pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S08 - Nanocarbon Based Composites, with CNPComp2017
Poster Presentation
 
 

POLYPROPYLENE NANO-GRAPHITE COMPOSITES OBTAINED BY AN ULTRASOUND TECHNIQUE AND MELT EXTRUSION

Manero Octavio (1)*, Sanchez Solis Antonio (1)

(1) National Autonomous University of Mexico - Distrito Federal - Mexico

In this work, the effect of inclusion of nanographite particles in a polypropylene matrix (PP) is studied. Nanographite particles were obtained through ultrasound exfoliation from graphite upon using a water-based HASE associative polymer as a surfactant. Nanographite was blended with polypropylene through two extrusion processes: twin-screw and single-screw, the latter includes the coupling to a static-mixer head, to generate extensional flows. Concurrently, ultrasonic waves are applied to the molten flow through ultrasonic transducers attached to the mixing head, which induces high particle dispersion and good particle distribution in the polymer matrix. It was found that at HASE concentration of 5% by weight and sonication time of 14 days (period of the exfoliation process) optimum tensile properties of the compound were achieved. Also, with respect to the PP matrix, the rate of thermal degradation decreased from 2.1 (PP) to 1.9 (% /°C), melt temperature ranged from 442 (PP) to 396°C, melt index decreased from 7.4 (PP) to 6.2 (g/10 min). Raman spectroscopy confirmed the exfoliation process, rendering sizes ranged from graphite particles of few graphene layers to micron- size particles. Rheological measurements of the compounds revealed that the extrusion-ultrasound process influence the viscosity, storage and loss moduli. The dispersion and distribution of nanoparticles improved the electromagnetic radiation shield (approximately 35%). The dielectric constant changed from 2.21 (pristine PP) to 9.02 for the compounds, which enables a good level of electrostatic charge dissipation.