Preparation and characterization of composites of polyethylene with polypyrrole-coated wollastonite

摘要

Composite sheets of polyethylene and polypyrrole-coated wollastonite were prepared by extrusion and compression molding. Four compatibilizers were also evaluated, poly(ethylene-co-methyl acrylate) (EMA), maleated polyethylene (MAPE), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH), and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH). The composite materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and mechanical properties determined by tensile tests. SEM micrographs showed that significantly improved interactions occurred between the PE matrix and polypyrrole-coated wollastonite particles in the presence of EMA, MAPE, and EVOH. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the polypyrrole coating on the wollastonite particles was not thermally degraded during melt processing. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.