effect of coupling agent (malic anhydride)on polypropylene compound

Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most important plastics as it has an excellent balance of mechanical properties such as, melt flow, color stability, chemical residence and moisture barrier properties together with low cost [1]. Polypropylene was reinforced with a talc (Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂) additive and following to addition of a coupling agent to improve its impact strength and reduction of the price. Talc represents one of the most useful mineral fillers which are compatible with polypropylene [2]. Mechanical properties such as impact strength was also investigated. Due to the optimal of mechanical properties obtain, PP(90%)+Talc(10%) compound, the compound were selected, which shows a 50% drop in impact strength compared to the polypropylene itself. An optimal percentage (3%) of the malic anhydride was added to the PP (90%) + Talc (10%) compound as a coupling agent, which shows an increases (18%) in impact strength compared to the polypropylene and (100%) increases compared to PP (90%) + Talc (10%) compound (Figure 1).