MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF SEPIOLITE-FILLED POLYPROPYLENE

Abstract

Effects of sepiolite (SEP) fiber length and pore size on the mechanical, viscoelastic property, void formation and crystallization behavior of SEP-filled polypropylene (PP) were studied. The modulus of SEP-filled PP increased and void at resin-fiber interface decreased with the decrease of SEP fiber length, respectively. The loss tangent (tanδ) of main dispersion region decreased with the increase of SEP content and with decrease of fiber length. The decrease rate of tanδ of SEP-filled PP was larger than those of calcium carbonate, talc and mica filled ones. In the case of various type SEP-filled PP, the single, double or triple crystallization peaks were observed under nonisothermal conditions. While the heat treatment (750°C) of SEP in air made the double peak of SEP-filled PP disappeared and the single peak was observed.