Modifying Effect of Metallic Powder Fillers

Abstract

Industry produces many types and varieties of polymers. Often, however, materials with superior processing and functional properties are needed. Their increased diversity or novel properties can be obtained through chemical and physical modification of polymers, reactive processing or preparation of compositions. The article presents an analysis of mechanical and processing properties of products of polypropylene filled with metallic powder fillers, obtained with constant processing parameters. Samples of polypropylene were subjected to uniaxial stretching by a strength testing machine. Changes in the maximum tensile stress and strain depending on the different content of the metallic filler. Hardness and impact strength of the samples obtained from the injection moulded product were determined and changes in melt flow rate (MFR) were examined. We used five metal powder fillers: aluminium, zinc, tin, iron and copper powders, with their contents ranging from 2.5 to 15 wt% relative to a polypropylene matrix composite material. Based on the results of research, the appropriate dependencies of different types of powder metal fillers on the mass content were prepared.