Ultra Low Carbon Nanotube Loaded Polypropylene Nanocomposites With Ultra High Electrical Conductivity

Conductive carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have successfully served as nanofillers for obtaining multifunctional polypropylene (PP) resin polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). The PNCs with different loading levels and different processing temperature were prepared. The rheological behaviors of the PNCs including viscosity at steady state, complex viscosity and viscosity storage and loss modulii in oscillation process were studied and compared with that of pure PP. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests were applied to investigate the crystal structure and crystallinity of the PNCs. And the thermal stability was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The morphology of PNCs with different processing temperature were characterized with a field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM). In addition, the surface conductivity of the PNCs were tested and explored with the dispersion of CNTs in the PP matrix shown in the SEM. Finally, the optical property and dielectric permittivity of the PNCs were studied systematically assessed as well.