Effect of Graphene Oxide on Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polypropylene Nanocomposites

In this study, modified-graphene oxide/polypropylene nanocomposites with varying nanofiller concentrations were prepared, their mechanical and thermal properties characterized i. e. strength, viscoelasticity, crystallinity and toughness properties. The results indicate modified-graphene oxide on isotactic polypropylene had different directional trends. Neat isotactic polypropylene displayed superior properties to isotactic polypropylene nanocomposites in Young's modulus, elongation at break and toughness. On the other hand, isotactic polypropylene nanocomposites displayed enhanced properties to neat isotactic polypropylene in tensile strength (? 1.6%), storage modulus (? 25%), loss modulus (? 15%) and crystallinity (? 15%). The enhancement of mechanical properties in isotactic polypropylene nanocomposites in this work is attributed to the high specific surface area of reduced graphene oxide sheets and their better dispersion in polymeric matrix as confirmed using light microscopy.