Effect of carbon nanotubes and processing methods on the properties of carbon nanotube/polypropylene composites.

The effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and processing methods on the morphological, crystalline, dynamic mechanical, mechanical and electrical properties of MWCNT/polypropylene (PP) composites has been investigated by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile and electric conductivity tests. The MWCNTs have been functionalized covalently and noncovalently for better dispersion in the PP matrix. A homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs was achieved in the PP matrix as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy.