Polymer Composites with Plasma-Treated Fillers |
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| Authors: | A Bialski R J St Manley M R Wertheimer H P Schreiber |
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| Institution: | 1. Pulp and Paper Research Institute Laboratories McGill Campus , Montreal, Canada;2. Engineering Physics Department Ecole Polytechnique , Montreal, Canada;3. Department of Chemical Engineering , Ecole Polytechnique , Montreal, Canada |
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| Abstract: | A Large-volume Microwave Plasma (LMP) generator has been used to irradiate mica and ground-wood fibers in inert and active gas environments. Irradiated fillers were subsequently incorporated in a polypropylene matrix at solids levels of 10 and 20%. Calorimetrically measured heats of immersion showed that substantial changes in surface properties of fillers were effected by irradiation in ethylene, ammonia, and similar active gases. These surface changes are reflected In ultimate tensile and elongation properties of composites which show marked improvement over controls based on unirradiated fillers. Although no appreciable response in melt viscosity has been observed, surface treatment of fillers does seem to increase significantly melt elasticity of filled composites. The implications of improved performance motivate a more detailed study of the use potential of LMP in the fomulation of polymer composites. |
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| Keywords: | graft copolymer poly(ethyl methacrylate) thermodynamic properties inverse gas chromatography |
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