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. 2020 Jul 1;10(1):10714.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66855-4.

Hybrid biocomposites from polypropylene, sustainable biocarbon and graphene nanoplatelets

Ethan Watt  1 , Mohamed A Abdelwahab  1 , Michael R Snowdon  1   2 , Amar K Mohanty  3   4 , Hamdy Khalil  5 , Manjusri Misra  6   7
Affiliations

Hybrid biocomposites from polypropylene, sustainable biocarbon and graphene nanoplatelets

Ethan Watt et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Polypropylene (PP) is an attractive polymer for use in automotive parts due to its ease of processing, hydrophobic nature, chemical resistance and low density. The global shift towards eliminating non-renewable resource consumption has promoted research of sustainable biocarbon (BioC) filler in a PP matrix, but this material often leads to reduction in composite strength and requires additional fillers. Graphene nano-platelets (GnPs) have been the subject of considerable research as a nanofiller due to their strength, while maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA-g-PP) is a commonly used compatibilizer for improvement of interfacial adhesion in composites. This study compared the thermo-mechanical properties of PP/BioC/MA-g-PP/GnP composites with varying wt.% of GnP. Morphological analysis revealed uniform dispersion of BioC, while significant agglomeration of GnPs limited their even dispersion throughout the PP matrix. In the optimal blend of 3 wt.% GnP and 17 wt.% BioC biocontent, tensile strength and modulus increased by ~19% and ~22% respectively, as compared to 20 wt.% BioC biocomposites. Thermal stability and performance enhancement occurred through incorporation of the fillers. Thus, hybridization of fillers in the compatibilized matrix presents a promising route to the enhancement of material properties, while reducing petroleum-based products through use of sustainable BioC filler in composite structures.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) 3D surface plot of soyhull fiber generated by TGA-FTIR analysis for evolved gas products during heating and (b) relative amounts of volatiles generated.
Figure 2
Figure 2
SEM micrographs of cryo-fractured composites for (a) the uncompatibilized blend (80/20/0/0) and (b) in the presence of compatibilizer (77/20/3/0), with BioC/matrix interactions circled. Agglomerated GnPs were identified in both (c) 1 wt.% composites (77/19/3/1) and (d) 3 wt.% composites (77/17/3/3). Excessive GnP agglomeration was identified in 5 wt.% composites at 3,000x magnification in (e), and a low 1,000x magnification cross-section of the fracture surface for 3 wt.% GnP loading is visible in (f).
Figure 3
Figure 3
TEM image of PP/BioC/MA-g-PP/GnP (77/17/3/3) composite, with stacked GnP sheets identified at two different magnifications (a,b).
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Tensile strength and modulus, (b) flexural strength and modulus, (c) notched Izod impact strength and elongation at yield of neat PP and composites.
Figure 5
Figure 5
TGA (solid line) and derivative TGA curve (dashed line) of neat PP and composites.
Figure 6
Figure 6
DSC of (a) second heating and (b) cooling curve of neat PP and composites.
Figure 7
Figure 7
HDT of neat PP and composites.
Figure 8
Figure 8
CLTE of neat PP and composites, measured both in (a) the normal direction (ND) and (b) the flow direction (FD).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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