Study on the surface properties of colored talc filler (CTF) and mechanical performance of CTF/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene composite

Abstract

Talc is a plate-like layered structure magnesium silicate mineral, in which the octahedral brucite layer is sandwiched between two tetrahedral silica sheets. Many reports have indicated an improvement in performance after a polymer matrix was reinforced with talc filler [1], [2], [3], [4] and [5]. However, it has been widely recognized that the filler nature of talc influences its reinforcement ability, depending on the surface activity, particle size, surface area, and surface functional groups [6] and [7]. Among these properties, surface activity affects the reinforcement ability of filler the most, because the chemical nature of a particle's surface determines filler–filler and filler-matrix interactions. These interactions in turn affect the filler's dispersion in the polymer matrix and thus the final performance of the composite. Therefore, a better understanding of a filler's surface properties is critical for determining the most effective polymer reinforcement fillers.

However, to the best of our knowledge, the surface characterization of talc-derived fillers has been poorly reported and is poorly understood. In this work, a colored talc filler (CTF) was prepared, and its surface properties were subsequently studied and compared to those of talc filler (TF), using IGC and contact angle measurement. The mechanical properties of ABS composites filled with CTF and TF were investigated as well.