THE INFLUENCE OF THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PP/TALC COMPOSITES

Matjaž Denac¹, Vojko Musil^2
1University of Maribor, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Maribor
²University of Maribor, EPF Maribor, Institute of Technology

ABSTRACT

Recent investigations have shown that modification of polymer matrix with filler and elastomers significantly affects composite's mechanical properties. Isotactic PP modified with either untreated or treated talc and either SEBS or SEBS-gMA were used in these investigations. Samples were prepared by melt-mixing in a Brabender kneading chamber and were compression molded into plates on a laboratory press. The composites were characterised by measuring mechanical properties (Young's modulus, yield stress, notched impact strength) and by defining morphology. Binary sistems PP/talc and PP/elastomer containing up to 16 vol.% of talc and up to 10 vol.% of elastomer, as well as ternary PP/talc/elastomer composites with 12 vol.% talc were investigated. Ternary composite's yield stress was also calculated by semiempirical equations. We have found out, that the use of treated modifiers (talc or elastomer) improves adhesion with matrix, which reflects on mechanical properties as better stress transfer