Silane and silicone oil modified superfine magnesium hydroxide (MH) was filled into polypropylene (PP) as a flame retardant. The PP and flame-retarded PP composites were studied for their mechanical properties and rheological behaviors by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), limiting oxygen index (LOI), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the addition of MH improved flame retardancy of PP/MH composites, but seriously deteriorated mechanical properties of the composites. Surface treatment of MH could significantly improve tensile and impact strength of PP/MH composite because of its enhanced interfacial adhesion between MH and PP matrix. DSC results showed that MH had heterogeneous nucleation effect on PP. Surface treatment of MH weakened its heterogeneous nucleation effect. POM results showed that the dispersion of MH particles played an important role in the crystalline morphology and spherulite size of PP crystals. TGA indicated that MH greatly enhanced the thermal stability of PP. The introduction of treatment agent further improved the thermal oxidative stability of the composite. According to LOI silane-treated MH greatly enhanced flame retardancy of PP/MH composites. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.