Tailoring polypropylene performance: A concentration-dependent study of carbon nanotube impact on crystallization and thermal stability

This study investigates the enhancement of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) properties through the incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to improve thermal stability and processability. The addition of CNTs raises the crystallization temperature by approximately 10°C and enhances crystallinity by 4.8% at 1.0 wt% CNTs, demonstrating dual functionality as nucleating agents that promote the α-phase during crystallization without altering overall kinetics. The iPP/CNT composites exhibit superior high-temperature performance due to increased char formation, which enhances structural integrity. A novel parameter for quantifying the nucleating efficiency of CNTs is introduced, providing a robust framework for optimizing the use of CNTs in high-performance polypropylene composites, particularly for automotive and aerospace applications.