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Author
Kashiwagi, T. | Grulke, E. | Hilding, J. | Harris, R. H., Jr. | Awad, W. | Douglas, J. F.
Title
Thermal Degradation and Flammability Properties of Polypropylene-Carbon Nanotube Composites.
Coporate
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD University of Kentucky, Lexington
Journal
Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Vol. 23, No. 13, 761-765, 2002
Keywords
nanocomposites | thermal degradation | flammability | polypropylene | flame retardants
Identifiers
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
Abstract
Nanocomposites based on polypropylene and carbon nanotubes (up to 2 vol.-%) were melt blended, yielding a good dispersion of nanotubes without using any organic treatment or additional additives. Carbon nanotubes are found to significantly enhance the thermal stability of polypropylene in nitrogen at high temperatures. Specifically, the nanotube additives greatly reduced the heat release rate of poly(propylene). They are found to be at least as effective a flame retardant as clay/poly(propylene) nanocomposites.