Natural Nanotubes Reinforcing Heterophasic Polypropylene

Nanocomposites of high-impact polypropylene resin and organosilane-functionalized nanotubes in halloysite clay were prepared with the introduction of peroxide to promote selective incorporation of the filler into the polypropylene phase of the matrix, with minor insertion into the EPR elastomeric phase, thus improving the stiffness while preserving the high toughness of the material. Silica composites were also prepared as standard filler. The effect of increasing load content on the morphological and mechanical properties of this material was evaluated by SEM and DMA. The content of the hexane-extracted fraction of these composites after processing was evaluated. Halloysite was well-dispersed in the matrix. Composites with 10% of filler and 0.5% w/w of dicumyl peroxide had increased stiffness and higher loss factor. An increase of the E’ was generated by halloysite addition, but there was a higher decrease in Tan delta. Studies using experimental planning as a tool enabled choosing appropriate amounts of DCP to obtain a high performance composite.

nanocomposite; polypropylene; halloysite nanotubes; statistics