Optimizing Perlite-Polymer Interface Interactions in Composites based on Polypropylene via the Utilization of Several Compatibilizers

Abstract

The surface contact between the polymer and the mineral additive is one of the most significant aspects influencing the efficiency of mineral-filled polymeric composites. In this work, three distinct compatibilizers were introduced to composites based on polypropylene (PP) and perlite to improve interactions between the constituents. On composites comprising 10% expanded perlite content, three different ratios of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU), and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA-PP) compatibilizers were employed. The composite was produced using an approach designated melt blending followed by injection molding. The composites containing MA-PP compatibilizer possessed the most outstanding performance, according to the results of mechanical, physical, and dynamic mechanical evaluations and morphological characterizations. The investigated aspects indicated a rise in the composites containing 10 percent compatibilizer with the lowest adding amount, whereas performances declined at high compatibilizer contents. Along with these results, it was determined that the compatibilizers included in the PP/perlite composite system assisted in the fabrication of the composites by promoting the force values and melt flow rates identified during melt mixing. Following the test outcomes, MA-PP performed better than TPU and EVA in terms of compatibilizer efficiency. In general, it has been revealed that the selection of MA-PP compatibilizer in the manufacturing stages would offer benefits in terms of both simplicity of processing and mechanical strength where expanded perlite will be adopted as a natural filler for PP-based composites.