Holistic analysis of nanocomposites of carbon nanotube with polypropylene

ABSTRACT

Polypropylene (PP) is commonly used thermoplastic polymer, mostly formed via chain-growth polymerisation. Carbon nanotube (CNT) is a remarkable nanofiller for polymers having high electrical conductivity, tensile strength, modulus, and thermal conductivity. The aim of this overview is to present design, synthesis strategies, characteristics, and applications of polypropylene/carbon nanotube (PP/CNT)-based nanomaterials. Combination of PP with CNT has consequence applications in fuel cell components, radiation shielding, strain sensing, and non-flammable materials. Surface treatment of nanoparticles may further enhance interfacial interactions to progress comprehensive features of PP/CNT nanocomposites. Furthermore, it discusses challenges and opportunities to facilitate the production of next-generation high-performance PP/CNT nanocomposite.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Polypropylene
• carbon nanotube
• nanocomposite
• fuel cell
• non-flammable

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ayesha Kausar

Ayesha Kausar has experience of working at National Centre for Physics, Islamabad, Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, and National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. She obtained her PhD from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad/KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology), Graduate School of EEWS, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Her research interests include: synthesis, characterization and structure-property relationships of new polymeric materials; synthesis of nanomaterials including organic–inorganic nanocomposites/hybrid materials; polymeric blends via incorporating nanoparticles into thin polymer films; exploring practical and potential prospects of the novel synthesized materials (new polymers and nanomaterials) counting morphological, mechanical, thermal, electrical, conducting, etc.; flame retardant materials; proton conducting fuel cell membranes; nanocomposites for polymer Li-ion battery electrodes; composites based on electrospun nanofibers; production of various polymeric nanoparticles and their composites for solar cells; polymer/carbon nanotube/nanoparticle composites for water treatment; potential of polymer/graphite nanocomposites; polymer/graphene hybrids; polymer/fullerene nanomaterials; fabrication of epoxy-based nanocomposite for various applications; radar absorbing materials; aerospace relevance, and other technical relevances.