SYNOPSISTensile properties of isotactic polypropylene filled with particulate kaolin fillers were evaluated in the composition range 0-60 w t % kaolin. Tensile modulus increased with filler concentration while breaking elongation and tensile strength decreased. The modulus increase was attributed to the restriction on the molecular mobility of the polymer imposed by kaolin particles. The decrease in elongation was also an effect of this restriction coupled with interference to stress transfer by the filler particles. Generation of discontinuity in the composite structure through formation of stress concentration points accounted for the tensile strength decrease. Morphology studies by SEM also indicated the introduction of stress concentration points by the presence of bare and nonadherent kaolin particles and their agglomerates with sharp edges in these composites.

Rheological properties of isotactic polypropylene/kaolin composites have been evaluated at kaolin concentrations 0-17.4 vol% at 493K. The systems obeyed power-law model in shear stressshear rate variations and were shear thinning, which increased with kaolin content. Apparent melt viscosity decreased up to 5% kaolin and increased with further increase in kaolin concentration. First normal stress difference increased up to 5 vol% kaolin and decreased beyond this kaolin content. Use of a titanate coupling agent modified the rheological properties through an enhanced bonding between the filler and the polymer.

Different types of phosphorus containing halogen-free flame retardants (FRs) were added to an epoxy-dicyandiamide resin formulation in order to study to which extent they affect its glass transition temperature (T g), tensile properties, thermal stability and burning behavior of the resin. For this purpose, an additive-type FR (ammonium polyphosphate encapsulated in melamine resin, MAPP) and two reactive-type FRs i) a commercial epoxy resin pre-reacted with 9,10-dihydro-oxa-10phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide, (DOPO), and ii) a phosphorus containing hardener (poly(m-phenylene methylphosphonate), (PMP) were used. It was observed that the addition of additive-type FR did not affect in great extent the T g and provided a V-0 rating in UL94 test at low loadings. The addition of reactive-type FRs (DOPO and/or PMP), however, modified the structure of the chain network resulting in lower crosslink density as a consequence of their higher equivalent mass, but achieving also with low PMP content V-0 rating.