Self photostabilizing UV-durable MWCNT/polymer nanocomposites

TitleSelf photostabilizing UV-durable MWCNT/polymer nanocomposites
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsLonkar, SP, Kushwaha, OS, Leuteritz, A, Heinrich, G, Singh, RP
JournalRSC Advances
Volume2
Issue32
Pagination12255-12262
Date PublishedOCT
Type of ArticleArticle
ISSN2046-2069
Abstract

A potentially active hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) was successfully anchored onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and used as a light-stabilizing yet reinforcing multifunctional nanofiller to obtain UV-durable polymer nanocomposites. The influence of such light stabilizing MWCNTs on the photo-oxidation behaviour and structure-properties of polypropylene (PP) was studied. The composites were prepared by solution mixing of MWCNTs followed by melt compounding with polypropylene (PP). The resulting composite exhibits excellent UV-durability showing an almost 20 fold increase in the induction period of photo-oxidation. Moreover, the hydrophobic HALS was found to be compatibilizing enough to achieve homogeneous dispersion of exfoliated nanotubes into a polymer matrix. The rheological characterizations predict the formation of a percolated network structure. The obtained nanocomposites present markedly improved mechanical properties which underline the reinforcing ability of functionalized MWCNTs. Overall combination of HALS and MWCNTs offers an attractive route to combine multifunctionality into new hybrid UV-durable polymer nanocomposites. Such materials may possess great potential for outdoors high performance applications.

DOI10.1039/c2ra21583g
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign)Foreign
Impact Factor (IF)2.562
Divison category: 
Polymer Science & Engineering