The effect of dispersed filler on mechanical and physicochemical properties of polymer composites

Abstract

The influence of basalt filler on mechanical properties of polyethylene (PE)- and polypropylene (PP)-based composites, and the effect of basalt on heat resistance and inflammability of polymer composite materials were studied. The introduction of basalt into the composite increases its elasticity modulus. The best mechanical properties are observed when 40 parts by weight of basalt per 100 parts of low-density PE and high-density PE are introduced. At the same time, a slight decrease in the deformation at failure is observed in basalt-filled PE composites. Deformation before failure is reduced from 380% for original PE to 250% for the composite containing 40 mass of basalt per 100 parts of PE. In the case of PP, this tendency is not observed. Other mechanical characteristics of polymer composites slightly change with the introduction of basalt particles as a filler. Incorporating basalt into PE and PP influences the combustibility of composites: oxygen index increases 1.3 times compared with the unfilled polymers, self-burning time decreases more than 2 times, and the loss of mass during ignition in the air decreases 2.15 times for PE-based composite and 1.75 times for PP-based composite. All indicators of flammability vary additively to the content of basalt, which is a noncombustible material.