Mechanical properties and morphologies of polypropylene composites synergistically reinforced-toughened by styrene–butadiene rubber and graphene oxide nanosheets. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Zhengjun; Guo, Yi; Yan, Lei; Bian, Jun; Liu, Hongcai; Huang, Huan; Lin, Hailan; Sude, Ma; Lijun, Wang; Gu, Zhijie
• Is Part Of: Journal of thermoplastic composite materials. Volume 33:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 413
• Page End: 431
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Polypropylene -- styrene–butadiene rubber -- graphene nanosheets -- composites -- mechanical properties; Thermoplastic composites -- Periodicals; 668.423
• DOI: 10.1177/0892705719843965
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0892-7057

Abstract

Chemically reduced graphene (C- r GO) nanosheets were first prepared from graphene oxide (GO), and then the polypropylene (PP) composites synergistically reinforced–toughened by styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR), and C- r GO nanosheets were fabricated via melt blending. The mechanical properties of PP can be considerably improved by synergistically filling with C- r GO nanosheets and SBR, especially for the notched Izod impact strength (IS). The results from the X-ray diffraction, polarizing optical micrographs, scanning electron microscope, differential scanning calorimetric, dynamic mechanical analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis measurements reveal that: (1) the β -phase crystal structure of the PP is formed when the C- r GO and SBR are synergistically filled with PP and its formation plays a role for the enhancement of the impact strength for PP/SBR/C- r GO composites; (2) the dispersion of the C- r GO and SBR in the PP/SBR/C- r GO composites is homogeneous, indicating that synergistic incorporating method decreases the aggregation of nanosheets and thus increases the sites for dissipation of shock for impact energy in the PP/SBR/C- r GO composites; and (3) the thermal analysis shows high thermal stability for the PP/SBR/C- r GO composites.