The mechanisms of reinforcement of polypropylene by graphene nanoplatelets

A detailed analysis has been undertaken of the mechanisms of reinforcement of polypropylene (PP) by the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP). The PP/GNP nanocomposites were processed by melt mixing followed by injection moulding and microstructure was fully characterized. It was found that the GNPs increased the thermal stability of the PP and aided crystal nucleation. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were evaluated using both tensile testing and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The addition of GNPs led to a significant increase in the Young's modulus of the PP, coupled with a decrease in the yield stress and a reduction in the elongation to failure. Stress transfer from the PP matrix to the GNP reinforcement was followed from stress-induced shifts of the 2D Raman band and the effective Young's modulus of the GNPs in the nanocomposites was found to be about 100 GPa, shown to be consistent with the expected value. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.