Mineral fillers in thermoplastics: Filler manufacture and characterisation

The principal mineral fillers used in thermoplastics and the reasons for us ing them are identified, together with those features that have to be contr olled in order to achieve the optimum results and to avoid associated delet erious effects. General methods of filler production are outlined in the li ght of these requirements and their application to the fillers in most use is described. Attention is given to the use of surface modification methods where these are part of the production process, Considerable attention is also given to the methods that need to be used to adequately characterise a filler for use in thermoplastic applications, pa rticularly the determination of particle shape and size.