AVS 52nd International Symposium
    Applied Surface Science Friday Sessions
       Session AS-FrM

Paper AS-FrM11
Microscopy Study of Composites Based on Propylene-Ethylene Copolymers

Friday, November 4, 2005, 11:40 am, Room 206

Session: Practical Methods and Applications for Surface Analysis
Presenter: L.L. Ionescu-Vasii, Concordia University, Canada
Authors: L.L. Ionescu-Vasii, Concordia University, Canada
P. Wood-Adams, Concordia University, Canada
E. Duschene, Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal, Canada
Correspondent: Click to Email
MMany recent developments in polymer materials science have been triggered by the development of improved synthesis methods. As a consequence, a wide variety of polymers with unusual properties can be designed and synthesized. Recently, The Dow Chemical Company developed a new catalyst which allows copolymerization of propylene with various alpha-olefin comonomers over a broad range of compositions in isotactic fashion and with high molecular weight (SWOGGER K et al, 2003). Our interest focuses on a new family of propylene-ethylene copolymers produced by Dow Company, which has an exceptional ability to accept very high loadings (80% wt and higher) of fillers or/and additives, while maintaining good processability. The new propylene-ethylene (P/E) copolymers used in our study exhibit high molecular weights, low densities, relatively narrow molecular weight distributions and unique micro-molecular structures. The ethylene content of these copolymers ranges from 9 to 15 wt %. We report here the first results of our microscopy study of twelve composites (with 20, 40, 60 and 80 wt% calcium carbonate filler) based on three new propylene-ethylene copolymers. Different microscopy techniques (SEM, TEM, AFM) and different samples’ preparation techniques (cryogenic microtomy, FIB, annealing) were used in order to obtain a thorough understanding of the microstructure of the composites studied and to evaluate the interaction between the filler particles and the polymer matrices. @FootnoteText@ @footnote 1@ SWOGGER K. W., POON B., ANSEMS P., CHUM S., HILTNER A. AND BAER E. (2003), Material classification and applications of new propylene-ethylene copolymers. SPE ANTEC Tec. Papers, 1768.