Polypropylene nanocomposites reinforced with low weight percent graphene nanoplatelets

Polypropylene (PP) based graphene nanocomposites (NCs) find diverse applications in material science such as a material for making lightweight storage tanks. Herein, NCs with graphene nanoparticles (GnPs) and PP were prepared, using solution mixing method. GnPs have a slight effect on the crystalline structure of PP, as shown by X ray diffraction (XRD) results; thereby rendering the functionality of PP intact. There were little changes in the rheological behavior of the composite and the frictional losses incurred due to mobility of polymer chains were reduced with an increase in the GnP loading from 0.5% to 5% a range not yet explored. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.