Talc filler chemical composition

Numerous filler characteristics influence the properties of composites [14,15]. Chemical composition and, in particular, purity of the filler both have a direct and an indirect effect on its application possibilities and performance. Traces of heavy-metal contamination decrease stability. Insufficient purity leads to discoloration, high purity CaC03 has the advantage of a white color, while the grey shade of talc filled composites excludes them from some fields of application. 

Talc is a hydrated magnesium silicate that is composed of thin platelets primarily white in color. Talc is useful for lowering the cost of the formulation with minimal effect on physical properties. Because of its platy structure and aspect ratio, these extenders are considered reinforcement. Polymers filled with platy talc exhibit higher stiffness, tensile strength, and creep resistance, at ambient as well as elevated temperatures, than do polymers filled with particulate fillers. Talc is inert to most chemical reagents and acids. The actual chemical composition for commercial talc varies and is highly dependent on the location of its mining site. 

Special considerations chemical composition of filler surface affects nucleation of filler traces of heavy metals decrease thermal stability and cause discoloration siuface free energy of fillers determines interaction large difference in thermal properties of fillers and polymer may cause stress hydrotalcite is used as acid neutralizer with stabilizing packages anatase titanium dioxide decreases UV stability presence of transition metals (Ni, Zn, Fe, Co) affects thermal and UV stability calcium carbonate and talc were found to immobilize HALS stabilizers in PP with organic masterbatches such as ethylene diamine phosphate V-0 classification can be obtained with 20-25 wt%, at the same time tensile strength and impact strength are substantially reduced... 

Keywords filler, aspect ratio, particle shape, calcium carbonate, talc, platelets, reinforcement, glass fiber, kaolin, particle size, particle size distribution, chemical composition, adhesion, interface, aggregation, specific surface area, flow-induced orientation, hardness, surface free energy, surface tension, surface treatment, mechanical properties, thermal properties. 

By using combined TGA/FTIR thermogravimetric analysis, accurate real time qualitative and quantitative data can be obtained for thermal decomposition of polymers. It was used to study interactions between an additive and a filler (talc), highlighting a degradation phenomenon of additive by talc, and this phenomenon depended on the structure and chemical composition of talc. This procedure also appUed to analysis of degradation of other additives by talc. Thus, polymer formulations will rapidly be optimised in various areas of filled polymers. 12 refs. 

Talc is hydrated magnesium silicate, a nonmetallic mineral, white-colored, chemically inert. Unlike many other minerals, its particles have a distinct platy shape. It has a natural affinity to oil and, therefore, serves as a good filler for hydrophobic plastics, such as polyethylenes and polypropylene. Platy particles of talc are structurally not uniform they have a layered composition, in which a brucite (magnesium-based, tetrahedron-cell atomic structure) sheet is sandwiched between two silica (octahedron-cell atomic structure) sheets. The elementary sheet is of ik (0.7 nm) thick. 

Polypropylene is a very versatile polymer. It has many properties that make it the polymer of choice for various applications (e.g., excellent chemical resistance, good mechanical properties and low cost). There are many ways in which the mechanical properties of polypropylene can be modified to suit a wide variety of end-use applications. Various fillers and reinforcements, such as glass fiber, mica, talc, and calcium carbonate, are typical ingredients that are added to polypropylene resin to attain cost-effective composite mechanical properties. Fibrous materials tend to increase both mechanical and thermal properties, such as tensile strength, flexural strength, flexural modulus, heat deflection temperature, creep resistance, and sometimes impact strength. Fillers, such as talc and calcium carbonate, are often used as extenders to produce a less-costly material. However, some improvement in stiffness and impact can be obtained with these materials. 

Traditional methods of additive analysis and the required instruments are often expensive and require the efforts of a skilled technician or chemist. In some cases a single instmment can not provide analyses for the wide variety of additives a particular organisation utilises. Additionally, laboratory techniques rarely provide results in a timely fashion. Determination of physical properties is not the least important if one thinks of pigments, talc and other fillers. Application of spectroscopic techniques to polymer production processes permits real-time measurement of those qualitative variables that form the polymer manufacturing specification, i.e. both chemical properties (composition, additive concentration) and physical properties (such as melt index, density). On-line analysis may intercept plant problems such as computer error, mechanical problems and human error with respect to additive incorporation in the resin production. Characterisation and quantitative determination of additives in technical polymers is an important but difficult issue in process and quality control. 

---