Research Article

Orientation of carbon nanotubes in polypropylene melt

  1. Dong Woo Kang,
  2. Sung Hun Ryu*

Article first published online: 12 JUN 2012

DOI: 10.1002/pi.4270

Issue

Polymer International

Polymer International

Volume 62, Issue 2, pages 152–157, February 2013

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kang, D. W. and Ryu, S. H. (2013), Orientation of carbon nanotubes in polypropylene melt. Polym. Int., 62: 152–157. doi: 10.1002/pi.4270

Author Information

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Kyunggi-Do, Korea

*Correspondence to: Sung Hun Ryu, Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Kyunggi-Do, Korea. E-mail: shryu@khu.ac.kr

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 JAN 2013
  2. Article first published online: 12 JUN 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 2 MAR 2012
  4. Manuscript Revised: 27 FEB 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 23 NOV 2011

Funded by

  • National Research Foundation of Korea. Grant Number: 2009-0076293

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Keywords:

  • single-walled carbon nanotube;
  • orientation;
  • shear stress;
  • Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

The correlation between shear stress and the orientation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in an SWCNT/polypropylene composite during the melt process was investigated. Highly oriented composite fibers were produced by extruding the polypropylene melt using a capillary rheometer. The experimental range of shear rates covered those of common polymer melt-shaping processes. The effect of functionalization of the SWCNTs on orientation was also investigated. Polarized Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze the orientation of the SWCNTs. A high degree of SWCNT orientation was observed under high shear stress, and the functionalized SWCNTs induced a higher degree of orientation than did pristine SWCNTs. The existence of a critical shear stress was observed for the orientation of the SWCNTs, and their orientation was found to occur more efficiently above this critical shear stress. The crystallization temperature and heat of fusion were characterized using a differential scanning calorimeter, and both parameters were observed to increase with the incorporation of SWCNTs. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

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