Study of Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Plasticized PVC-Based Composite Material Filled with Modified Perlite

Abstract

Composites filled with perlite (MP) modified with stearic acid was studied to improve the physicomechanical, thermal and morphological properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-based material. It is known that surface modification of perlite increases its interaction with PVC polymer and interfacial adhesion. The composites were prepared by thermomechanical mixing in a special laboratory extruder. The mechanical properties of these composites were studied using tensile and three-point bending tests, and the mechanical strength was determined to be up to 13.5 MPa, and the deformation was increased to 204%. Since 5%MP showed high mechanical properties, its structural properties were evaluated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal stability by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and morphological structure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR analysis showed a small interaction between the polymer material and modified perlite. FTIR analysis showed a small interaction between the polymer material and the modified perlite and TGA results showed that 5% MP content increased the maximum thermal decomposition temperature of the composite to 262 oC. SEM images showed a uniform and good dispersion of the modified perlite in the PVC matrix. Overall, the addition of stearic acid modified perlite as a filler was effective in improving the structural, mechanical and thermal properties of the PVC composites.