INTERFACIAL ROLE OF COMPATABILIZERS TO IMPROVE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SILICA-POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITES

Polymers have tremendous applications from household to high technology applications. The polymers are easy to produce, light, and flexible. However, mechanical properties of polymers, in some industries, is a point of its weakness. Therefore, a mineral, as a bulk filler, was used to overcome this limitation and to reduce the cost of polymer composites and their manfacturing. In this study, the silica flour was introduced into the polypropylene (PP) matrix to enhance its mechanical properties. In addition, the styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer and its grafted maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MA) were used as silica/ PP compatibilizers. The results showed an improvement in mechanical properties after the addition of silica to the PP matrix. However, silica addition led to drop in strain measures. On the other hand, the addition of the compatibilizer enhances the interfacial bonding and smoothen the transfer of the stresses between filler particles and the polymeric matrix.