Glycerol-treated polypropylene/carbon black nanocomposites: Analysis of electrical, rheological, thermal and mechanical properties

Electrically conductive nanocomposites based on polypropylene (PP) were prepared using carbon black (CB) nanoparticles via melt blending in the presence of glycerol and castor oil as hydroxyl functional dispersing aids and maleic anhydride–grafted polypropylene (MAgPP) as a compatibilizer. Initially, electrical conductivity of PP/CB nanocomposites with different dosages of both CB nanoparticles and dispersing aids were investigated through electrical analysis. Results indicated that castor oil had no beneficial effects on electrical conductivity. However, the efficiency of 3 wt% loading of glycerol was verified through measurements of electrical, rheological, thermal and mechanical properties as well as by morphological studies. The volume electrical conductivity value of PP nanocomposites containing 12 wt% CB significantly enhanced to 1.2 × 10 −4 S/cm by adding 3 wt% glycerol in compared with nanocomposite without glycerol with the volume conductivity value of 1.8 × 10 −6 S/cm. Incorporation of optimum amount of glycerol favoured the dispersion of nanofiller in the matrix which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy observations, leading to higher conductivity due to better formation of conductive pathways within the matrix. Additionally, at the same concentration of CB nanofiller, samples treated with 3 wt% glycerol showed higher melting temperatures, storage modulus ( Gˊ), complex viscosity, tensile modulus and elongation at break. These findings indicate that adding an optimum amount of an efficient hydroxyl functional component like glycerol into PP/CB nanocomposite can be a promising way to enhance the electrically conductive performance while other properties could be maintained well or even improved.