向列相液晶共聚物作为β晶成核剂对等规聚丙烯结晶结构与热性能的影响

采用接枝聚合的方法,合成了一种新型聚硅氧烷类向列相液晶共聚物(LCP-H4),然后将LCP-H4与PP在一定工艺条件下密炼共混,得到了一系列的共混样品,采用WAXD、POM与DSC等研究了LCP-H4作为成核剂对PP样品结晶结构、形态与热性能的影响.结果表明,具有独特"液晶"性能的LCP-H4为PP结晶提供了更多的带自由能的晶核与较多的活性点,起到了异相成核的作用,既提高了PP的结晶速度、结晶温度和结晶度,又减小了球晶的尺寸,同时也改变了PP的结晶结构、形态及热力学与动力学,诱导出了β晶.此外,随着增加LCP-H4的含量及结晶温度,对应PP试样的β晶含量(Kβ)呈现先增加后降低的趋势,当LCP-H4含量为0.9%,在128℃等温结晶1h,对应成核PP的Kβ最大,为54%.     

Effect of molecular weight on conformation of poly(β-benzyl L-aspartate) in films

In order to study the effect of the molecular weight on the crystallinity and conformational changes of poly(β-benzyl L aspartate) in films, a previous study on high molecular weight samples has been extended to included polymers of low molecular weight, about 3.3 × 10³. Films were prepared from chloroform solution by quick or slow evaporation at room temperature. The conformation and the thermal behavior were studied by means of infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. All films dried quickly are composed of polymer in the left-handed α-helical form. All samples studied which have molecular weights above 2.3 × 10⁴ are similar in crystallinity and the left-handed α-helices in them crystallize to ω-helices during slow evaporation. In the low molecular weight region, however, the left-handed α-helices reverse to right-handed α-helices during slow evaporation, and the right-handed α-helices, in turn, reverse and crystallize to highly ordered ω-helices upon heat treatment, although there is some simultaneous conversion to the β-form. The transition temperatures of the quick-dried films for conversion from the left-handed α-helix to the ω-helix and from the ω-helix to the β-form increase linearly with increasing molecular weight up to about 2 × 10⁴, but no large molecular weight dependence is observed beyond that region.     

Poly(β-amino acid)s. IV. Synthesis and conformational properties of poly(α-isobutyl-L-aspartate)

Poly(α-isobutyl-L -aspartate) was prepared by the polycondensation reaction of p-nitrophenyl ester of α-isobutyl-L -aspartate and the conformation of the poly(β-amino acid) was investigated by X-ray diffraction, polarized infrared, circular dichroism (CD), optical rotatory dispersion (ORD), and NMR spectroscopy. α-Isobutyl β-p-nitrophenyl-L -aspartate hydrochloride and hydrobromide were used as monomers and dimethylformamide, chloroform, and chlorobenzene, as solvents. A high-molecular-weight polymer with [η] 1.0 dl/g (dichloroacetic acid, 25°C) was formed in the polymerization of the hydrochloride in chloroform at 25°C. The X-ray diagram and polarized infrared spectrum of the stretched polymer film obtained from a chloroform solution suggested a cross-β-form as the most probable structure in the solid state. The CD spectra of the polymer in a 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) solution and its film cast from the solution showed a peak at 205 nm and a trough at 190 nm which were assigned to a β-structure. The polymer was associated in chloroform. The NMR and ORD spectra in chloroform were similar to those in TFE, which suggests that the polymer also exists in the β-structure in chloroform. The addition of small amounts of dichloroacetic acid and sulfuric acid to chloroform and TFE solutions, respectively, destroyed the β-structure. A random copolymer of α-isobutyl-L -aspartate with β-alanine was also prepared by polycondensation reaction. The copolymer apparently did not form an ordered structure in the solid state or in solution.     

Characterization of the structure and organization of β-form crystals in type III and type IV isotactic polypropylene spherulites

Anisotropic growth of β-form crystals of isotactic polypropylene in type III and type IV spherulites has made possible microanalysis of the unit cell structure, optical properties, and crystal arrangement within the spherulites. Micro x-ray studies of the type III and type IV spherulites show that interspherulitic β-form crystals have a hexagonal unit cell with dimensions; a = 19.08 Å and c = 6.49 Å. The intrinsic refractive indices of these β-form crystals are 1.506 along the a axis and 1.536 along the c axis. The organization of the crystals within the spherulites and the optical properties of the spherulites are also quantitatively evaluated. Both the type III and type IV spherulites have the a axis of the crystal radial while the crystals rotate randomly around the type III spherulite radii and periodically around the type IV spherulite radii. The radial refractive index for both the type III and type IV spherulites has the same value of 1.496. The tangential refractive index of the type III spherulite has a constant value of 1.509; it varies periodically between a minimum of 1.496 and a maximum of 1.519 in the type IV spherulite. Microtechniques such as micro x-ray diffraction, interference microscopy, birefringence, and optical microscopy were required for acquisition of the data.     

