Development and Characterization of Polypropylene-Carbon Nanotubes (PP-CNT) Composites: An Overview Toward Hurdles and Achievements

Abstract

A variety of engineering applications involves use of polypropylene (PP) for the production of components used in automobiles, bio-medicals, electronic packaging, machine parts and electric vehicles and so on. However, high flammability, low melting-point, low heat-resistance and incompatibility of filler materials like CNT in the matrix of polypropylene imposed challenges in the development of polypropylene and carbon nanotubes (PP-CNT) composites that has drew attention of researchers toward the development and characterization of PP-CNT composites now a days. The past research work has shown that the improved properties of PP-CNT composites are due to the good properties of PP mixed with fillers of CNT that too possesses excellent properties like high thermal conductivity, good electron mobility, and strength along with formation of conductivity networks in composite matrix. The development of PP-CNT composites faces challenges of good dispersion of CNTs in the matrix of polypropylene and the selection of best fabrication method to develop it. Therefore, the objective of this review paper is to focus on the various contributions of CNTs on the mechanical properties of advanced PP-CNT composites. The results drawn from the various research work done has been summarized for future reference and for both academic and industrial applications. This paper discussed about the present challenges faced in the development of PP-CNT composites and future directions with their application.