A new product was designed and produced
based on silver decorated halloysite nanotube and
polypropylene (PP), as a novel nanocomposite. Using
sodium borohydride as chemical reductant, silver
nanoparticles decorated on halloysite nanotubes were
simply and effectively synthesized via the assistance of
polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a surface modifier and also
co-capping agent for decoration of halloysite nanotubes.
The adsorption of PVP on the surface of the halloysite
nanotube by using chemical and physical interactions or
electrostatic effects could enhance the stability and dispersibility
of silver nanoparticles on the surfaces of halloysite
nanotubes. Silver decorated halloysite nanotubes
were used to prepare PP nanocomposites by melt compounding
method. A wide range of silver decorated halloysite
nanotube loading on PP was fabricated (i.e.,
2–8 mass%). The PP nanocomposites with silver decorated
nanotubes exhibit concurrence increase in thermal properties.
Morphology studies show that silver decorated halloysite
nanotubes can be dispersed in PP uniformly at
higher filler loading. DSC studies confirmed that the decorated
halloysite nanotubes facilitate the crystallization of
PP due to the heterogeneous nucleation. Silver decorated
halloysite as filler for PP showed good perspectives in
piping industry.