Premium
Role of reactive compatibilization in preparation of nanosilica/polypropylene composites
Author(s) -
Zhou Hong Jun,
Rong Min Zhi,
Zhang Ming Qiu,
Ruan Wen Hong,
Friedrich Klaus
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.20724
Subject(s) - compatibilization , materials science , glycidyl methacrylate , polypropylene , composite material , ultimate tensile strength , reactive extrusion , izod impact strength test , compounding , polymer , polymer blend , polymerization , copolymer
The effect of reactive compatibilization on the mechanical properties of nanosilica filled polypropylene (PP) composites was studied in this work. First, the nanoparticles were grafted with poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) by solution free‐radical polymerization, and then melt blended together with PP matrix and aminated PP (PP‐ g ‐NH 2 ) that acts as reactive compatibilizer. The reaction between epoxide groups of the grafted PGMA on the nanoparticles and amine groups of PP‐ g ‐NH 2 during compounding greatly improved interfacial interaction in the composites. As a result, tensile strength, Young's modulus, and notch impact strength of PP composites were increased at rather low filler content. The experimental results indicated that the reinforcing and toughening effects were controlled by flexibility of the grafted polymer as well as processing methods. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:499–509, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.