Reinforcement and quantitative description of inorganic particulate-filled polymer composites

Understanding the reinforcing mechanisms should be meaningful for preparation of new polymer composites. The reinforcing mechanisms of the inorganic particulate-filled polymer composites were analyzed and discussed in the present paper, and concluded several reinforcing theories on the basis of the previous studies, such as interfacial adhesion reinforcing theory, filler inducing crystallization reinforcing theory, filler frame reinforcing theory, and synergistic reinforcing effect theory. The reinforcing effects should be related closely to the filler shape and size, in addition to the filler concentration and dispersion in the matrix. Consequently, to describe accurately the reinforcing mechanisms of the composites, two or more reinforcing theories should be used for the actual composite system, and one of among them should be usually as the major reinforcing mechanism. Finally, the quantitative characterization of the reinforcement was described. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.