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Impact properties and rheological behavior of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet-filled impact modified polypropylene nanocomposites

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Abstract

Exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnP)-filled impact modified polypropylene (IMPP) composites were prepared at 2, 4, 6, and 8 wt% xGnP with and without the addition of a coupling agent and manufactured using melt mixing followed by injection molding. The coupling agent used in this study was polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride. The nanoparticles used were xGnP with three different sizes: xGnP5 has an average thickness of 10 nm, and an average platelet diameter of 5 μm, whereas xGnP15 and xGnP25 have the same thickness but average diameters are 15 and 25 μm, respectively. Test results show that nanocomposites with smaller xGnP diameter exhibited better impact properties for both neat and compatibilized composites. However, unnotched and notched impact strengths as well as fracture initiation resistance were dramatically deteriorated with the introduction of xGnP. Explanation of this brittle behavior in a nanoplatelet-filled IMPP is presented using melt flow index and transmission electron microscopy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Structures and Composites Center (AEWC) Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    Alex J. Duguay, Alper Kiziltas, Jacques W. Nader, Douglas J. Gardner & Habib J. Dagher

  2. Department of Forest Industry Engineering, Faculty of Forestry, University of Bartin, 74100, Bartin, Turkey

    Alper Kiziltas

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  1. Alex J. Duguay
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  2. Alper Kiziltas
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  3. Jacques W. Nader
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  4. Douglas J. Gardner
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  5. Habib J. Dagher
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Correspondence to Alper Kiziltas.

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Duguay, A.J., Kiziltas, A., Nader, J.W. et al. Impact properties and rheological behavior of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelet-filled impact modified polypropylene nanocomposites. J Nanopart Res 16, 2307 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2307-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-014-2307-4

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