A study of the structure and dielectric properties of nanocomposites based on polypropylene and zirconia nanoparticles

New nanocomposite structures on the base of isotactic polypropylene and nanoparticles of zirconium dioxide have been developed. The distribution of nanoparticles of zirconium dioxide have been studied by optical microscopy (Motic AE 30/31) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM, Carl Zeiss). It is demonstrated that even on the first stage of mixing components the direct introduction of nano powder into the polymeric matrix produces cluster-like fractal dendrite structures. Electron microscopy study of the investigated samples shows that the developed technology of nanocomposite preparation allows for homogenous dispersion of the zirconium dioxide nanoparticles in the polypropylene matrix. Dielectric properties of the developed and prepared nanocomposites have been analyzed. It has been found out that in PP+ZrO2 nanocomposites a change of a dielectric permittivity, depending on frequency, is due to low-frequency polarization. (authors)