Prediction of compatibility of polypropylene and modified basalt fibers

Abstract

The compatibility of polymer structures was forecasted using the calculation scheme proposed by one of the authors for the analysis of polymer compatibility. The forecast was made for composite materials based on secondary polypropylene (PP) and short-chopped basalt fibers (BF). To verify the accuracy of the prediction, BF was treated with CCl4 vapors in a flow reactor in order to replace oxygen atoms with chlorine atoms. Next, the chlorinated surface was treated in a stream of CH4 to replace chlorine with hydrocarbon groups. Composites contained from 5 to 20% BF; each composite was heated at temperatures of 500, 650 and 750°C. The chemical structure of hydrocarbon groups most compatible with PP was determined by calculation using the Cascade computer program (INEOS RAS). IR studies, microanalysis, and X-ray fluorescence analysis showed the presence of such groups on the surface of BF that are chemically bonded to silicon atoms. The surface treatment performed by BF improves the mechanical properties of the composites. The modulus of elasticity reaches 2120 MPa with a BF content of 20% (for secondary PP this module is 705 MPa). The strength is 44,5 MPa (for secondary PP, the strength is 26,5 MPa). The specific impact strength reaches 18,3 kJ/m2 (for the initial secondary PP, this value is 14,4 kJ/m2).