Epoxy resins as surface treatments for mica flakes in propylene/ethylene copolymer composites

The use of epoxy resins as surface treatments for mica flakes in polyolefin e composites was studied in comparison with a commonly used silane coupling agent. Improvements in mechanical properties should be expected for both t reatments but, in addition, epoxy systems involved economic advantages. An experimental procedure for epoxy resin deposition was developed. various pa rameters, such as the nature of the curing agent used to harden the epoxy p repolymer, the deposition process, the amount of coating, the ratio between the epoxy prepolymer and the curing agent and the curing temperature were investigated. Data show that only the three first parameters had a signific ant influence on the mechanical properties. In all cases, an improvement in tensile properties was obtained for epoxy-coated composites but in lower p roportions compared to silane-treated composites. However, the impact chara cteristics worsened.