Abstract:

High density polyethylene was toughened by calcium carbonate(CaCO3) with different particle sizes. The relationship between critical interparticle distance(IDc) and CaCO3 content and particle size was studied at different temperatures. The purpose is to clarify that temperature is one of the important parameters for applicability of Wu′s criterion. The results indicate that the IDc is almost independent of CaCO3 content and particle size at 17 ℃, that is, the criterion is applicable to this case. With an increase in the temperature, the results clearly show that IDc depends on the CaCO3 particle size at higher temperatures, that is, the criterion is inapplicable at higher temperatures.

Key words: toughening polymer, brittle-ductile transition, interparticle distance