Performance of Polypropylene Composites Filled by Calcium Carbonate Whiskers

Calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) whiskers were firstly treated by sodium stearate, and then blended with polypropylene (PP) to prepare the composites by a closely intermeshing co-rotating twin-screw extruder at 200°C. The performance of the composites, such as thermal behavior, microstructure and mechanical properties, were analyzed with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical testing. The results showed that CaCO 3 whisker influenced the crystalline behavior of PP phase in the blends because of its intervening. Moreover, thermo-decomposing temperature, tensile and bending strengths of the blends all increased with increasing whisker content. CaCO 3 whiskers had good reinforcing and toughening effects on PP.