Hierarchical crystalline structures induced by temperature profile in HDPE bars during melt penetration process

The hierarchical crystalline morphologies and orientation structures across the thickness direction in high-density polyethylene(HDPE) molded bars were investigated via a novel melt-penetrating processing method named multi-melt multi-injection molding(M3IM). The samples with various mold temperatures(20, 40 and 60 °C) were prepared, and the effects of the external temperature profile on the evolution of crystalline microstructures were studied. With scanning electron microscopy(SEM), the transition of crystalline morphology from ring-banded structure to oriented lamellae was observed with decreasing mold temperature, and the oriented lamellae were formed at the sub-skin layer of the samples at the lowest mold temperature, which was further testified by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). With the decline of mold temperature, the degree of orientation, obtained from two-dimensional small angle X-ray scattering(2D-SAXS), was increased and long periods rose a little. Thus, decreasing mold temperature was beneficial to the formation of orientation structures because the relaxation of chains was weakened.     

Predicting the location of weld line in microinjection‐molded polyethylene via molecular orientation distribution

The microstructure and molecular orientation distribution over both the length and the thickness of microinjection‐molded linear low‐density polyethylene with a weld line were characterized as a function of processing parameters using small‐angle X‐ray scattering and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction techniques. The weld line was introduced via recombination of two separated melt streams with an angle of 180° to each other in injection molding. The lamellar structure was found to be related to the mold temperature strongly but the injection velocity and the melt temperature slightly. Furthermore, the distributions of molecular orientation at different molding conditions and different positions in the cross section of molded samples were derived from Hermans equation. The degree of orientation of polymeric chains and the thickness of oriented layers decrease considerably with an increase of both mold temperature and melt temperature, which could be explained by the stress relaxation of sheared chains and the reduced melt viscosity, respectively. The level of molecular orientation was found to be lowest in the weld line when varying injection velocity, mold temperature, and melt temperature, thus providing an effective means to identify the position of weld line induced by flow obstacles during injection‐molding process. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 1705–1715     

注射成型聚碳酸酯厚度截面的残余应力分析

通过光弹法定量测量了注射成型聚碳酸酯(PC)试样在厚度截面上的残余应力,并结合模具温度的变化与不对称分布,对厚度截面上的残余应力分布进行了详细的研究.结果表明,在厚度截面上,试样边缘分布较高的流动残余应力,芯部分布较高的热残余应力,两区域界面处为流动应力与热应力相互耦合而形成的低应力过渡区;模具温度低于120?C时,PC的残余应力随模具温度的变化并不明显;模具温度高于120?C时,PC的残余应力随模具温度的升高显著降低;不对称模具温度会导致在低模温侧高热残余应力区分布宽,在高模温侧高热残余应力区分布窄.此外,试样的翘曲随模具温度的升高而逐渐增加,不对称模具温度会导致较大的翘曲.     

Simulation of Fibrillation of PC/LCP/Kevlar Blends and Its Characterizations

Kevlar fiber was fluorinated and oxy-fluorinated directly in presence of undiluted fluorine and fluorine gas mixture and processed with Polycarbonate and LCP at 320 °C under 20 rpm in a twin-screw extruder. The composites were then injection molded into dumbbell shaped specimens under different conditions like various mold temperatures, injection temperatures, injection speeds and mold filling rates. Various physico-chemical characterizations have been performed under definite processing parameter. Orientation of fibers under different injection parameters was evaluated using mold flow simulation technique. Most injection molded or extruded structures however, exhibit non-uniform fiber orientation across the final parts, with a diverging variety of different local fiber orientation states. Distinct skin and core regions were observed in the injection molded parts and it has also been found out that fiber orientation is different in skin and core region for both unmodified and modified derivative, which affects the flow behavior. Processing parameters significantly affect the fiber orientation pattern in the skin and core region for all blended materials. It is worth mentioning that the maximum fiber orientation occurred during the extrusion process at the wall but different extent of fiber orientation is observed during the injection molding depending on the shape of the dumbbell specimen. This fibrillation has been corroborated by the SEM study in both the skin and core region.     

Molecular ordering in a biaxial smectic-A phase studied by scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM)

Results of STXM investigations of a binary mixture (-TNF = 2 : 1; SmA(b) 140 M 180 Iso) known to form a SmA(b) phase [T. Hegmann, J. Kain, S. Diele, G. Pelzl and C. Tschierske, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2001, 40, 887] are presented. Near edge X-ray absorption fine spectra (NEXAFS) of the -TNF board-like aggregates, in particular the intensity of the low energy peaks associated with aromatic ring pi* orbitals (284.5-286.5 eV), show that the molecular plane of these aggregates is very sensitive to the relative orientation of electric field vector E of linearly polarized light, which is used to determine the molecular orientation in the LC phase. The observed strong in-plane dichroic signal suggests the predominant orientation of the -TNF aggregates to be along the smectic layer normal as well as long-range ordering of the in-plane molecular orientation (biaxiality). Orientational maps derived from series of measurements at different sample rotation angles around the specimen normal clearly show a Schlieren-type texture, and permit a detailed examination of exclusive +/-(1/2) disclination theoretically predicted for the SmA(b) phase.     

