EFFECT OF VINYL ACETATE CONTENT ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURES OF POLYPROPYLENE

The effect of vinyl acetate （VA） content in ethylene vinyl acetate （EVA） copolyrner on the mechanical properties of polypropylene was investigated. Three different EVA copolymers with concentrations of 3 wt%, 6 wt%, 9 wt%, 12 wt% and 15 wt%, were blended to polypropylene. The mechanical properties such as yield and tensile strengths, elastic modulus, Izod impact strength, hardness and melt flow index of the blends were investigated. Relationship between type of vinyl acetate and concentrations, mechanical, MFI and morphological properties were explored.     

Dynamics of polypropylene chains in their binary blends of different stereochemical sequences studied by Monte Carlo simulations

The conformational and dynamic properties of polypropylene （PP） for both pure melts and blends with different chain tacticity were investigated by Monte Carlo simulation of isotactic （iPP）, atactic （aPP） and syndiotactic （sPP） polypropylenes. The simulation of coarse-grained PP models was performed on a high coordination lattice incorporating short- and long-range intramolecular interactions from the rotational isomeric state （RIS） model and Lennard-Jones （LJ） potential function of propane pairs, respectively. The dynamics of chains in binary PP/PP mixture were investigated with the composition of C150H302 with different chain taciticity. The diffusion rates of PP with different stereochemistry are generally in the order as： iPP 〉 aPP 〉〉 sPP. For PP/PP blends with 50：50 wt% binary mixtures, immiscibility was observed when sPP was introduced into the mixtures. The diffusion rate of iPP and aPP became slower after mixing, while sPP diffuses significantly faster in the binary mixtures. The mobility of PP chains depends on both intramolecular （molecular size and chain stiffness） and intermolecular （chain packing） interactions. The effect of intramolecular contribution is greater than that of intermolecular contribution for iPP and aPP chains in binary mixtures. For sPP chain, intermolecular interaction has greater influence on the dynamics than intramolecular contribution.     

EFFECTS OF STYRENE-ETHYLENE/PROPYLENE DIBLOCK COPOLYMER (SEP) ON THE COMPATIBILIZATION OF PP/PS BLENDS

The effects of styrene-ethylene/propylene (SEP) diblock copolymer on the morphology and mechanical propertiesof polypropylene/polystyrene (PP/PS) blends were investigated. The results showed that SEP diblock copolymer, acting as acompatibilizer in PP/PS immiscible blends, can diminish the coalescence of the dispersed particles, reduce their averageparticle size, change their phase morphologies significantly, and increase the mechanical properties. It was found that SEP has better compatibilization effects on the PP/PS (20/80) blends.     

SUPER POLYOLEFIN BLENDS ACHIEVED VIA DYNAMIC PACKING INJECTION MOLDING:MORPHOLOGY AND PROPERTIES

As a long-term project aimed at developing super polyolefin blends, in this paper we summarize our work on themechanical reinforcement and phase morphology of polyolefin blends achieved by dynamic packing injection molding(DPIM). The main feature of this technology is that the specimen is forced to move repeatedly in the model by two pistonsthat move reversibly with the same frequency during cooling, which results in preferential orientation of the dispersed phaseas well as the matrix. The typical morphology of samples obtained via DPIM is a shear-induced morphology with a core inthe center, an oriented zone surrounding the core and a skin layer in the cross-section areas. Shear-induced phase dissolutionat a higher shear rate but phase separation at low shear rates is evident from AFM examination of LLDPE/PP (50/50) blends.The super polyolefin blends having high modulus (1.9-2.2 GPa), high tensile strength (100-120 MPa) and high impactstrength (6 times as that of pure HDPE) have been prepared by controlling the phase separation, molecular orientation andcrystal morphology.     

