Preparation and physical properties of polypropylene nanocomposites with dodecylated graphene nanoplatelets

The most important practical application of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) would be as nanofillers for polymer nanocomposites. However, the modification of GNPs is needed to improve the interfacial adhesion between GNPs and a polymer matrix. Therefore, in this study, the alkylation of GNPs by dodecylamine was carried out via chemical reactions between the amine groups of the alkyl amine and the carboxyl and epoxy groups of the oxidized GNPs’ surfaces. The dodecylation of the GNPs was confirmed by FTIR and TGA. The TGA data showed that the dodecyl-GNPs comprised alkyl groups 2.4%. Polypropylene nanocomposites with the dodecyl-GNPs were prepared in a platy shape by melt-blending followed by compression molding. The mechanical and thermal properties of the nanocomposites were measured by UTM, izod impact tester, DSC and DMA. Compared to the neat PP sample, the flexural modulus, flexural strength and impact strength of the PP nanocomposite with the dodecyl-GNPs 0.5 phr were increased by 38, 4 and 34% respectively. The fracture surfaces’ images of the nanocomposites taken by SEM showed that the dodecylation of the GNPs improved the interfacial adhesion between the GNPs and the PP matrix.