The Effect of Surface Treatment of Barium Sulphate on the Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene–Barium Sulphate Composites

ABSTRACT: Polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared by compounding PP with untreated, as well as treated barium sulphate. Barium sulphate filler had been treated with different surface modifiers such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate (SDBS), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 60) and oleic acid. The mechanical properties of the prepared composites were evaluated. It was found that the filler treatment with SDBS enhanced the tensile yield strength and hardness of the resulting composites and also the elongation at rupture for most of the composites. Tween 60 and oleic acid as treating agents for the filler had the same effect on the tensile yield strength, while increasing their amounts on the surface decreased the elongation properties of the composites. KEY WORDS: polypropylene, composites, mechanical properties