Morphological, thermal and mechanical properties of 90/10 (WT %/ WT %) PP/ABS blends and their polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are modified successfully using polyethyleneimine (PEI). The HNTs and HNTs modified using PEI filled 90/10 (wt/wt) polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) blends and its nanocomposites are prepared by melt mixing technique in presence of dual compatibilizer. Droplet morphology is refined in matrix as well as selective localization of HNTs modified using PEI shows increase in crystallinity of PP phase and formation of ß-form of PP crystals. Uniform dispersion of HNTs modified using PEI in PP resulted in improvement in impact strength, tensile modulus and thermal stability. The enhancement in tensile strength, tensile modulus, and impact strength for 1 wt% of HNTs modified using PEI filled 90/10 (wt/wt) PP/ABS blends with dual compatibilizer are 14.9, 20 and 15%, respectively.