Mechanical properties and crystallization behavior of polypropylene non-woven fabrics reinforced with POSS and SiO2 nanoparticles

PP/POSS and PP/SiO₂ composite non-woven fabrics filled with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) and SiO₂ respectively using a convenient blending method were prepared through melt-blown process with corona charging. The morphology of the composite fibers and the distribution of POSS and SiO₂ nanoparticles in PP matrix were investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscope (FSEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. POSS and SiO₂ can act as nucleating agent and accelerate the crystallization process during nonisothermal cooling. The shear storage modulus G??, loss modulus G??, and complex viscosity ??* of non-woven fabric reduce when 1 wt % POSS was added and increase for PP5/POSS composite non-woven fabric compared with pure PP non-woven fabrics. However, all G??, G?? and ??* of PP/SiO₂ non-woven fabric decrease with increasing SiO₂ content owing to plasticization by SiO₂. Both stress and elongation at break of the PP/POSS melt-blown non-woven fabrics are improved compared with PP non-woven fabrics, however decrease when SiO₂ was added, as compared to the neat PP non-woven fabric. The onset temperature of decomposition for both the PP/POSS and PP/SiO₂ composite non-woven fabrics is higher (5?C10 °C) than pure PP and char content is increased with increasing POSS and SiO₂.