BRITTLE-TOUGH TRANSITION OF POLYPROPYLENE-ELASTOMER-FILLER HYBRIDS

The brittle-tough transition of polypropylene-elastomer-filler hybrids was investigated through measurement of impact strength and quantitat ive study of morphologies. In particular, the effect of fillers and mo rphologies on the brittle-tough transition of polypropylene-elastomer- filler hybrids were investigated. The experimental results showed that inorganic fillers, such as talc and calcium carbonate, postponed the brittle-tough transition of elastomer toughened polypropylene. When th e filler and elastomer had a core-shell microstructure, the effect of filler on the brittle-tough transition was reduced by changing the mec hanism of fracture from filler initiated micro-cracking to a matrix yi elded zone. The core-shell structure also decreased the distance betwe en elastomer particles which is critical in determining the toughness of elastomer toughened ductile polymers such as polypropylene and nylo ns.