Shapeable matrix‐free Spectra® fiber‐reinforced polymeric composites via high‐temperature high‐pressure sintering: Process‐structure‐property relationship

In an exploratory effort to find a new way to make high‐performance composites used in ballistic protective applications, matrix‐free Spectra® fiber‐reinforced polymeric composites are produced via a novel processing method called high‐temperature high‐pressure sintering. Mechanical testing at ambient and elevated temperatures proves that the fibers can maintain their properties after processing. The characteristics and properties of the final products vary with different processing conditions. Their microstructure and morphology were investigated using SEM and WAXD. Their mechanical properties, including interlayer adhesion, rigidity, and ballistic performance, were measured and compared with those of the conventional composites. The sintering mechanism is proposed and verified. Spectra cloth is capable of being shaped to produce complex double curvatures by a thermoforming process, using a simple hemispherical mold. Success in different molding sequences and procedures shows the versatility in manufacturing. The theoretical background for the thermoformability is explained in terms of molecular interaction, microstructure, and morphology. Selective thermomechanical properties of the molded structures were measured. By combining the knowledge and information from the aforementioned studies, the process‐structure‐property relationship is established, which gives in‐depth and better understanding of this unique high‐temperature high‐pressure sintering process for consolidating Spectra cloth. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2767–2789, 2005     

Electric field-induced birefringence, optical rotatory power and conoscopic measurements of a chiral antiferroelectric smectic liquid crystal

Using a photoelastic modulator-based novel set-up, the electric field-induced in-plane birefringence and the optical rotatory power (ORP) were measured of an antiferroelectric liquid crystalline compound (12OF1M7) in its various phases using 30 µm homeotropic cells. Some specific signatures of the in-plane birefringence and of the ORP for the various phases are being established. A relatively small threshold field is needed for the unwinding process of the antiferroelectric phase with a unit cell of four layers [SmC_A*(1/2)] compared with that for two layers [SmC_A*(0)]. On application of the electric field on the high temperature side of the SmC_A*(1/2) phase (80.1-81.5°C), a field-induced phase transition is shown to occur directly to the SmC* phase, whereas on the lower temperature side (79.4-80.1°C) the transition takes place to SmC* via the SmC_A*(1/3) phase. The in-plane birefringence exhibits a critical power law dependence for the SmC*-SmA transition. The ORP changes sign within the temperature range of the phase with a unit cell of three layers, reflecting a change in the handedness during this phase. Using tilted conoscopy, the results for the biaxiality and the apparent tilt angle for a smectic liquid crystal with a tilt angle greater than 18° in the ferroelectric phase are reported. The biaxiality implies the difference in the refractive indices between the two minor axes of the refractive index ellipsoid. The optical transmittance at visible and IR wavelengths for free-standing films reveal characteristic reflection bands for these phases. The modulated structures of the reflected bands appear just above the SmC_A* phase and below SmC_A*(1/3); these are possibly due to an easy deformation of the phase by the surfaces.     

Intercalated smectic a phases in banana-shaped liquid crystals with carbonate end groups.

Novel, symmetrical, bent-core mesogens, namely substituted 1,3-phenylenebis{4'-[(ethoxycarbonyl)oxy]-1,1'-biphenyl}-4-carboxylates, are prepared with carbonate groups at both ends of the molecules. The mesophase properties are investigated for different electron-donating and -withdrawing substituents connected to the central ring at different positions. These compounds exhibit nematic and/or smectic A intercalated (SmA(int)) mesophases. Electro-optical studies show a very significant electric-field-induced biaxiality that is fast (<1 ms) and large (0.03) associated with a high birefringence (0.33 at 500 nm, 10 V mum(-1) field) for the unsubstituted analogue. For one substance this effect is observable from above 100 degrees C down to room temperature. Such electric-field-induced biaxiality may find practical applications in fast electro-optic modulation devices.     

