Abstract

Modification of polymer matrices has a great insterest in the field of new materials, based on the possibilities offered by the additivation, being able to modulate the properties of the base material depending on the incorporated aggregates. Among the improvements searched include the increase in the mechanical strength of the material or the improvement in the interaction with other materials (adhesion), in addition to providing multifunctionality, combining properties of materials separately in order to obtain a composite with improved properties.

This study focuses on the modification of a polypropylene-ethylene co-polymer by the incorporation of nanoclays and carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in low concentrations (0.1% by weight). In order to facilitate the dispersion of the nanomaterials in the matrix by mixing and extrusion, maleic anhydride was used as a compatibilizer. The behavior of these composites was characterized by studying the variation of torque during the compounding, in addition to analize the melt flow index (MFI) and perform an analysis by DSC, TGA and TEM of the composites obtained. Based on the low polarity of polypropylene, the introduction into the matrix of maleic anhydride provides a certain polarity in the composite, so the increase in the surface energy of the different formulations is studied by contact angle measurements (using the OWRK/Fowkes method). The increase in surface energy involves a greater affinity for polar materials, such as polyurethane (PU) or other foams.