Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO): Polypropylene (PP) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO): PP nanocomposites were prepared by reinforce separately by adding 0.05wt.%, 0.1wt.%, 0.2wt.%, 0.5wt.%, 1.0wt.% and 2.0wt.% in the PP by solution blend method. GO, RGO and their PP composites were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR showed that GO consists of functional moieties, which are absent in RGO. XRD patterns illustrated exfoliation of graphite to GO with an increased interlayer spacing of 1.03nm, which decreased in RGO (interlayer spacing 0.37nm). FESEM images showed separate sheets of GO; and RGO with mostly wrapped surface. TGA results illustrated the improvement in thermal stability of GOPP and RGOPP nanocomposites with respect to virgin PP. The tensile strength of nanocomposites of GOPP and RGOPP was improved and recorded as 44 MPa and 42 MPa respectively over the virgin PP (28 MPa). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of GOPP and RGOPP nanocomposites also showed improvement in the storage modulus compared to neat PP. Morphological images indicated smoothing of the surface due to uniform dispersion and chain holding capacity of GO and RGO. The overall study also shows that GOPP registered better thermal and mechanical properties as compared to RGOPP.

Keywords: Polypropylene; Graphene oxide; Reduce graphene oxide; Thermal properties; Mechanical properties