Performance of Polypropylene Composites Filled by Calcium Carbonate Whiskers

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) whiskers were firstly treated by sodium stearate, and then blended with polypropylene (PP) to prepare the composites by a closely intermeshing co-rotating twin-screw extruder at 200°C. The performance of the composites, such as thermal behavior, microstructure and mechanical properties, were analyzed with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical testing. The results showed that CaCO3 whisker influenced the crystalline behavior of PP phase in the blends because of its intervening. Moreover, thermo-decomposing temperature, tensile and bending strengths of the blends all increased with increasing whisker content. CaCO3 whiskers had good reinforcing and toughening effects on PP.