Study on properties of polymers packed by aragonite whisker

Abstract

Hard PVC and PP were filled by lightweight CaCO/sub 3/ and aragonite whisker respectively. The influences of sort, quantity and surface treatment of fillers on properties of packed polymers were investigated. According to the results, it was found that whisker was much better than calcium carbonate as filler. Firstly, it can improve the manufacturing property of composites. When whisker was selected, the torque in manufacturing procedure was much low. Secondly, whisker can improve the mechanical properties. The tensile strength and impact strength were much high when whisker was chosen as filler. After treating the whisker by suitable coupling agents, the properties of the composites can be improved further more. It was because whisker can arrange in the polymer matrix rapidly and endow excellent strength and toughness to the polymer matrix composites.