Effect of ultrasound on the morphology and properties of polypropylene/inorganic filler composites

The effects of ultrasonic irradiation on the rheology, structure, and properties of PP/inorganic filler composites were studied. Scanning electron microscopy showed that ultrasound increased the orientation degrees of acicular fillers to the flow direction. WAXD indicated that ultrasound vibration induced sheet fillers orient with its surface perpendicular to the direction of the ultrasound vibration. The orderly rearrangements of fillers in the polymer melt induced by ultrasound vibration can reduce the steric hindrances in the flow field and increase the flowability of the PP/inorganic filler composites. The effect of ultra-sound on reducing the apparent viscosities is very prominent, especially at lower shear rate. Ultrasound has an even more marked effect on reducing the apparent viscosities of composites containing fillers of larger size. With ultrasound vibration, the mechanical properties of the composites are also improved because of the orientation and uniform dispersion of fillers in the matrix. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.