Mechanical properties of HDPE/magnesium hydroxide composites

Fillers incorporated into polymers for flame retardancy can decrease their mechanical strength. Coating of the filler can enhance the properties of polymer composites. A platy magnesium hydroxide, uncoated, or coated with magnesium stearate or stearic was used as filler in high density polyethylene composites. Tensile and flexural properties were measured. Experimental results were compared with various existing models. Experimental data for both tensile and flexural yield strength showed a good fit to the Pukanszky model. Interfacial interaction was also evaluated through this model. Coating modified tensile and flexural yield strength in different ways. Results were explained by the effect of platelet alignment which was measured by X-ray diffraction. Flexural modulus showed a good fit to the Halpin-Tsai equation, but tensile modulus increased less with filler volume fraction, an effect also believed to relate to filler alignment. Elongation at yield decreased with the addition of filler, more so when coatings were present. This property seemed to be controlled mainly by filler dispersion. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.