Study On Structure And Performance Of Polypropylene/Tetrapod-shaped Zinc Oxide Whisker Composites

As a novel reinforcing material, T-ZnOw has a broad application prospect because of itshigh strength, tenacity, conductive and many other functions that come of the uniquethree-dimensional structure. PP, as a general-purpose plastic, has been widely used in variousindustries for its well general performance. However, PP’s bad toughness, shrinkage and poorlow-temperature-resistant property, easy to produce static electricity in itself have greatlylimited the development and application. Therefore, research PP/T-ZnOw composites toextend the use of PP has an important practical significance.In this paper, PP/T-ZnOw composites had been prepared by twin-roll mixing process.The interface modified treatment between PP and T-ZnOw, effect of the type and dosage ofT-ZnOw and influences of PP type on the properties of composites had been studied. PPcrystallization behavior was also explored.Surface coating method, acidification method and silane coupling agent method had beenused, aiming at modifying T-ZnOw whisker. Results showed that: the use of coupling agentdeal with the best general performance among these three methods; The addition of1%JH-0174silane coupling agent made a better PP’s yield strength and the resistivity decreasedby three order of magnitude than PP. When the dosage of T-ZnOw was10%, a maximum ofyield strength and rupture strength occurred while impact strength declined along with anincreased dosage of T-ZnOw; A better electrical performance can be gained when the dosageof T-ZnOw was between10%and15%. When the dosage of PP-g-MAH reached to8%, theyield strength came to the maximum; Resistivity had decreased along with the increasing ofPP-g-MAH. When the graft rate of PP-g-MAH was1.4%, the electrical resistivity decreasedto9.13×10~9while a1.5%graft rate PP-g-MAH came to a better mechanical performance.A three-dimensional spatial structure of T-ZnOw was observed by scanning electronmicroscope (SEM). It can also found better resin-coated whisker due to the addition ofcoupling agent. Polarizing microscope (POM) showed an obvious nucleation of T-ZnOw. Ananalysis of DSC on T-ZnOw had proved that the crystallization temperature was higher with the addition of T-ZnOw so as to a faster crystal rate, indicating that modifier enhanced theheterogeneous nucleation effect of PP.