Reactive processing of particulate filled polymers: m-phenylene bismaleimide modified polyethylene magnesium hydroxide composites

The influence of processing temperature and the presence of the reactive mo difier, m-phenylene bismaleimide (BMI), on the formation of highly filled p olyethylene/Mg(OH)(2) composites has been investigated using central compos ite design methods. Infrared spectroscopic and differential scanning calori metric evidence produced suggests that maleimide C=C bonds are involved in a free radically induced process which leads to extended and crosslinked po lyethylene chains being produced, some of which encapsulate the filler part icles, resulting in formation of a crosslinked interphase. This effect resu lted in increased tensile strength and reduced composite melt flow rate (MF R).