WATER VAPOR TRANSPORT ENHANCEMENT THROUGH ISOTACTIC POLYPROPYLENE BY INCORPORATING MULTIWALLED CARBON NANOTUBES

Abstract

In the present work, the incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in isotactic polypropylene (i-PP) was examined in terms of water vapor transport. The structure of the composites, as well as the MWCNT dispersion, was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy was employed to study the electrical properties of the nanocomposites. The composite membranes were prepared by a melt mixing procedure. The incorporation of MWCNTs resulted in a 12-fold increase in the specific water vapor transmission rate. Water vapor transport properties were found to be limited by efficient obstructive nanotube agglomerate formation for high MWCNT loadings.