Investigation of the effect of graphene on the mechanical properties and crystallinity of composites of polypropylene/short glass fiber

Faramarz Ashenai Ghasemi^*, Ismail Ghasemi, Amin Ghorbani

Tabriz Journal of Mechanical Engineering, Volume 47, Issue 1, 2017(4), Pages 9-17. (ISC)

Abstract

In this work, mechanical and thermal properties of ternary nanocomposites based on the polypropylene/short glass fiber/graphene nanoplatelets have been studied. The different groups of composites were produced using an internal mixer machine including 10, 20, 30 Wt.% of glass fiber and 0, 1, 2 Wt.% of exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (xGnP). Then, standard specimens of tensile and impact tests were obtained by pressing. To investigate mechanical properties, we used uniaxial tensile test and charpy impact test. Also the melting, crystallinity temperatures and degree of crystallinity DSC test was performed. As well as morphology of samples was that applied by SEM. SEM images showed, that graphene presence has been improved fiber-matrix adhesion. The results showed that samples with much glass fiber have higher modulus and impact strength. Using graphene in samples with 10% and 20% glass fiber increase modulus. The use of 1% nano-graphene enhances tensile and impact strength and elongation, whereas presence of 2% graphene reduce strength and elongation. The DSC results showed that addition of xGnP to reinforced polypropylene with 10% glass fiber increases the crystallization temperature. Moreover presence of 1% graphene reduces the degree of crystallinity.

Key Words

Nanocomposite; Polypropylene; Graphene nanoplatelets; Mechanical properties; Thermal properties.

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