Preparation and Mechanical Properties of Magnesium Salt Whisker/ABS Composites

Magnesium salt whiskers (M-HOS)-reinforced acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) composites were prepared via twin-screw extrusion compounding and followed by injection molding, and the mechanical properties of the composites were studied. The effect of the surface treatment of the whiskers using isopropyl tri-(dioctylpyrophosphoryl) titanate coupling agent on the mechanical properties of the ABS/M-HOS composites was also investigated. It was found that the M-HOS whiskers are good reinforcements for ABS and can be incorporated into ABS through traditional melt processing techniques for plastics. However, only a moderate improvement in the mechanical properties was found for the composites containing surface-treated whiskers. Further investigations should be carried out to find a more suitable coupling agent for M-HOS whiskers.