Flow-Induced Structuring of Polypropylene-Based Composites for Improved Mechanical and Thermal Performance
- 1Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Viale Teresa Michel, 5, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
- 2Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali (INSTM), Via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Florence, Italy
Abstract
Polypropylene (PP)/hexagonal boron nitride (BN) composites were formulated through melt compounding and subsequently subjected to non-isothermal uniaxial elongational flow to assess how flow-induced microstructural evolution governs mechanical and thermal performance. Rheological characterization of the isotropic, as-compounded materials revealed increasing melt elasticity with BN loading. At 25 wt% BN, a pseudo-solid-like response emerged, suggesting the development of an incipient interconnected filler structure. In the isotropic state, BN increased stiffness, tensile strength, and thermal conductivity, with only minor effects on PP crystallinity. The application of the non-isothermal elongational flow further improved the mechanical response, particularly at high BN loading, indicating an additional contribution from flow-induced reorganization of the filler phase. X-ray diffraction confirmed the preferential alignment of BN platelets along the fiber direction. This structural reorganization was accompanied by an increase in thermal conductivity of approximately 56% for PP containing 25 wt% BN. Overall, the obtained results demonstrate that non-isothermal elongational flow can effectively tailor BN orientation and polymer-chain organization, providing a solvent-free and scalable route to enhance the mechanical and thermal performance of PP/BN composites.
Related
- Investigation of crack initiation, and mechanical behavior of polypropylene and polymer-based composites under plastic deformation in automotive brake fluid reservoirs
- The Role of Carbon Fibers in FFF 3D Printed Composites: A Comprehensive Review on the Effect on Mechanical Properties, Fracture Toughness, and Tribological Performance
- Mechanical performance of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites with critical assessment of recent advances and future perspectives
- Mechanical performance and eco-efficiency of thermoplastic polyurethane composites reinforced with recycled tire rubber
- Physics-Informed Deep Learning Surrogate for Mechanical-Response Prediction and Failure Assessment of High-Performance Polymer Composites
BibTeX
@article{arrigo2026flowinduced,
title = {{Flow-Induced Structuring of Polypropylene-Based Composites for Improved Mechanical and Thermal Performance}},
author = {Rossella Arrigo and Mohammad Parhami Alamdari and Alberto Frache},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/polym18202588},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2588},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Flow-Induced Structuring of Polypropylene-Based Composites for Improved Mechanical and Thermal Performance
AU - Rossella Arrigo
AU - Mohammad Parhami Alamdari
AU - Alberto Frache
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18202588
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2588
AB - Polypropylene (PP)/hexagonal boron nitride (BN) composites were formulated through melt compounding and subsequently subjected to non-isothermal uniaxial elongational flow to assess how flow-induced microstructural evolution governs mechanical and thermal performance. Rheological characterization of the isotropic, as-compounded materials revealed increasing melt elasticity with BN loading. At 25 wt% BN, a pseudo-solid-like response emerged, suggesting the development of an incipient interconnected filler structure. In the isotropic state, BN increased stiffness, tensile strength, and thermal conductivity, with only minor effects on PP crystallinity. The application of the non-isothermal elongational flow further improved the mechanical response, particularly at high BN loading, indicating an additional contribution from flow-induced reorganization of the filler phase. X-ray diffraction confirmed the preferential alignment of BN platelets along the fiber direction. This structural reorganization was accompanied by an increase in thermal conductivity of approximately 56% for PP containing 25 wt% BN. Overall, the obtained results demonstrate that non-isothermal elongational flow can effectively tailor BN orientation and polymer-chain organization, providing a solvent-free and scalable route to enhance the mechanical and thermal performance of PP/BN composites.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -