MECHANICAL AND STRUCTURAL ENHANCEMENT OF POLYPROPYLENE NANOCOMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH TIO₂ NANOPARTICLES

• Diyar Habeeb

  Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon 51013, Iraq

  Author

• Noora Ghanim Tuaimah

  Directorate of Education in Al-Muthanna Governorate Vocational Education Department

  Author

This study investigates the influence of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on the microstructure and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) based nanocomposites. TiO2 nanoparticles were incorporated in 1, 3, and 6% into the polypropylene using ultrasonication and then compounding them using screw extruder. Microscopic examination confirmed that the sequential processing of ultrasonic and extrusion treatment was crucial for ensuring even dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles throughout the PP matrix while reducing agglomeration. The results demonstrated that the mechanical properties, including hardness, tensile strength, and elastic modulus, improved with the addition of 1–3 wt% TiO2 nanoparticles, but declined at 6 wt% due to potential particle agglomeration and a decrease in interfacial effectiveness. Likewise, the density of the composites increased with the addition of 1-3 wt% TiO2, but decreased at the higher loading of 6 wt%. Tribological tests showed that adding TiO2 nanoparticles led to a significant reduction in wear volume loss. The lowest volume loss of wear at a sliding velocity of 0. 4 m/s was observed in the PP reinforced with 6 wt% TiO2.

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