Abstract: This paper investigated a method of modifying potassium titanate whiskers (K2O•6TiO2) to obtain polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/K2O•6TiO2 composite particles through emulsion polymerization. The interface properties of pure and modified potassium titanate whiskers were studied in details. According to the characterizations of FT-IR、 SEM and EDS, the surface of the potassium titanate whiskers was covered by PMMA molecules and the composite particles have a core-shell structure. The characterization of surface energy and interfacial tension showed that the interface property of modified whiskers has changed thoroughly and it was similar to that of PMMA, so the whiskers were covered by PMMA thoroughly. It made the potassium titanate whiskers modified from hydrophilic to hydrophobic and the dispersibility of the whiskers in organic liquids improved greatly.

Key words: Potassium titanate whiskers, Surface modification, Dispersion, Surface energy, Interfacial tension, Emulsion polymerization