THE INFLUENCES OF MELT-COMPOUNDING PARAMETERS ON THE TENSILE PROPERTIES OF LOW FILLER LOADING OF UNTREATED-MWCNTs-POLYPROPYLENE (PP) NANOCOMPOSITES

This study is to investigate the effects of addition self synthesised multi-walledcarbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), to the final properties of polypropylene (PP)matrix nanocomposites. The influences of melt blending parameters wereevaluated, where the interrelationship between the temperatures ofcompounding and roller rotor speed of shearing blade parameter, to the tensileproperties of fabricated composites were studied. MWCNT was synthesised inthe laboratory scale; by using the floating catalyst chemical vapour deposition(FC-CVD) method. Pre-compounding work is begun with de-agglomeration ofMWCNT which carried out by combining the ultrasonication and mechanicalstirrer means simultaneously. Carbon nanotubes produced was first verified byusing SEM and TEM imaging microscopy techniques. It was later integratedwith the thermoplastic PP matrix, via melt blending process through internallymixing approach. Very low weight percentage of chemically untreatedMWCNT (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 1.00 wt. %) was added into PP and later wascompression moulded to the thin sheet of composites film. Composites wereprepared by varying the compounding temperature into three processingtemperature namely 165, 175 185°C and also into three shearing speed ofroller rotor blade, 40, 60 80 rpm respectively. Later, it was mechanicallytested via tensile testing following the ASTM D-638 standard method. Theinterrelationship between each parameter of compounding to the mechanicaltensile properties was tested. It was shown that, the additional of very lowloading of untreated-MWCNT filler content, does give moderate effects onreinforcement to the tensile properties of composite. Different compoundingparameter gives significant difference to the pattern of plot which wascomparable between each other.