Shear-induced β-form crystallization in isotactic polypropylene

Extruded, injection-molded, unoriented crystallized specimens and capillary rheometer efflux strands of commercially stabilized polypropylene without nucleating agents were examined by optical microscopy and x-ray diffraction to determine the conditions for β-form crystallization as a function of the distance from the surface and of the shear rate at commercial processing conditions. Results demonstrate that at all “cooling conditions” ΔT = T_m ? T_b (defined as the melt temperature T_m minus the bath temperature T_b) effects of strain flow initiate nucleation of β-form crystals. The shear rate is demonstrated to be important for β-form crystallization. A critical average threshold value for the shear rate of approximately 3 × 10² sec^?1 has to be exceeded. The β modification is mostly connected with type-III spherulites and partly to row structures, and it is observed at processing conditions in oriented structures only.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of random ethylene/1-octene copolymers prepared by rapid cooling

The dynamic mechanical properties of a well-characterized series of homogeneous ethylene/1-octene copolymers with different random hexyl branch contents and prepared using different cooling conditions have been examined using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). It was confirmed that the relaxation behavior of copolymers varied continuously with the branch content: the magnitude of the β relaxation increased with branch content while the intensity of the α relaxation decreased with the branch content; both relaxation temperatures decreasing with increasing branch level in the copolymers. Copolymers prepared at different cooling conditions were further examined and strikingly continuous changes were found for the first time. The β relaxation was shown to correlate to the amorphous region, while the α₁ and α₂ relaxations can be clearly differentiated for some samples and are assumed to be associated with the interlamellar slip and intra-crystalline c-shear processes respectively. With increasing cooling rate, the relative intensity of α₁ relaxation to α₂ relaxation was found to decrease while the β relaxation did not change. The most informative data is determined from deconvolution of tan δ spectra. In higher crystallinity polymers the α₁ and α₂ relaxations are closely related in activation energy but have different temperature locations. For lower crystallinity systems, where the α₁ relaxation cannot be observed, the α₂ and β relaxations are closely linked, with activation energies approaching one another. These results show very clearly that, although the observed relaxation data can be separated through deconvolution into three separate peaks, the behaviors are closely linked. Presumably, this a clear reflection of the role of tie molecules in binding phases together and in influencing dynamic mechanical behavior. A clear change of behavior has also been observed in the β relaxation when a distinct amorphous phase exists outside of the spherulites, confirming the general belief that the crystalline phase influences the amorphous phase when it is confined within a spherulite. Again, this behavior is reflecting the role of tie molecules in binding together the nanocomposite structure of a spherulite.     

β型聚丙烯注塑件的分层结构与力学性能

用X-射线衍射仪研究了不加和加成核剂形成不同晶型的三种聚丙烯注塑件的分层结晶结构,获得各层结晶度和β晶型含量(k_β)随皮芯距离的分布规律,测定了试件弯曲、拉伸和冲击性能。发现,纯等规聚丙烯试件主要含α晶型,皮层的结晶度和k_β低于芯层。加有α成核剂的试件仅含有α晶型,皮层的结晶度也低于芯层。加有β成核剂的试件主要含β晶型,皮层的结晶度和k_β值高于芯层。纯聚丙烯试件和β型为主的试件的分层结构中存在α晶和β晶间的转变。与α型聚丙烯相比,β型聚丙烯有较低的屈服强度,却有较高的抗张强度,显示很高的拉伸韧性和延展性,可明显提高室温以及玻璃化温度以下的低温抗冲击性能。     

成核剂含量对β晶相聚丙烯结晶与熔融行为的影响

用DSC研究了β成核剂含量对β聚丙烯在等温与非等温结晶条件下的结晶与熔融行为的影响,发现当成核剂含量为0.005％时,结晶焓△H_c、β晶的熔融焓△H_(mβ)及熔点T_(mβ)均为最大,而α晶的相对含量最小.广角X-衍射数据表明,成核剂含量高的试样的(301)衍射峰的相对强度下降,反映分子链排列的纵向有序性降低.根据聚丙烯分子在β成核剂上附生结晶的成核机理解释了上述结果.     

