Morphology and Mechanical Properties of PP/POE/Nano-CaCO3 Composites

The mechanical properties including tensile, flexural, and impact of the nanometer on calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO3) filled polypropylene (PP)/poly (ethylene-co-octene) (POE) composites were measured at room temperature to identify the effects of the POE content on the mechanical properties. It was found that the Young's modulus, tensile strength, and tensile elongation at break decreased nonlinearly while the tensile fracture strength varied slightly with increasing the POE weight fraction; the V-notched and unnotched Izod impact fracture strength increased nonlinearly with an increase of the POE weight fraction; the flexural modulus and strength decreased roughly linearly with increasing the POE weight fraction. Furthermore, the impact fracture surface of the specimens was observed by means of a scanning electronic microscope to discuss the toughening mechanisms. (C) 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers