Wollastonite‐reinforced polypropylene composites modified with novel metallocene EPR copolymers. II. Mechanical properties and adhesion

Abstract Mechanical properties and adhesion phenomena of isotactic polypropylene/wollastonite/metallocene propylene‐ethylene copolymers (iPP/W/EPR) composites were studied as a function of metallocene propylene‐based copolymers content from 0 to 20 vol%. The composites with different surface treated wollastonites and two types of EPR have shown similar behavior of most mechanical properties except elongation at break and impact strength respective of the difference in some characteristics of used EPR elastomers. The increase and the difference in elongation at break could be explained by renewed spherulitic morphology of the iPP matrix. Stronger interactions between EPR‐1 and two used types of wollastonites than between EPR‐2 and corresponding wollastonites concluded from the surface properties led to the difference in impact strength behavior. The determined mechanical properties confirm the assumption coming out of structural investigations that metallocene EPR elastomers are rather efficient impact modifiers than encapsulation compatibilizers for the iPP/wollastonite composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers