Polypropylene/SiO2 nanocomposites filled with different nanosilicas: thermal and mechanical properties, morphology and interphase characterization

Untreated and surface-treated SiO2 nanoparticles with different alkyl chain length (described as C0, 3C1, C8 and C16 according to the number of carbon atoms) on particle surface were used as fillers for isotactic polypropylene (iPP). The iPP/SiO2 composites containing 2.3 vol% of nanoparticles were prepared by melt blending and injection moulding. The dispersion quality of nanoparticles in matrix was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The crystallization behaviour of iPP was examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The mechanical properties of all samples were characterized by tensile test, compact tension (CT) test and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The particle–matrix interphase behaviour was also examined and discussed. SEM images show that different silicas show different dispersion quality in matrix due to different hydrophobicity. The crystallinity and spherulite size of matrix are overall decreased in composites. The tensile properties of iPP/SiO2 composites show clear relationship with alkyl chain length on particle surface, i.e. increasing alkyl chain length leads to decreased tensile modulus but increased tensile yield strength and strain, indicating increased interfacial interactions with increased alkyl chain length. The 3C1-composite shows the highest fracture toughness with an improvement by 9% compared to neat iPP, whereas the other composites show decreased values of fracture toughness.