An investigation on the impact properties of nanocomposite based on polypropylene/graphenenanosheets/ nano clay using response surface methodology

In this study, using design of experiments, the effect of hybrid graphenenanosheets and nano clay and compatibilizer maleic anhydride -grafted -polypropylene (PP-g-MA) on the impact strength polypropylene-based nanocomposites were investigated. Design of experiments and analysis of experimental data with Minitab 16 software and response surface methodology were carried out. Making nanocomposites, based on the melt mixing was performed. Statistical models provided by response surface methodology good agreement with experimental results and with respect to the values of R-sq and R-sq (adj) have a good reputation. Statistical analysis showed that increasing the percentage of nanoparticles, impact strength decreases. Compounds morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was performed. Micrographes showed better dispersion of the particles in lower percentages. Thermal analysis using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the presence of graphene have little effect on the melting temperature of the sample being tested, but Tc of nanocomposites compared with pure PP, has increased about 4 percent. Also Thecrystallinity was reduced by adding graphene. In the non-graphenenanocomposites, the clay did not affect the melting temperature,but the crystallinityand crystallization temperature increased 10.73 % and 2.23 % respectively compared with pure PP that showed nucleation effect of nano clay.