Properties of polyethylene modified with phosphonate side groups. II. Dynamic mechanical behavior

The viscoelastic behavior of phosphonate derivatives of phosphonylated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was studied by dynamic mechanical techniques. The polymers investigated contained from 0.2 to 9.1 phosphonate groups per 100 carbon atoms and included the dimethyl phosphonate derivative and two derivatives for which the phosphonate ester group was an oligomer of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The temperature dependences of the storage and loss moduli of the dimethyl phosphonate derivatives were qualitatively similar to those of LDPE. At low phosphonate concentrations, the α, β, and γ dispersion regions characteristic of PE were observed, while at concentrations greater than 0.5 pendent groups per 100 carbons atoms, only the β and α relaxations could be discerned. At low degrees of substitution, the temperature of the β relaxation T_β decreased from that of PE, but above a degree of substitution of 0.1, T_β increased. This behavior was attributed to the competing influences of steric effects which tend to decrease T_β and dipolar interactions between the phosphonate groups which increase T_β. For the phosphonate containing PEO, a new dispersion region designated as the β′ relaxation was observed as a low-temperature shoulder of the β relaxation. The temperature of the β′ loss was consistent with T_g(U) of the PEO oligomers as determined by differential scanning calorimetry, and it is suggested that the β′-loss process results from the relaxation of PEO domains which constitute a discrete phase within the PE matrix.     

High-temperature phases of poly(p-xylylene)

The crystal structure of poly(p-xylylene), as polymerized, is the α form. This transforms irreversibly to the β from by annealing or drawing. To clarify the mechanism of this transition, structural changes of the α and β crystals were examined with a high-temperature stage in the electron microscope. Two high-temperature phases, β₁ and β₂, were found and their structures were analyzed. In these structures lattice distortions due to rotational and translational motions of chains are in troduced, especially in the β₂ form. The α → β transition is induced through such a disordered phase. The statistical arrangement of a molecule in the β-form unit cell results from freezing the disorder in the high-temperature phases.     

Studies on the α and β forms of isotactic polypropylene by crystallization in a temperature gradient

Samples of isotactic polypropylene (PP) were zone-solidified in temperature gradients up to 300°C/cm at growth rates down to 3 μm/min. Oriented α-type spherulites were obtained only by nucleation. While β nucleation is extremely rare, the β phase is easily initiated by growth transformations along the oriented α front. Since the β phase was found to grow considerably faster than the α phase, the α-to-β transformation points diverge across the sample, interrupting growth of the oriented α fibrils. This causes subsequent nucleation to yield teardrop-shaped α spherulites. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies of zone-solidified PP show the β-phase to be favored by slow growth rates, high temperature gradients, and large degrees of superheat in the melt—all of which tend to suppress nucleation. Differential thermograms of largely β-PP obtained at a heating rate of 1°C/min show the actual melting and recrystallization of the β spherulites into the α form.     

Viscoelastic properties of bis(phenyl)fluorene‐based cardo polymers with different chemical structure

Viscoelastic properties of urethane and ester conjugation cardo polymers that contain fluorene group, 9,9‐bis(4‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)phenyl)fluorene (BPEF), were investigated. As for the urethane‐type cardo polymers containing BPEF in the main chain, it had a high glass‐transition temperature (T_g), which was observed as the α dispersion on viscoelastic measurement, and its temperature depended on the chemical structure of the spacing unit, such as toluene diisocyanate (TDI), 4,4′‐methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), methylene dicycloexyl diisocyanate (CMDI), and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Moreover, the T_g of urethane‐type cardo copolymers with various cardo contents increased with an increase of cardo content. Owing to the increase of T_g of cardo polymers, another molecular motion can be measured at the temperature between the α and β dispersion that was assigned to the molecular motion of urethane conjugation unit around 200 K, and it was referred to as the α_sub dispersion. The peak temperature of the α_sub dispersion was influenced by the chemical structure of the spacing unit, but it did not change for the cardo polymer containing the same spacing unit. Consequently, it was deduced that the α_sub dispersion was originated in the subsegmental molecular motions of the cardo polymers. Ester‐type cardo polymer had higher T_g in comparison with noncardo polymer that consisted of dimethyl groups (BPEP) instead of BPEF as well. The α_sub dispersion was also measured at the temperature between the α and β dispersion, which was assigned to the molecular motion of ester conjugation unit, around 220 K. For ester cardo polymer, the γ dispersion was measured in a low‐temperature region around 140 K, and it was due to a small unit motion in the ester‐type cardo polymers, such as ethoxyl unit, ? C₂H₄O? . Moreover, the intensity of the γ dispersion of noncardo polymer was higher than that of cardo polymer, which means the molecular motion was much restricted by the cardo structure of BPEF. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2259–2268, 2005     

