Improved mechanical performances of short aramid fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites by <scp>Ti₃C₂</scp> Mxene nanosheets

Abstract

Abstract Fiber‐reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites are widely used for structural bearing because of their excellent mechanical property. So, it is necessary to improve the mechanical property of fiber‐reinforced PP composites. In this present, two‐dimensional Ti 3 C 2 Mxene nanosheets were bound to short aramid fiber (SAF), forming Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets‐modified SAF (Ti 3 C 2 /SAF), aiming to improve PP mechanical property. The Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets were obtained after hydrofluoric acid etching and ultrasonically delamination procedure, followed by chemically bound to the surface of H 3 PO 4 solution‐treated SAF to form Ti 3 C 2 /SAF. The Ti 3 C 2 /SAF‐reinforced PP (Ti 3 C 2 /SAF/PP) composites were prepared by a melt blending method. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the Ti 3 C 2 /SAF modified with different concentration of Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets solution presented the distinct morphologies, with the 0.3 mg/ml Ti 3 C 2 /SAF formed a relatively uniform Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets coating on the SAF surface. Test results of mechanical performance indicated that the tensile and impact strength of Ti 3 C 2 /SAF/PP composites were significantly improved. Especially, the maximum tensile and impact strength of 0.3 Ti 3 C 2 /SAF/PP composite at 5 wt% reached to 37.8 MPa and 14.0 kJ/m 2 , which was increased by 11.5% (or 28.1%) in tensile strength and 12.9% (or 38.6%) in impact strength, compared with that of SAF/PP composite (or PP matrix). This can be attributed that Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets binding to SAF improved the interfacial bonding strength between SAF and PP. This work provides a promising strategy for improving the mechanical properties of fiber‐reinforced PP composites.