OPTIMIZATION OF MECHANICAL STRENGTH OF REINFORCED COMPOSITES .1. STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF REACTIVE BISMALEIMIDE ON THE MECHANICAL PERFORMANCEOF CACO3-FILLED POLYPROPYLENE

The effect of 3-phenylene bismaleimide on the mechanical performance o f an inorganic filler-based polypropylene composite was studied. The s election of processing temperature played a significant role in the pr eparation of such composites. A positive effect of the bismaleimide co mpound was obtained for a processing temperature above the decompositi on temperature of bismaleimide. The chemical composition of the modifi ed composite was correlated to its mechanical strength by experimentat ion involving a rotatable design. An interaction between polymer and C aCO3 has been proposed based on ESCA analysis.