The effect of schungite filler on the degree of crystallinity of polypropylene and polyethylene in ternary mixed composites

The effect of schungite filler with a carbon content of 39 wt % on the degree of crystallinity of polypropylene and polyethylene in mixed ternary composites is studied. The PP-to-PE volume ratios are 80: 20 and 50: 50. With an increase in the content of the schungite filler, the fraction of the crystalline phase in PP increases, although the degree of crystallinity of PE decreases; this behavior is related to the high affinity between polypropylene and schungite filler. The surface structure of the initial and schungite-loaded PP-PE materials of various compositions is studied via AFM. The surface structure of the above composites is shown to be different, and its specific features are dependent on the ratio between polymer components and on the order in which all components are introduced into the system.