Non-Metallic Mineral Plastic Modification Is Ordinary? Powder Selection Is Key!

In the field of plastics, the application of non-metallic mineral powder materials is mainly based on their stable properties, lower cost, and the synergistic effects of their unique physicochemical properties with polymers.

There are many types of plastics, their application scenarios are complex, and the properties of non-metallic mineral materials vary greatly. How should one choose? The author summarizes the principles, application effects, and technological advances of seven typical non-metallic minerals in plastic modification for your reference.

Application Principle

Improving the rigidity and processing flowability of plastics can be achieved by particle filling. Nano-sized calcium carbonate can form physical entanglements with polymer chains through "active sites." Surface modification (such as with titanate coupling agents) can enhance interfacial bonding and reduce agglomeration.

Application Effect

Mechanical properties: nano CaCO₃When filled with 30nm, the tensile strength of PVC increases by 23%, and the impact strength increases by more than 20%.

Processing performance: After modification with DL-411 aluminate, the impact strength of heavy calcium carbonate reinforced PP composites increased by 41.97%, and the melt flow rate was optimized.

Technical Progress

Composite modification: By using nano-aluminum silicate coating combined with silane treatment, a composite filler with both high dispersibility and interfacial bonding strength was prepared. When applied to PP and PA6, the heat distortion temperature increased by 15–20°C.

Environmental technology: Microwave-assisted modification technology can reduce modification time by 30% while improving the interfacial compatibility between the filler and ABS resin.

Application Principle

The lamellar structure provides a "nano-bridging" effect to inhibit crack propagation; surface modification (such as with KH550 silane coupling agent) reduces polarity and promotes dispersion.

Application Effect

Enhanced toughening: The synergistic effect of 1% OTES-modified talc and 0.2% nucleating agent increases the flexural modulus of PP by 70% and improves impact strength by 49%.

Flame retardant synergy: When combined with decabromodiphenyl ethane, the vertical burning performance reaches UL94V-0 rating, and the peak heat release rate is reduced by 35%.

Technical progress

Particle Size Control: Liaoning Xinda Group has developed the "laminated shear comminution" technology, which controls the aspect ratio of talcum powder to above 17:1, significantly enhancing the rigidity and thermal stability of composite materials.

Foaming application: 3000-mesh talcum powder used as a nucleating agent doubles the cell density of microporous foamed PP and results in a more uniform cell size distribution.

Application Principle

Needle-like morphology provides stress transfer pathways, and surface modification (such as silane coupling agents) improves interfacial bonding.

Application Effect

Mechanical enhancement: When ultrafine wollastonite (aspect ratio 12) is filled into ABS, the tensile strength increases by 18% and the impact strength improves by 17%.

Friction performance: When compounded with PTFE, the wear rate decreases to 1.54×10^-6mm³/(N·m), with a Shore hardness of 70.

Technical Progress

Microwave-assisted modification: Compared to traditional oil bath heating, microwave treatment can improve the dispersion of wollastonite in ABS by 40% and increase the interfacial bonding energy by 25%.

Inorganic coating: Nano SiO₂Encapsulating wollastonite fibers improves their tensile strength in cement-based materials by 37.21%.

Application Principle

The porous structure adsorbs plasticizer, improving the processing fluidity of PVC; surface hydroxyl groups react with coupling agents to form chemical bonds.

Application Effect

Flame retardant enhancement: When combined with intumescent flame retardants (IFR), the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of PP increases from 22% to 28%, achieving a V-0 rating in vertical burning tests.

Dispersion optimization: KH590 modified diatomaceous earth is uniformly dispersed in HDPE, and the impact strength is increased by 122.1 kJ/m.²The thermal decomposition temperature increased by 10°C.

Technological advancements

Graded purification: Using the "flotation-X-ray sorting" process, the purity of diatomaceous earth is increased to over 99%, resulting in a 30% improvement in pigment dispersion when used in polyolefin color masterbatches.

Composite Modification: Nano TiO₂Load diatomaceous earth into PP to achieve dual functions of photocatalytic degradation and mechanical reinforcement.

Application Principle

Layered structures provide heterogeneous nucleation sites, forming active Al after calcination.₂O₃Enhance interface bonding.

Application Effect

Thermal stability: When calcined kaolin is used to fill PP, the heat distortion temperature increases from 100°C to 125°C, and the degree of crystallinity increases by 15%.

Flame retardant synergy: The combination of nano kaolin and IFR increases the LOI of PP to 30%, and reduces the smoke density rating (SDR) by 40%.

Technological advancements

Intercalation modification: Organic quaternary ammonium salts are intercalated into kaolinite layers via ion exchange, resulting in the preparation of exfoliated nanocomposites with a 35% increase in tensile strength.

Functionalization design: Surface-grafted with acrylic acid, the dispersion of kaolin in PA6 is increased by 50%, and the water absorption rate is reduced by 20%.

Application Principle

The lamellar structure forms a "tortuous path effect," hindering gas permeation; surface hydroxyl groups interact with the polymer through hydrogen bonding.

Application Effect

Barrier properties: When mica nanosheets are incorporated into PEF, O₂The transmittance decreases by 2.4 times, CO₂The transmittance decreased by 6.4 times.

Mechanical enhancement: The tensile strength of nacre-inspired structure mica/PLA composite films reaches 67 MPa, with toughness increased by 156%.

Technical Progress

Nondestructive exfoliation: The "liquid tape method" is used to prepare large-area mica nanosheets (3.43 μm) with a yield of up to 80%, which is significantly superior to traditional mechanical exfoliation.

Biomimetic design: By mimicking the "brick-mortar" structure of shells, the UV shielding performance of mica/PLA composite films is enhanced by 80%, while maintaining a visible light transmittance of over 90%.

Application Principle

Nanoparticles form a three-dimensional network, and the surface hydroxyl groups react with the polymer; vapor-phase SiO₂Provide high specific surface area.

Application Effect

Enhanced Toughening: 4% Nano SiO₂Filling with PMMA increases the notch impact strength by 80%, while maintaining a light transmittance of over 90%.

Processing optimization: Modified SiO₂Reducing melt viscosity in PP by 15% and shortening the molding cycle by 20%.

Technical Progress

Hybrid Modification: Surface-grafted polystyrene to prepare core-shell structured SiO.₂@PS, the dispersion in ABS is improved by 50%, and the impact strength is increased by 30%.

Functional integration: Ag+-loaded SiO₂Achieving antibacterial (inhibition rate >99%) and antistatic (surface resistance <10) in PE.⁹Ω) Dual function.