Dielectric and small angle neutron scattering analysis of molded and 3D printed polypropylene–graphene nanocomposites

Abstract: In this research the dielectric characteristics was studied for molded and 3D printed polypropylene–graphene nanocomposites. Using SANS it was observed that fractal structures formed in graphene containing molded and the 3D printed samples. The scattering intensity for molded samples was greater than the scattering intensity for the 3D printed samples. Using BDS it was observed that between 10³ and 10⁶ Hz the dielectric constant (ε′) for molded and 3D printed polypropylene is 2.9 and 3.1, for 90% PP–10% graphene molded and 3D printed samples it is ~ 40.5 ± 12.4 and ~ 12.1 ± 0.4., for 80% PP–20% graphene molded and 3D printed samples it is ~ 102.4 ± 46.0 and ~ 52.3 ± 24.8. Hence the dielectric constant at higher frequencies for molded samples is greater than that of 3D printed samples. At low frequencies, the dielectric constant for molded samples became more negative when compared to the 3D printed samples.