Flame‐Retardant Polypropylene/Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites: Effects of Surface Functionalization and Surfactant Molecular Weight

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Abstract
Flame‐retardant polypropylene (PP)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposites influenced by surface functionalization and surfactant molecular weights are studied. 3‐Aminopropyl‐triethoxysilane (APTES) is utilized to modify the CNTs (f‐CNTs), and maleic‐anhydride‐grafted PP (MAPP) with two molecular weights ( of 800 and 8000 g mol−1) is used to further improve the dispersion of f‐CNTs in the PP matrix. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC) reveal that the molecular weight of MAPP directly affects the thermal stability and flammability of PP/f‐CNTs PNCs: both MAPP polymers ( of 800 and 8000 g mol−1) increase the thermal stability of PP; however, the heat release rate of PP/f‐CNTs is reduced in the presence of MAPP ( of 800 g mol−1) and increased in the presence of MAPP ( of 8000 g mol−1). MAPP ( of 800 g mol−1) also results in a lower viscosity of the PP/f‐CNTs PNCs compared with pure PP. image

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