OPTIMIZATION OF MECHANICAL STRENGTH OF REINFORCED COMPOSITES .2. REACTIVE BISMALEIMIDE-MODIFIED POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITES FILLED WITH TALC AND ZEOLITE

The effect of 3-phenylene bismaleimide as a modifier for talc and zeol ite-filled polypropylene composites has been studied. The usefulness o f the experimental design to assure best product properties has also b een illustrated. Polypropylene shows a variable degree of filling capa city depending on the type of filler. A high-strength composite can be prepared with suitably modified zeolite-filled polypropylene even if filler is the dominant phase in the composite matrix. An improved inte rfacial interaction between polypropylene and filler is proposed to be the reason for this improvement of strength.