanced interactions between CNT and PP improved the load transfer efficiency from PP to CNTs. For the composites prepared with both ASCNT and PCNT, as the loading of the CNTs increased, improved mechanical properties and wear resistance were observed. However, the mechanical properties and wear resistance decreased when the CNT content exceeded 0.8 wt.% due to agglomeration of CNTs.

Keywords: polymer composites; carbon nanotubes; mechanical performance; tribological performance; polypropylene composites; multi-walled CNTs; MWCNTs; wear resistance; twin-screw extrusion; injection moulding; tribology; nanotechnology; microhardness; Young's modulus; tensile strength.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2014.065831

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2014 Vol.8 No.4, pp.292 - 301

Received: 23 Jul 2013
Accepted: 15 Apr 2014
Published online: 29 Nov 2014 *

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