Tensile strength polypropylene nanocomposites

Polypropylene nanocomposites are remarkable for their better mechanical properties, such as high tensile strength and modulus, and for their dimensional stability. They have a wide range of applications in the automotive sector [7-11]. The PP composites are used in automotive industry as battery supports, instmment panel carriers, body panel reinforcements, front-end modulus, underbody aerodynamic covers, electronic boxes, pedals and their supports, door panels and door modules, bumper beams, fender extensions, wheel covers, hub caps, and trim rings for wheels (Fig. 11.4). 

Tjong et al. produced polypropylene nanocomposites with 2 wt.% exfoliated vermiculite after pre-treating the vermiculite with maleic anhydride for in-situ compatibilizer generation the vermiculite aspect ratio was at least twice that of the montmorillonite. The tensile modulus improved from 0.84 GPa for their neat PP to 1.3 GPa for the 2 wt.% nanocomposite. The tensile strength improvement was also more striking going up from 28 MPa to 37 MPa. 

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