Abstract: | The effects of the filler content and size on the mechanical properties such as tensile modulus, Ec, yield strength, σyc, and impact strength, SIC, of glass bead–filled polypropylene (PP) composites have been investigated employing an Instron materials tester and a Ceast impact tester at room temperature. With increasing concentration of glass beads, Ec and SIC increase, but σyc decreases non–linearly, within a filler volume fraction range of 0%−20%; under the same test conditions, the values of EC and σyc for PP with bigger beads are somewhat lower than those of PP with smaller ones; the maximum values of SIC for the composites are about 1.4 times as high as the unfilled PP; the interface between the matrix and the beads is a weak bond. The results indicate that the stiffness and the toughness of the PP composites are effectively improved by addition of glass beads. |