Characterisation and modelling of polypropylene/carbon nanofibre nanocomposites

In this paper we describe the production of a polypropylene (PP)/carbon nanofibre (CNF) nanocomposite, and subsequent characterisation of the structure and properties of the nanocomposite material at various stages of blending. Dispersion of the CNF throughout the matrix PP was monitored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and analysis of the lengths of the individual CNF was estimated using dynamic light scattering (DLS). This latter technique enabled a comparison to be made between the measured Young's modulus of the material and that predicted by micromechanical modelling, using the fibre length as determined by DLS. The temperature performance of the nanocomposite material was determined, and this behaviour has also been modelled.