Characterizing Biaxiallly Stretched Polypropylene / Graphene Nanoplatelet Composites

Beatriz Mayoral Lahuerta, Gary Menary, Peter Martin, Graham Garrett, Bronagh Millar, Paula Douglas, Noor Khanam, Mariam AlMaadeed, Mabrouk Ouederni, Andrew Hamilton, Dan Sun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
126 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In this work, polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites containing different weight concentration of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) were prepared by melt-mixing using an industrial-scale, co-rotating, intermeshing, twin-screw extruder. The materials were then compression moulded into sheets, and biaxially stretched at different stretching ratios (SRs) below the PP melting temperature. The effects of GNP content and biaxial stretching on the bulk properties of unfilled PP and PP/GNP nanocomposites have been investigated in details. Results show that the addition of GNP (> 5 wt%) can lead to electrically conductive composites due to the formation of percolation network. The GNP have led to increased polymer crystallinity and enhanced materials stiffness and strength. Biaxial stretching process further enhances the materials mechanical properties but has slightly decreased the composites electrical conductivity. The PP/GNP nanocomposites were also processed into 3D demonstrator parts using vacuum forming, and the properties of which were comparable with biaxially stretched composites.
Original languageEnglish
JournalFrontiers in Materials
Early online date18 Jun 2021
DOIs
Publication statusEarly online date - 18 Jun 2021

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Characterizing Biaxiallly Stretched Polypropylene / Graphene Nanoplatelet Composites'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this