A thermal and mechanical study under dynamical conditions of Polypropylene/Mica composites containing atactic polypropylene with succinil-fluoresceine grafted groups as interfacial modifier from the matrix side

The dynamic thermal and mechanical behavior of Polypropylene/Mica composite s-with improved properties induced by the presence of succinil-fluoresceine groups onto atactic polypropylene with different grafting levels-is the su bject of this article. A further correlation of these with the macroscopic mechanical performance of the composite materials is also discovered. The a tactic polypropylenes containing succinil-fluoresceine grafted groups were previously obtained in our laboratories by chemical modification of a bypro duct of industrial polymerization reactors. The interfacial modifications i nduced by replacing a little amount of polymer matrix in the composite mate rial by the grafted atactic polypropylene is clearly concluded either from a microscopic or a macroscopic point of view. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, I nc.