TITLE:
Effect of Particle Size and Concentration on Mechanical and Electrical Properties of the Mica Filled PVC
AUTHORS:
S.P. Deshmukh, A.C. Rao, V. R. Gaval, Seena Joseph, P.A. Mahanwar
KEYWORDS:
PVC composite, mica, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Water Ground Mica(WGM)
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.9 No.9,
September
20,
2010
ABSTRACT: The performance of the composites is determined on the basis of the interface bonding of the
filler and the polymer matrix. Particulate filled polymer composites are used extensively for their
wide range of applications at low cost. In this study, the effect of the mica with different particle
size and different filler concentration (10 to 50 weight percent) on the mechanical and electrical
properties of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was investigated. The PVC composites of water
ground mica were prepared by Haake Rheocord 9000 machine, with Rheomix 600 using rotor
type roller blades. Mechanical properties such as stiffness, and Young’s modulus of the PVC
mica composites were found increasing with increase in mica loading, whereas elongation at
break and tensile strength was found to be decreasing with the mica loading. Dielectric
strength and surface resistance were found increasing with increasing mica loading whereas
there was no significant increase of arc resistance of the composites. Morphological studies
revealed that there is good dispersion and wetting of the mica with PVC matrix. SEM
micrographs of the composites were studied for finding the filler dispersion and fracture analysis
of the test samples.