Abstract: Layered kaolin, granular CaCO3 and rodlike attapulgite (ATP) were employed as inorganic fillers, and then the polypropylene (PP)/poly(ethylene-co-1-octene) (POE) compounds filled with the three inorganic particles were prepared by melt extrusion. The mechanical properties, processability and microstructures of the resultant compounds were investigated by universal testing machine, impact testing machine, melt flow rate measurer and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The results indicated that the tensile strength of the compounds achieved the maximum value of 29.1 MPa when 2.5 wt % of ATP was incorporated, whereas their notched impact strength reached the maximum value of 14.0 kJ/m2 at CaCO3 content of 2.5 wt %. In addition, the processability of PP/POE/CaCO3 compounds was improved significantly, which was attributed to the spherical CaCO3 particles acting as “ball bearings” in the matrix.

Key words: polypropylene, poly(ethylene-co-1-octene), inorganic particle, composite, mechanical property, processability