Size Distribution and Anisotropy of the MinorPhase Droplets in Polypropylene/Ethylene-OcteneCopolymer Blends: Effects of Shear andComponent Miscibility简

In this work, polypropylene （PP）/octene-ethylene copolymer （POE） blends were injection-molded using the so- called dynamic packing injection technique, which imposed oscillatory shear on the gradually cooling melt during the packing solidification stage. In this way, the effect of shear on the size distribution and anisotropy of the minor phase droplets could be investigated. Besides, by using two kinds of POE with different octene contents, the effect of component miscibility was also studied. The results show that the droplet size is mainly determined by composition and miscibility, and droplet anisotropy is mainly determined by droplet size and shear. Most importantly, under the same processing condition, droplet anisotropy increases with droplet size, and there seems a linear fit between them, disregarding the miscibility factor. These results may provide guidance for preparing polymer blends with desired properties by tailoring their phase morphologies.     

THE EFFECT OF EC ON ORIENTATION AND RELAXATION OF PP OBTAINED VIA DYNAMIC PACKING INJECTION MOLDING

As a long term project aiming at engineering plastics based on polypropylene (PP), in this work, we report the effect of ethylene-cellulose (EC) on the orientation and relaxation of PP obtained via dynamic packing injection molding (DPIM). 2d-WAXD results showed that PP with a highly oriented structure and a shish-kebab structure were achieved by DIPM, leading to an increase of tensile strength from 35.0MPa to 48.6MPa. The degree of orientation of PP was increased by adding only 1% of EC, resulting in a further increase of tensile strength from 48.6MPa to 53.8MPa. Shish was found to exist not only in the oriented layer but also in the core of the sample after adding EC, as evidenced by DSC result.This was understood as due to the overall decrease of viscosity by the addition of EC, thus an increasing of shear rate. Higher shear rate can favor the orientation of molecules and continuous growth of shish structure, resulting in a change of shish distribution along the sample thickness. On the other hand, the relaxation mode of shish in the melt recrystallization of PP is also greatly affected by the presence of EC. A retarded relaxation of PP macromolecules was seen.Even more, SEM results showed that EC could form the short fibers in PP matrix along the shear flow direction. Compared with the morphology obtained by conventional injection molding, a much better dispersion and easy break-up of EC in PP matrix were observed for samples obtained by dynamic packing injection molding.     

SPATIAL HIERARCHY AND INTERFACIAL STRUCTURE IN INJECTIONMOLDED BARS OF POLYPROPYLENE-BASED BLENDS AND COMPOSITES

The hierarchical structure and interfacial morphology of injection-molded bars of polypropylene （PP） based blends and composites have been investigated in detail from the skin to the core. For preparation of injection-molded bars with high-level orientation and good interfacial adhesion, a dynamic packing injection molding technology was applied to exert oscillatory shear on the melts during solidification stage. Depending on incorporated component, interfacial adhesion and processing conditions, various oriented structure and morphology could be obtained. First, we will elucidate the epitaxial behavior between PP and high-density polyethylene occurring in practical molded processing. Then, the shear-induced transcrystalline structure will be the main focus for PP/fiber composites. At last, various oriented clay structures have been ascertained unambiguously in PP/organoclay nanocomposites along the thickness of molded bars.     

Investigations on structure and properties of blends of polypropylene with polyamide 1010 by Rayleigh scattering

The phase structure and morphology of polypropylene （iPP） blends with poly（decamethylene sebacamide （polyamide 1010, PA 1010） and the part-compatible alloys （iPP/PA 1010/iPP-g-MAH） are investigated by Rayleigh scattering, i.e. small angle light scattering （SALS）. The structure parameters of SALS, i.e. correlation distance, ac and average chord lengths, /, are calculated. Their variation with the composition of the blends and alloys is discussed. The morphology and structure of fracture surfaces in the blends and alloys are studied by SEM images. The average diameter of dispersed phase in the blends and alloys is calculated by graph processing. The variation of average diameter is similar as that of average chord lengths of dispersed phases. The mechanical properties of the blends and alloys are analyzed and the relation of modulus and yield stress with the composition is studied. It is confirmed that the correlation between the modulus and the structure parameters is non-linear, while the correlation between the yield stress and the composition or structure parameters is linear.     

