Experimental and analytical studies on the performance of polypropylene Reinforced with multiscale MWCNT glass fiber fillers

Abstract

Polymer matrices reinforced with hybrid multiscale fillers are considered to be a newlinepromising research area for the development of advanced engineering materials. In the earlier days, polyolefins were used only for packaging applications which demand newlineonly moderate mechanical properties. However, in recent times polypropylene has newlineemerged as the most widely used commodity plastic in automobile, electronic and newlinedomestic appliances industries. The synergy of multiscale fillers in hybrid composites newlineprovides the combined benefits of individual fillers like high performance, long life newlineand light weight characteristics and at the same time mitigate their undesirable newlineproperties. The increasing demand of thermoplastic materials in engineering newlineapplications led to the emergence of nanocomposites/hybrid nanocomposites with the newlineinclusion of various nanofillers like nanosilica, nanoclay, MWCNTs, metal oxides, newlinecarbon black etc. Investigations revealed that the incorporation of nanofillers could newlineenhance the tensile strength, modulus, flexural strength, fracture toughness, impact newlinestrength, thermal stability, sorption properties, flame retardance etc. Inspite of all newlinethese improvements, the mechanical properties could not be improved beyond a newlinecertain extent and higher content of nanofillers leads to agglomerations which newlinedeteriorates the overall properties. It is well known that the incorporation of rigid newlinefillers in ductile thermoplastics enhances the tensile strength and the brittleness of the composites. However, under the effect of an external load, brittle fracture of the composites is unacceptable in many load bearing applications. Eventhough the inclusion of micro scale fillers like glass fiber increases the tensile strength, brittle failure and the density increase of the products could not be avoided. In such scenario, the introduction of hybrid multiscale fillers in polymer matrices could exploit the advantages of dual scale filler reinforcements which could contribute to the overall enhancement in mechanical properties,..