Composites of Polypropylene/Pottery Stone/Magnesium Oxysulfate

Abstract

The impact strength, thermal stability and morphology of polypropylene (PP) composites filled with pottery stone (PTS) and magnesium oxysulfate (MOS) were investigated. PP/PTS composites were prepared by melt mixing of PP with four loadings of PTS (5, 10, 15 and 20 phr) and each PP/PTS composite with two loadings of MOS (3 and 5 phr) on a twin screw extruder, followed by injection molding into the impact test specimens. The SEM images show a particulate form of PTS particles and a needle-shaped particle with high aspect ratio of MOS. It is found that the impact strength of PP increased with increasing PTS and MOS loading levels. This is because PTS and MOS provide high ability to transfer energy from one phase to another. The thermal stability of PP was improved by shifting the Tonset, Tend set and %char residue towards higher values. Moreover, SEM images of the fractured surfaces show that PTS and MOS are well dispersed in the PP matrix.