In this study, polypropylene (PP) composites with vermiculite and polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) were obtained by extrusion. Processing parameters such as extrusion temperature, and clay size and content were evaluated as for their effect on mechanical properties such as tensile and flexural modulii and impact resistance. In order to identify the parameters having the greatest influence on these properties, experimental design tool was used, which allowed to forecast trends of properties from a smaller number of experiments. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) and design of experimental (DOE) 2³ factorial were used. The results showed that all input parameters are important, the vermiculite content being the greatest influence on the results of elastic and flexural modulii. The elastic modulus showed better results with higher clay content (5wt%) and high extrusion temperatures (230°C). With regard to impact resistance, the input parameters were not statistically significant.

polypropylene, vermiculite, composite, experimental design, processing.