Influence of the CaCO3 nanoparticles on the molecular orientation of the polypropylene matrix

Abstract

The presence of aggregates of CaCO3 nanoparticles in an isotactic polypropylene matrix processed by extrusion promotes the apparition of residual stresses. These stresses are removed with a thermal treatment of the composite, but a higher molecular orientation is then produced. The chain orientation inside the sample is nonhomogeneous due to the presence of the aggregates of nanoparticles. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.