Optimization of a composite based on polyethylene blends and sepiolite. Effect of surface treatment of the filler and morphology of the composite on mechanical properties

Abstract

Abstract The optimization of a composite based on polyethylene blend matrices with unmodified and titanate coupling agent‐modified sepiolite has been studied. The analysis of the tensile, flexural, and impact behavior shows that the tensile and flexural properties, mainly the moduli, improve with increasing content of both filler and high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) in the composite. The surface‐modified sepiolite has a behavior similar to the unmodified one and no improvement of the mechanical properties is noticeable. In order to explain these effects a morphological study on fracture surfaces of the composites was performed using scanning election microscopy.