Argila esmectítica como carga para o polipropileno: efeitos de modificações ácidas na carga.

Abstract

In this work, the potential application of a smectite clay as a filler to polypropylene was investigated. A Haake-Buchler System 90 Torque Rheometer operating with an internal mixer accessory was used to produce PP/clay composites at 0-40% w/w filler content. Mechanical (tensile strength and elongation at break, elastic modulus and hardness) and thermal (Tm, Tc, gc) properties were determined and the results showed optimum filler content to be 10% . The effect of an acid modification of the filler was investigated for the optimized filler content Hydroclhoric and sulphuric acid concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 25% w/w were employed and the properties mentioned above determined The best results were obtained for the 10% HC1 treated clay as in this case there was a significant decrease on iron, aluminum and magnesium contents of the clay without much loss on the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite