| Abstract: | This work aims to study the effects of high loading (total 50 wt %) of inorganic calcite, zeolite particulates, and calcite/zeolite mixture with structurally different copolymer [CoPP; poly(propylene‐co‐ethylene)] and terpolymer [TerPP; poly(propylene‐co‐ethylene‐co‐1‐butene)] systems. Melt processing is the sole mode of mixing particulates with polymer for making master batch sample throughout this work. Mechanical properties, like the modulus and yield stress, continuously increase up to a critical zeolite ratio in calcite/zeolite mix and then decrease after exceeding the critical concentration. The impact strength of the composites is not improved by replacing the calcite portion from the mix with zeolite. Morphological study was carried out for matrix–filler dispersion observation. The complex melt viscosity, increased for both systems with increasing zeolite content, indicates extra processing difficulties because of high filler volume. Burning properties and thermal stability of CoPP and TerPP composites with 50 wt % filler systems were also studied. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006 |
