Effect of addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the piezoelectric properties of polypropylene filaments

The effect of addition of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the piezoelectric properties of polypropylene (PP) monofilaments has been investigated. Various amounts of CNTs (0%, 0.01%, 0.1% and 1% weight ratios) were melt-blended with PP and the resulting nanocomposites were extruded in a continuous process with simultaneous on-line poling to produce monofilaments. Concurrent stretching at a draw ratio of 5:1 and polarisation at applied electric fields of 15 kV of PP/CNT filaments was observed to enhance the piezoelectric properties. The microstructure and crystallinity of the filaments was analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Voltage generation by the CNT-modified PP filaments was determined by the application of predetermined load impact. The results show that the incorporation of CNTs in the PP fibre structure has a considerable impact on the enhancement of piezoelectric properties of the PP filament obtained that the peak voltage generation was almost four fold (from 0.76 V to 2.92 V) when 0.1 wt% of CNTs added into the polymer. This is owing to the fact that carbon nanotubes act as nucleating agent for enhancing the crystallisation during the melt extrusion process