Property tailoring of particulate polymer composites by reactive processing

This study explores reactive processing aimed at improving the mechanical p roperties of polyolefin/inorganic particulate filler based composites. Thre e different polymer matrix materials have been studied in combination with the nine inorganic particulate fillers with different particle size and of varying pH. The reactive modifier 1,3-phenylene dimaleimide (BMI) has been shown in all cases to be very effective in terms of improving composite pro perties beyond those of the respective unmodified composites and in some ca ses beyond those of the unfilled matrix materials. The detrimental effect o f BMI on melt viscosity can be overcome via judicious use of a suitable lub ricant, and together with response surface methods, followed by optimizatio n procedures, composite properties can be tailored for specific end use app lications.