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Structure and morphology of silica-reinforced polypropylene composites modified with m-EPR copolymers

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Abstract

The effects of different silica (SiO2) types and different contents of two metallocene propylene-based m-EPR elastomers (differing in molecular weight and viscosity) on interfacial properties, structure and morphology of isotactic polypropylene/SiO2/m-EPR composites were investigated. Four silica fillers differing in size (nano- vs. micro-) and surface properties (hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic i.e. polar vs. non-polar) were chosen and added in 4 vol% to isotactic polypropylene. The m-EPR elastomers were added to iPP/SiO2 96/4 composites as possible impact modifier and compatibilizer at the same time in 5, 10, 15, and 20 vol% per 100 vol% of composites (phr). The investigation confirmed the overall prevailing of separated morphology of ternary iPP/SiO2/m-EPR composites, i.e. selectivity of dispersed m-EPR and silica particles toward iPP matrix as was predicted on the basis of adhesion properties. The increase of crystallinity degree and spherulite size with addition of m-EPR elastomers indicated significant solidification effect of added elastomers in addition to opposite nucleation effect of silica particles owing to surface character of filler. The effects of different silica fillers and different contents of two m-EPR elastomers were discussed within the context of morphology/structure-adhesion property relationships of the iPP/SiO2/m-EPR composites.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support of the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia is acknowledged. We are most grateful to Mr. Uwe Schachtely for his advice concerning the choice of nano- and microsilicas as well as Degussa AG for generous donation of silica samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10002, Zagreb, Croatia

    Anđela Pustak & Ivan Šmit

  2. Faculty of Economics and Business Maribor, Institute of Technology, University of Maribor, Razlagova 14, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia

    Matjaž Denac & Vojko Musil

  3. Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Savska 16, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Mirela Leskovac

  4. ISOKON, Production and Processing of Thermoplastics, Ltd, Mestni trg 5a, 3210, Slovenske, Konjice, Slovenia

    Iztok Švab

Authors
  1. Anđela Pustak
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  2. Matjaž Denac
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  3. Mirela Leskovac
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  4. Iztok Švab
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  5. Vojko Musil
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  6. Ivan Šmit
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Correspondence to Anđela Pustak or Matjaž Denac.

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Pustak, A., Denac, M., Leskovac, M. et al. Structure and morphology of silica-reinforced polypropylene composites modified with m-EPR copolymers. J Polym Res 23, 37 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-016-0927-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-016-0927-3

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