Solid-state polymerization of long-chain vinyl compounds. IV. Effects of chain length on the polymorphic behavior and postpolymerization of n-alkyl methacrylates

Polymorphic behavior and γ-ray-initiated postpolymerization of the even-numbered long-chain Methacrylates (C₁₈-C₁₂) have been investigated. Phase transition behaviors of octadecyl, hexadecyl, tetradecyl, and dodecyl methacrylates are respectively, which become simpler with shortening of the chain length. The methacrylate monomers with sufficiently long hydrocarbon chains, such as octadecyl and hexadecyl, can be polymerized rapidly in the α-form crystal (hexagonal packing) by a fully two-dimensional mechanism, whereas in the β-form crystal (triclinic packing), polymerization can hardly occur. In the case of dodecyl methacrylate, however, an accelerated polymerization in the β form occurs after an induction period of several hours and the resultant polymer is gel-like. This can be interpreted by the propagation reaction across the polymer chain already formed. It has been found that the solid-state post-polymerization of n-alkyl methacrylates is affected by the chain length through the packing mode of the monomer molecules and also by the aggregation state of side chains in the resultant comblike polymer.     

Structure and phase transitions in poly(diethylsiloxane)

The structure changes accompanying phase transitions in poly(diethylsiloxane) (PDES) have been studied by WAXS and SAXS techniques using oriented and isotropic samples. PDES may exist in two low-temperature modifications (the monoclinic α₁-form and presumably the “tetragonal” β₁-form) and two high-temperature modifications (the monoclinic α₂-form and the “tetragonal” β₂-form). In linear PDES the crystal - crystal transitions α₁–α₂ and β₁–β₂ occur near 214 and 206 K, respectively. At higher temperatures α₂ (280 K) and β₂ (290 K) forms transform into the mesomorphic phase α_m that gradually melts at 280–300 K giving an amorphous phase. According to x-ray and density data, α_m phase is also characterized by monoclinic structure slightly different from hexagonal packing.     

The effect of specific nucleation on tensile mechanical behaviour of isotactic polypropylene

Commercial-grade isotactic polypropylene was modified with a specific β-nucleation agent NJ-Star (N,N^′-dicyclohexylnaphthalene-2,6-dicarboxamide) in concentrations 0.03, 0.10 wt.% and with a specific α-nucleating agent Millad 3988 (1,2:3,4-bis-O-(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene)sorbitol) in a concentration of 1.0 wt.%. Specimens for mechanical studies were prepared by injection moulding. Two types of tensile mechanical testing were performed at room temperature: (1) stress-strain test encompassing the plastic behaviour well behind the yield point and (2) tensile creep in the region of non-linear viscoelasticity. The results derived from the stress-strain traces show a distinct decrease in Young's modulus and yield stress for samples containing the crystalline β-phase as compared with non-nucleated and α-nucleated samples. This decrease was more pronounced with samples containing the lower β-nucleant concentrations (0.03 wt.%). Higher compliance of specimens containing the β-phase was also manifested in their creep behaviour. However, the creep rate of the specimen with the higher nucleant content (0.10 wt.%) did not rise with time so that its creep curve intersected the creep curves of non-nucleated and α-nucleated samples. Thus, at creep times longer than 1000 min, the sample with 0.1 wt.% of the β-nucleant showed a lower compliance than non-nucleated polypropylene and at 10 000 min reached the compliance of the α-nucleated sample. The different softening effect of the β-phase in the high-strain and low-strain regions has been ascribed to a specific structure of the amorphous interlayer induced by the presence of the β-crystallites.     

Crystallization and morphology of melt-solidified poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Crystallization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF₂) from the melt yields two types of spherulites. The first consists of large, highly birefringent, and tightly banded spherulites of the α-form, which are seen at all temperatures. The second type, termed mixed, crystallizes with a newly reported unit cell which appears to be the correct one for γ-PVF₂, but may contain inclusions of a different form (probably α-PVF₂); it is seen only at relatively high temperatures and frequently exhibits irregular or disorganized birefringent and morphological features. In thin films, some mixed spherulites contain regions of single-crystal-like aggregates which are grown parallel to the substrate and appear essentially nonbirefringent between crossed polars. Mixed spherulites frequently undergo transformations at their growth fronts leading to initiation of α-growth. These transformations are associated with the generally higher growth rate of α-spherulites which may exceed that of their mixed counterparts by almost seven times. However, with increasing temperature this difference in growth rates is progressively reduced and ultimately reversed.     

