Particulate Fillers For Polymers

This is an overview of particulate filler production and use. Each filler type has different properties and these in turn are influenced by the particle size, shape and surface chemistry. Filler characteristics are discussed from costs to particle morphology. Practical aspects of filler grading are described and the principal filler types are outlined. Filler surface modification is an important topic. The main types of modifying agent and their uses are described, from fatty acids to functionalised polymers. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database gives useful references for further reading.

This is an updated version of the book first published in 1995. The use of particulate fillers in polymers has a long history, and they continue to play a very important role today. In the relatively short time since the publication of the first edition of this book, much has changed and all the chapters have been updated and revised, and a completely new chapter covering the latest developments in nano-filler technology is included. The aim of this book is to provide a guide to the fundamentals of the use of particulate fillers, which is accessible to people from the many different industries and disciplines who have an interest in the subject. Chapters cover: Selection and Use of Particulate Fillers Types of Particulate Filler Filler Surfaces and their Characterisation Surface Modification and Surface Modifiers Preparation and Mixture Characterisation of Mineral Filler Polymer Compounds Particulate Fillers as Flame Retardants Particulate Fillers in Elastomers Particulate Fillers in Thermoplastics Particulate Fillers in Thermosets Composites Using Nano-Fillers

This handbook provides an introduction to and reference information about the science behind the production and use of particulate fillers in polymer applications. Fillers play an important role and are used with practically all types of polymers: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers.Readers will find an introduction to the topic of particulate fillers for polymer applications and their importance. The first chapters describe the use and characteristics of fillers in different polymer types, such as thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers. The following chapters compile and summarize comprehensive information about different filler materials which find application nowadays, including mineral fillers (for example feldspars, wollastonites, and many more) and inorganic fillers (barium sulphate, or clays), bio-fillers, recycled and sustainable fillers, and fillers for specific applications (for example flame-retardant fillers, fillers for electrically conductive applications, or thermally conductive additives).Offering key information, compiled by a mixed team of authors from academia and industry, this handbook will appeal to researchers and professionals working on and with particulate polymer fillers alike.

This is an overview of particulate filler production and use. Fillers are used in polymers for a variety of reasons: cost reduction, improved processing, density control, optical effects, thermal conductivity, control of thermal expansion, electrical properties, magnetic properties, flame retardancy and improved mechanical properties, such as hardness and tear resistance. For example, in cable applications, fillers such as metakaolinite are used to provide better electrical stability while others, such as alumina trihydrate, are used as fire retardants. Each filler type has different properties and these in turn are influenced by the particle size, shape and surface chemistry. Filler characteristics are discussed from costs to particle morphology. Particle specific surface area and packing are important aspects. Filler loading is also critical and this is discussed. The terminology used in this field is explained and, where appropriate, illustrated. Practical aspects of filler grading are described. For example, the use of an average particle size on data sheets can be misleading as it may not accurately reflect particle size distribution. Different measuring conditions can also give rise to variations in apparent particle size. The principal filler types are outlined. These include carbon black, natural mineral fillers and synthetic mineral fillers. The use of clay in nanocomposites is outlined. Carbon blacks are very important fillers, especially in the rubber industry. A brief description of their preparation and properties is included. Filler surface modification is an important topic. Most particulate fillers are inorganic and polar, which can give rise to poor compatibility with hydrocarbon polymers and processing problems, among other effects. The main types of modifying agent and their uses are described, from fatty acids to functionalised polymers. Fillers are also discussed in relation to different polymer types. For example, in flexible PVC, because of the plasticiser, the filler has little effect on processing. This allows relatively high filler levels to be incorporated. This review is very clearly written by an outstanding expert in this field. Illustrations are included to explain concepts from microscopic filler structure to the effects of fillers on polymer properties. The review is accompanied by around 400 abstracts compiled from the Polymer Library, to facilitate further reading on this subject. Key featuresOC; Filler structure; Filler types; Filler uses; Filler effects on polymer properties; Clearly written; Useful illustrations. Save 20% when you buy 2 or more titles in the Rapra Review Report Series (Volume 9 onwards). Just enter promotional code RRR20 when you get to the shopping cart. Please click here to see the full list of reports available."

The Encyclopedia of Polymers and Composites provides all details of Polymeric Materials Science and Technology including historical developments, present status, and future potential. In 15 volumes, the Encyclopedia of Polymers and Composites covers: polymeric materials, engineering polymer blends, particulate and fibrous polymeric composite materials, that are the key materials for technology in the 21st Century. Fundamentals of structure of these materials are presented. Properties and effects of various parameters, like time and temperature on them are explained. Testing and Characterization of these materials as per global standard for various applications is presented. Individual polymers, blends, and composites are described, and several representative examples are also provided. The Encyclopedia also provides directions for future developments. It is organized in alphabetical order.

In recent years, a growing number of engineering applications of light weight and energy efficient plastics can be found in high quality parts vital to the func tioning of entire equipments and structures. Improved mechanical properties, especially balance of stiffness and toughness, are among the most frequently desired features of the new materials. In addition, reduced flammability is con sidered the single most important requirement for further expansion of plastics into large volume and demanding markets such as construction and mass trans port. Production of power cables also requires flame retardant cable jacketing plastics to replace or at least to reduce consumption of environmentally unsound PVC. The two principal ways to achieve the goals mentioned above include the development of completely new thermoplastic polymers and various modifica tions of the existing ones. Development and commercialization of a new ther moplastic require mobilization of large human and financial resources, the lat ter being within the range from $100 million to $10 billion, in comparison to $100 thousand to $10 million needed to develop and commercialize polymeric mate rial with prescribed end use properties using physical or chemical modification of an existing plastic. In addition, the various markets utilizing thermoplastics demand large flexibility in material properties with only moderate volumes, at the best.

In the rubber industry, one of the most widely practiced processes is the reinforcement of rubber by particulate fillers, especially carbon black and silica. This process is of such importance that more than 99% of rubber products contain fillers, and the research and development of fillers have become the most widely researched area in rubber science and technology. This book covers the most important theoretical and practical aspects of rubber reinforcement, such as filler basic properties and their characterization methods, the effect of fillers in polymers, the processability of compounds, and the properties of filled vulcanizates. Special chapters deal with applications of fillers in tires and industrial rubber goods and the reinforcement of silicone rubbers. Testing methods and their principles, applications, and limitations are reviewed, with emphasis on the surface activity, widely accepted as the “third dimension” of filler characterization, after particle size and structure. This has not been described in depth in other books on rubber reinforcement. The effects of fillers on rubber and their mechanisms, which are important links between filler properties and the performance of rubber goods, are explained. A guide for selecting the most appropriate reinforcing systems for specific applications is provided, taking into account processabilities and properties of filled compounds and performance of rubber products. With solutions to many practical problems related to rubber research and compounding, this book serves as a valuable companion to engineers and product developers in the rubber industry, material scientists, and teachers and students in material science and rubber courses.