Particle and polymer chain orientation development in thermoformed talc‐filled thermoplastics

Neat and talc particle‐filled thermoplastic cones have been fabricated by thermoforming of compression molded sheets. The orientation of talc particles and polymer chains of thermoformed talc‐filled thermoplastics are investigated using the wide angle X‐ray diffraction pole figure technique. The levels of orientation of both talc particles and polymer chains are represented in terms of orientation factors. The talc particles were highly oriented by the compression molding and the subsequent thermoforming, and the orientation factors of talc particles of thermoformed talc‐filled thermoplastics are of order −0.9. The c ‐axis of the talc particles orients perpendicular to the surface of the thermoformed parts, which means that the surface of the talc particles is parallel to the surface of the thermoformed parts.