Novel Comb-Like Copolymer Dispersant for Polypropylene/CaCO₃ Composites and Its Influence on Dispersion, Crystallization, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties

ABSTRACT

A novel comb-like copolymer with carboxyl group as an anchoring group and polycaprolactone as a solvent chain was first used as the dispersant of CaCO₃ particles in polypropylene (PP). The dispersion of CaCO₃ particles in PP matrix was significantly improved in the presence of comb-like copolymer dispersant because of the strong repulsive force caused by steric hindrance effect. The influences of the coating amount of comb-like copolymer dispersant on crystallization behaviors, mechanical properties, and thermal stabilities were systematically investigated. The crystallization temperature, crystallinity, and crystallization rate of PP/CaCO₃ composites prepared with monolayer-coated CaCO₃ were all improved, where the monolayer comb-like copolymer coating remained as a rigid layer and provided a noticeable nucleating effect. The PP/CaCO₃ composites coated with monolayer SP comb-like copolymer also had the best mechanical properties, including tensile strength, Young’s modulus, flexural modulus, and impact strength because of the good dispersion of CaCO₃ particles in PP matrix. The thermal stability of PP/CaCO₃ composites were measured by thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that SP comb-like copolymer dispersant treated CaCO₃ filled composites had excellent thermal stability than untreated and neat PP, especially for the composite prepared with monolayer-coated CaCO₃.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Comb-like copolymer dispersant
• crystallization behaviors
• mechanical properties
• polypropylene/CaCO₃ composites
• thermal stability