COMPATIBILITY OF PVC WITH POLYURETHANES OF DIFFERENT SOFT SEGMENTS

Blends of PVC and polyurethanes with four different soft segments of molecular weight 1000 were prepared and studied by dynamic mechanical and DSC techniques. It was found that the compatibility of PVC with segmented polyurethanes was related to the mixing of PVC molecules and the soft segments of the polyurethanes. Polyester based polyurethanes are more compatible with PVC than polyether based polyurethanes. Solution cast blends of PVC with PCL-polyurethane (1/2/1) exhibit single and narrow glass transition, while the blends with PPO-polyurethane (1/2/1) are completely incompatible. The compatibility was found to decrease with increasing hard segment content for all the polyurethanes used. The methods of blend preparation may change the compatibility of PVC/PU blends through their influence on the mixing or demixing of the hard and soft segments.     

MORPHOLOGY AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLY(ETHYLENEOCTENE) COPOLYMERS OBTAINED BY DYNAMIC PACKING INJECTION MOLDING*

The morphology and mechanical properties of poly(ethylene-octene)copolymers(POE)obtained by dynamic packing injection molding were investigated by mechanical tests,differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The mechanical tests found that only POE with low octene content and high molecular weight show apparent response for external shear field.Further investigation has been done by DSC,FT-IR,and SEM in order to make clear the reason of that phenomenon.Finally,the hypothetical mechanism of POE microstructure formation under shear field has been proposed.For POE with low octene content and high molecular weight,orientation degree and mechanical properties both increase substantially under shear field.For POE with low octene content and low molecular weight,orientation degree and crystallinity increase under shear field,but it is not dramatically benefit for the mechanical properties.For POE with high octene content and high molecular weight,the shear field has little effect on the morphology and mechanical properties.     

剪切作用下PA1010/PP共混物的形态与性能研究

通过动态保压注射成型方法制备了聚酰胺1010/聚丙烯(PA1010/PP)共混物,并研究了形态与性能的关系.力学性能测试结果表明在熔体冷却过程中施加剪切可以大大提高共混物的拉伸强度、拉伸模量和缺口冲击强度,当PP的质量分数为20%时,共混物的缺口冲击强度达到21.3kJ/m2,是静态样的3倍多,拉伸强度达到50.9MPa,是静态样的1.5倍.扫描电镜(SEM)结果表明在动态保压样的横断面可以观察到剪切诱导的形态,中间是芯层,围绕着芯层的是剪切层,最外面是皮层,相区尺寸显著减小、分散相分散更趋均匀,特别是PP的质量分数为20%时,相区尺寸从原来的约3.9μm降低到约1.4μm.动态保压样机械性能的提高归因于剪切作用下独特相形态的形成,分子链沿流动方向的取向是拉伸强度提高的主要原因,而剪切使分散相颗粒变小和剪切层中分子链的取向是冲击强度提高的主要原因.     

聚烯烃共混物注射制品的形态控制与多层次结构

从注射制品形态控制和结构表征的角度探讨高分子材料加工-形态-性能之间的关系.研究中采用动态保压成型方法来制备注射样品,在注射成型过程中引入剪切应力场的作用,制得的样品表现出明显的多层次结构,从外向里分别为皮层、剪切层、芯层,表现出不同的相形态、结晶形貌以及取向行为.研究发现,剪切应力对聚烯烃的形态发展和结构变化具有重要影响.在剪切应力的作用下,聚烯烃共混物中分散相会发生变形、取向,从而导致共混物的相转变点发生移动;结晶形态从球晶转变为shish-kebab结构;聚烯烃共混物在高剪切应力下相容,低剪切下发生相分离;HDPE/PP共混物的注射制品中出现附生结晶等现象.     