Rheo-optical studies on the deformation mechanism of semicrystalline polymers. XIV. Alpha and beta mechanical dispersions of spherulitic high-density polyethylene and the dynamic orientation distribution function of crystallites

The dynamic tensile deformation mechanism of spherulitic high-density polyethylene was investigated by dynamic x-ray diffraction at various temperatures and frequencies in order to assign the α and β mechanical dispersions explicity. The uniaxial orientation distribution function q(ζ_j,0) of the jth crystal plane and its dynamic response Δq′_j(ζ_j,0) in phase with dynamic strain were observed for the (110), (200), (210) and (020) crystal planes. Then the orientation distribution function w(ζ,0,η) of crystallites (crystal grains) and its dynamic response Δw′(ζ,0,η), also in phase with the dynamic strain, were determined by a mathematical transformation procedure proposed by Roe and Krigbaum on the basis of the Legendre addition theorem. The temperature and frequency dependences of w′(ζ,0,η) were analyzed in terms of the model parameters for dynamic spherulite deformation combining affine orientation of crystal lamellae with several types of preferential reorientation of the crystal grains within the orienting lamellae. The following assignments are made: (i) The α mechanical dispersion must be assigned to the dynamic orientation dispersion of crystal grains within the crystal lamellae, involving two types of preferential rotations of the grains about their own crystal b and a axes. The rotation about the b axis is associated with lamellar detwisting, mostly in the equatorial zone of uniaxially deformed spherulites; the rotation about the a axis is associated with intralamellar shearing, mostly in the polar zone of the spherulites. Thus both rotations are intralamellar grain-boundary phenomena. (ii) The β mechanical dispersion must be assigned to the dynamic orientation dispersion of the crystal lamellae behaving as rigid bodies. It is not accompanied by reorientation of the crystal grains, but is associated with orientation dispersion of noncrystalline material between the lamellae. Thus it is an interlamellar grain-boundary phenomena.     

全同立构聚丙烯的晶片形态

本文应用光学显微镜,扫描和透射电子显微镜从三种不同层次的结构水平上研究了α和β两种晶型的全同立构聚丙烯的球晶和晶片形态结构,特别是应用四氧化钌染色技术直接观察到两种不同晶型聚丙烯球晶中单独分离的晶片形态.结果表明,不同晶型聚丙烯球晶的形态是不同的,其所呈现的性质与其内部晶片结构的排列特征相对应.同时研究了两种晶型聚丙烯在熔体拉伸结晶条件下生成的晶片形态,倾向于相同的取向晶片结构.电子衍射数据证明了,β型聚丙烯在拉伸取向结晶时将转变为α晶型.     

Polysiloxane dizwitterionomers. IV. Mechanical and dielectric relaxations

The relaxation behavior of a series of polysiloxane dizwitterionomers has been studied by using dynamic mechanical and dielectric spectroscopy. The temperature range was 100–375 K and the frequency was ca. 1 Hz in the mechanical measurements and 50 Hz–50 kHz in the dielectric measurements. Three relaxation regions, labeled α_s, β, α_z in order of increasing temperature, were observed. The β_s relaxation was assigned to the nonionic portion of the siloxane chain and correlated with the glass transition of polydimethylsiloxane. The β and α_z processes are ionic-related relaxations; β probably originated from the motion of a chain segment carrying a dizwitterion, and α_z, from the collapse of the organization in the ionic domains. Absorbed water exerts a profound influence on relaxation behavior–primarily on α_z ionic relaxation and the relative rigidity of the samples. The water molecules solvate the ions and thus shift the α_z relaxation to lower temperatures. Some aspects of the effect of thermal history on the microphase separation into domains have also been investigated. The results indicate that the organization of the zwitterions in the ionic domains is improved at slow cooling rates.     

Phase transition behavior of a poly(oxyethylene-b-butylene adipate) ionomer with shape memory properties

A series of biodegradable poly(oxyethylene-b-butylene adipate) ionomers (POBAi) were prepared by two-step in situ polymerization using adipic acid, 1,4-butanediol and mixed monomers of bis(poly(oxyethylene)) sulfonated dimethyl fumarate. The chemical composition of these POBAi was ascertained by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The objective of this study was to investigate the shape memory effect of POBAi containing ionomer compared to non ionic POBA. It was observed that POBA5.0i showed a good shape memory effect than that of POBA 2.5 mol% or none of ionic group due to much physical cross-linking point by rich ionic group. Stress-induced phase transition was investigated during the shape deformation and recovery process using a wide-angle X-ray diffractometer (WAXD). The POBA crystal phase transition from β- to α-form was observed in all POBA samples by either thermal treatment or physical drawing. The α-form crystal did not recover to the initial β-form during the recovery process because the monoclinic α-form crystal is structurally more stable than the orthorhombic β-form crystal.