About the author
Roger Rothon is now an independent consultant, specialising in the production, surface modification and application of particulate fillers for polymer composites. He previously worked for ICI in the UK for over 25 years, most of this time being spent in the fillers area. While in ICI he was responsible for several new product developments, including new types of coupling agents for silica and calcium carbonates and novel conductive and magnetic fillers. After leaving ICI, he was Technical Manager for Flamemag International for 8 years. In this position, he led the development of a new process for the production of magnesium hydroxide flame retardant fillers.

He has several patents and many scientific publications, and was the editor and main contributor to the first edition of " Particulate Filled Mineral Composites". In 1996 he was made a visiting Professor at the Manchester Metropolitan University, where he is now involved in research on filler surface modifiers. Roger Rothon has also spent considerable time as a visiting scientist at the CSIRO Division of Minerals in Melbourne Australia.


Preface
Contributors

1 General Principles Guiding Selection and Use of Particulate Materials
Roger Rothon (Rothon Consultants & Manchester Metropolitan University) and Michael Hancock

1.1 Introduction
1.2 Basic Characteristics of Particulate Fillers
1.2.1 Cost
1.2.2 Chemistry, Composition and Impurities
1.2.3 Density or Specific Gravity
1.2.4 Hardness
1.2.5 Abrasiveness
1.2.6 Optical Properties
1.2.7 Thermal Properties
1.2.8 Particle Shape and Size
1.2.9 Shape
1.2.10 Particle Size
1.3 Surface Modification
1.3.1 Stearic Acid and Stearates
1.3.2 Coupling Agents
1.3.3 Polymer Modifications
1.3.4 Direct Bonding
1.4 Particle Packing and the Maximum Packing Fraction
1.4.1 Introduction
1.4.2 Determination of Maximum Packing Fraction (Pf) by Oil Absorption Procedures
1.4.3 Particle Packing Theory
1.4.4 Applications of Packing Principles to Particulate Filled Composites
1.5 Interparticle Spacing
1.6 Particle Effects on the Structure of Polymers
1.6.1 Introduction
1.6.2 Molecular Weight Reduction During Processing
1.6.3 Molecular Weight and Crosslinking Changes due to Cure Modifications
1.6.4 Preferential Adsorption of Polar Species
1.6.5 Formation of an Interphase of Immobilised Polymer
1.6.6 Effects on Polymer Conformation due to the Presence of Particle Surfaces and Interparticle Spacing
1.6.7 Effects on Crystallinity
References

2 Principal Types of Particulate Fillers
Michael Hancock and Roger Rothon (Rothon Consultants & Manchester Metropolitan University)

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Particulate Fillers from Natural Origins (Mineral Fillers)
2.2.1 Introduction
2.2.2 Minerals and Rocks
2.2.3 Rocks
2.2.4 Calcium Carbonate Minerals
2.2.5 Dolomite
2.2.6 China Clay or Kaolin
2.2.7 Calcined Clay
2.2.8 Mica
2.2.9 Talc
2.2.10 Montmorillonite (AlMg)8(Si4O10)3(OH)10.12H2O
2.2.11 Barite (BaSO4)
2.2.12 Calcium Sulfate Products
2.2.13 Wollastonite (CaSiO3)
2.2.14 Crystalline Silicas
2.3 Synthetic Particulate Fillers
2.3.1 Carbon Black
2.3.2 Synthetic Silicas
2.3.3 Hydroxides and Basic Carbonates
2.3.4 Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC)
Acknowledgements
References

3 Analytical Techniques for Characterising Filler Surfaces
David P Ashton (ICI Acrylics), David Briggs (Siacon Consultants) and Christopher Mark Liauw (Manchester Metropolitan University)

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Acid-Base Theory
3.2.1 Introduction
3.2.2 Gutmann Approach
3.2.3 Drago Approach
3.2.4 Use in Characterising Fillers
3.3 Analytical Techniques
3.4 Reactive Techniques
3.4.1 Flow Microcalorimetry
3.4.2 Inverse Gas Chromatography
3.5 Spectroscopic Techniques
3.5.1 Introduction
3.5.2 X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
3.5.3 Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry
3.5.4 Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
3.6 Methods for Examining Structural Order in Filler Coatings
3.6.1 Wide Angle X-Ray Diffraction
3.6.2 Differential Scanning Calorimetry
3.7 Summary
References

4 Surface Modification and Surface Modifiers
Roger Rothon (Rothon Consultants & Manchester Metropolitan University)

4.1 Introduction
4.2 Reasons for Using Surface Modifiers
4.3 General Principles of Surface Modification
4.4 Methods of Using Surface Modifiers
4.5 Choice of Coating Level
4.6 Techniques for Determining the Amount of Coating Present, and Assessing the Amount Needed for Mono-layer Coverage
4.6.1 Determination of Amount of Additive and its Distribution
4.6.2 The Mono-layer and its Determination
4.6.3 Effects of Processing on the Coating Structure
4.7 Surface Modifier Types
4.7.1 Monomeric Organic Acids and their Salts
4.7.2 Stearic Acid (CH3(CH2)16COOH
4.7.3 Other Satur