Rheological and electrical properties of polypropylene/MWCNT composites prepared with MWCNT masterbatch chips

Melt compounded PP/MWCNT (polypropylene/multi-walled carbon nanotube) composites were prepared by diluting highly concentrated masterbatch chips. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) was used as a compatibilizer to promote dispersion and interaction of MWCNTs. Rheological properties were investigated with respect to the MWCNT and compatibilizer loadings, and related to morphological and electrical properties. As the MWCNT loading was increased, shear viscosity and yield stress were increased at low shear rate region because of increased interaction between MWCNT particles. When the MWCNT loading was low, MWCNT dispersion was improved by the PP-g-MAH compatibilizer because MWCNTs were wetted sufficiently due to the presence of the compatibilizer. However, theological and electrical properties of highly concentrated MWCNT composites with the compatibilizer were not improved compared with PP/MWCNT composites without the compatibilizer because the compatibilizer did not provide sufficient wrapping of MWCNT particles. Electrical and morphological properties of PP/MWCNT composites were correlated with the theological properties in steady and dynamic oscillatory shear flows. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.