Effect of polystyrene-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the viscoelastic behavior and electrical properties of polypropylene-based nanocomposites

In this work, a free-radical grafting method was used to modify multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) to improve their dispersion in a polymer matrix by use of a compounding technique. By free-radical grafting for in-situ polymerization, MWNT agglomerates are turned into a networked micro-structure, which in turn builds up a strong interfacial interaction with the polymeric matrix during the mixing procedure. Polystyrene (PS)-MWNT with a hairy rod nanostructure were synthesized by in-situ free-radical polymerization of styrene monomer on the surface of MWNT. PS-MWNT/polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing. The effect of polystyrene-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotube (PSMWNT) content on the rheological properties of the polypropylene (PP)-based nanocomposites was investigated. Surface characteristics of PS-MWNT were investigated by infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy (FT-Raman), thermogravimetric analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The rheological properties of the PS-MWNT/PP composites were confirmed by rheometry. The complex viscosity of the PS-MWNT/polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites increased with increasing PS-MWNT content, primarily because of an increase in the storage modulus G′. In-situ-polymerized PS-MWNT were uniformly distributed in the PP matrix. In addition, the PS-MWNT were interconnected in the PP matrix and then formed PS-MWNT networks, resulting in the formation of a conducting network. Therefore, compared with samples with pristine MWNT, PS-MWNT-reinforced samples have lower conductivity as a resulting of PS grafting on the surface of MWNT.