Enhanced nanomechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites reinforced with surface engineered carbon nanotubes using barium titanate

This study presents enhanced nanomechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) using surface engineered carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via decoration with barium titanate (BT). The CNTs decorated BT (BT@CNTs) were prepared by hydrothermal and self-assembly approach. The nanoparticles were surface functionalized to enhance dispersion in the PP matrix. The nanocomposites were developed via melt mixing and compression techniques. From the analyses conducted, PP/BT@CNTs nanocomposites showed more uniform microstructures compared to PP/CNTs due to the presence of BT, which assisted CNTs in the dispersion. Although all the nanocomposites revealed higher nanomechanical properties compared to pure PP, it was more pronounced with nanocomposites containing BT@CNTs.