Thermoplastics and Clay s

Kaolin (clay) is a widely used filler for thermoplastic polymers because of its reinforcing effects on mechanical properties, such as stiffness and strength, with however certain negative effects on impact resistance. Clays are typically used at 20-50% wt in polymer composites, and commercially available grades have aspect ratio between 4 and 12, and average particles in the 0.5-2.3 pm range. Because kaolin has a platelike structure with a high 

Wagner. Reinforcing silicas and silicates. Rubb. Chem. TechnoL, 49, 703-774, 1976. 

Handbook of Silicone Rubber Fabrication, 2 Ed. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, NY, 1978. ISBN 978-0442249625. 

---