高强超韧高密度聚乙烯/聚丙烯共混物性能与微相分离结构的研究

在常规注射过程中 ,难以获得超高性能的共混体系注射制件 ,已有的研究表明 ,采用高剪切注射 ,可以抬高共混体系的最低临界相容温度曲线 (LCST)的位置 ,增加相容性 .当熔体进入模具后 ,冷却的同时相容性下降 ,开始相分离 ,相分离程度发展到某一程度即可获得高性能的制件 .对于高密度聚乙烯 (HDPE)、聚丙烯 (PP)两组分均为结晶型聚合物的共混体系 ,由于其相形态与结晶形态相互制约、竞争 ,微相分离程度难以控制 ,因此对其液 液相形态与结晶过程的控制是获得共混物最终形态与性能的关键 .采用振动保压注射成型技术不仅对HDPE、PP各自力学性能有明显的自增强作用 ,而且对HDPE/PP共混体系的力学性能也有十分明显的改善 .DSC、WAXD、SEM结果表明共混体系拉伸强度的提高主要取决于试样中串晶数量和大分子链的定向程度 ,而冲击强度则主要取决于两组分微观的相分离程度 .研究结果表明 ,HDPE/PP含量为 92 / 8的试样拉伸强度为 97 1MPa,80 / 2 0试样的缺口冲击强度为 4 5 5kJ/m2 ,较静态试样分别提高 4 3倍和 9 5倍 .采用振动填充注射技术针对某一组分可以获得高强度、高韧性的共混制件 .     

剪切作用下马来酸酐接枝乙烯-辛烯共聚物和乙烯-丙烯酸丁酯-甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯共聚物对PA1010/PP共混物的增容作用比较

采用熔体共混的方法制备了两种增容剂增容的聚酰胺1010/聚丙烯(PA1010/PP)共混物,通过扫描电镜(SEM)、力学性能和差示扫描量热(DSC)测试,对动态保压注射成型(动态)和普通注射成型(静态)中增容剂POE-g-MAH(马来酸酐接枝乙烯-辛烯共聚物)和PTW(乙烯-丙烯酸丁酯-甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯共聚物)对PA1010/PP共混物的增容作用进行了比较研究.研究结果表明,普通注射成型中,PTW增容体系具有更小的分散相粒子,在DSC测试中出现两个结晶峰,即出现异相成核结晶和均相成核结晶,具有更好的拉伸和冲击性能,增容作用更佳.动态保压注射成型中施加剪切可以提高所有共混物的拉伸强度、拉伸模量和缺口冲击强度,PTW和POE-g-MAH两种增容剂增容体系冲击性能相近,但POE-g-MAH增容体系的分散相相区尺寸减小明显、分布均匀性显著增加,材料冲击强度增加幅度更大,表明剪切更有利于POE-g-MAH增容作用的进行.两种增容剂增容作用的不同源于它们化学组成的不同引起的材料形态差别.     

间规聚苯乙烯/等规聚丙烯/间规聚苯乙烯-b-聚(1-丁烯)共混体系相容性

间规聚苯乙烯(sPS)的改性主要是对其增韧改性,提高其力学性能.sPS的化学改性已有较多文献报道[1,2].     

Ductile–brittle‐transition phenomenon in polypropylene/ethylene‐propylene‐diene rubber blends obtained by dynamic packing injection molding: A new understanding of the rubber‐toughening mechanism

For a more complete understanding of the toughening mechanism of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene‐propylene‐diene rubber (EPDM) blends, dynamic packing injection molding was used to control the phase morphology and rubber particle orientation in the matrix. The relative impact strength of the blends increased at low EPDM contents, and then a definite ductile–brittle (D–B) transition was observed when the EPDM content reached 25 wt %, at which point blends should fail in the ductile mode with conventional molding. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate the shear‐induced crystal structure, morphology, orientation, and phase separation of the blends. WAXD results showed that the observed D–B transition took place mainly for a constant crystal structure (α form). Also, no remarkable changes in the crystallinity and melting point of PP were observed by DSC. The highly oriented and elongated rubber particles were seen via SEM at high EPDM contents. Our results suggest that Wu's criterion is no longer valid when dispersed rubber particles are elongated and oriented. The possible fracture mechanism is discussed on the basis of the stress concentration in a filler‐dispersed matrix. It can be concluded that not only the interparticle distance but also the stress fields around individual particles play an important role in polymer toughening. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 2086–2097, 2002