Effects of surface treating agents on mechanical properties of mica/polyethylene composites

摘要

The addition of mica to polyethylene yielded a composite with a modulus significantly higher than that of pure polyethylene. Fats, oils and fatty acids were investigated as prospective surface treating agents for mica reinforced polyethylene. Mica/polyethylene composites prepared with fats, oils and fatty acids in particular were compared with vinyltris(t-butyl peroxy) silane developed for nonpolar resins. Inprovements in the tensile properties were observed with these agents as well as a 25 percent increase in the strength with the silane coupling agent, compared to a 50 percent increase with fatty acids. Fats and oils were less effective than fatty acids but similar to silane. Fatty acids also remarkably improved the impact properties. Fatty acids obtained from drying oils were found to be the most effective. The crosslinking reaction between coated mica surface and matrix resin proceeds by autoxidation of drying oils.