Molecular Pacman: folding, inclusion, and X-ray structures of tri- and tetraamino piperazine cyclophanes

Reaction of piperazine and 1,3-bis(bromomethyl)-2-nitrobenzene under high-dilution conditions yields cyclic trimeric trinitro, tetrameric tetranitro, and pentameric pentanitro piperazine cyclophanes. Reduction of the nitro groups with SnCl(2) under acidic conditions produces the corresponding triamino and tetraamino piperazine cyclophanes. The solution studies of both nitro and amino piperazine cyclophanes at 30 degrees C by (1)H NMR spectroscopy shows symmetrical structures owing to the fast conformational exchange, whereas the low temperature studies of the tetraamino piperazine cyclophane reveals interesting dynamic behavior that indicates additional intramolecular interactions. Careful crystallizations of the trimeric trinitro and triamino and the tetrameric tetraamino cyclophanes resulted in crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction studies. In the crystalline state the amino-functionalized cyclophanes manifest an extraordinary circular intramolecular hydrogen-bonding network that leads to a fixed 3D structure. Hydrogen bonding in the triamino trimer leads to orientation of all three of the amino groups on the same side of the macrocycle, namely, the rcc conformation, whereas the tetraamino tetramer folds into a more compact shell-like conformation. During the crystallization process one acetonitrile guest is enclosed into the cavity of the tetraamino cyclophane, which gives a crystalline inclusion complex with remarkable resemblance to the famous Pacman motif. The folding, which mimics the behavior of some cyclic peptides and pyrroles, is induced by intramolecular hydrogen bonding from the amino groups to the tertiary amine groups of the piperazines. The cavity of the tetraamino tetramer is markedly smaller than in the corresponding, but nonfolded, tetranitro tetramer and the guest/host volume ratio (packing coefficient) for the acetonitrile and the cavity is approximately 50 %, which indicates a good size match for acetonitrile inclusion.     

聚氯乙烯三乙撑四胺负载钯配合物的制备及对Heck反应的催化性能

以聚氯乙烯为原料, 通过胺化反应制得聚氯乙烯三乙撑四胺, 然后用较简单方法得到聚氯乙烯三乙撑四胺负载钯配合物(PVC-TETA-Pd), 利用XPS, TG, DTA和TEM等手段对其进行了表征. 热分析表明PVC-TETA-Pd在室温至250 ℃范围内有很好的热稳定性; TEM分析证实钯在PVC-TETA-Pd中分布比较均匀, 钯颗粒呈球形, 粒径在2～3 nm. PVC-TETA-Pd不需在惰性气体氛围中就能有效地催化丙烯酸、苯乙烯与芳基碘的Heck芳基化反应, 并且在较低的温度(40 ℃)或较少的催化剂用量(0.02%)下, 对Heck反应仍有较好的催化性能. PVC-TETA-Pd便于回收, 且有很好的重复使用性能, 对于碘苯与丙烯酸的反应, 重复使用十二次, 肉桂酸的产率仍达到80.1%.     

Zintl Clusters as Wet‐Chemical Precursors for Germanium Nanomorphologies with Tunable Composition

[Ge₉]^4? Zintl clusters are used as soluble germanium source for a bottom–up fabrication of Ge nanomorphologies such as inverse opal structures with tunable composition. The method is based on the assembly and oxidation of [Ge₉]^4? clusters in a template mold using SiCl₄, GeCl₄, and PCl₃ leading to Si and P‐containing Ge phases as shown by X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis. [Ge₉]^4? clusters are retained using ethylenediamine (en) as a transfer medium to a mold after removal of the solvent if water is thoroughly excluded, but are oxidized to amorphous Ge in presence of water traces. ¹H NMR spectroscopy reveals the oxidative deprotonation of en by [Ge₉]^4?. Subsequent annealing leads to crystalline Ge. As an example for wet‐chemical synthesis of complex Ge nanomorphologies, we describe the fabrication of undoped and P‐doped inverse opal‐structured Ge films with a rather low oxygen contents. The morphology of the films with regular volume porosity is characterized by SEM, TEM, and grazing incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering.     

Crystal Orientation Mapping Applied to the Y-TZP/WC Composite

 Crystal orientation measurements made by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and microscopic observations provided the basis for a quantitative investigation of microstructure in an yttria stabilised, tetragonal zirconia-based (Y-TZP) composite. Automatic crystal orientation mapping (ACOM) in a SEM can be preferable to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for microstructural characterisation, since no sample thinning is required, extensive crystal data is already available, and the analysis area is greatly increased. A composite with a 20 vol.% tungsten carbide (WC) content was chosen since it revealed crystal relationships between the matrix and carbide phase already established by TEM analysis. However, this composite was difficult to investigate in the EBSD/ SEM since it is non-conductive, the Y-TZP grain size is of the order of the system resolution, and the sample surface, though carefully prepared, reveals a distinctive microtopography. In this paper, some useful solutions to these problems are discussed and the resulting data, which confirm crystal correlations previously established by TEM analysis, are presented.     

Electric field‐induced birefringence,optical rotatory power and conoscopic measurements of a chiral antiferroelectric smectic liquid crystal

Using a photoelastic modulator‐based novel set‐up, the electric field‐induced in‐plane birefringence and the optical rotatory power (ORP) were measured of an antiferroelectric liquid crystalline compound (12OF1M7) in its various phases using 30 µm homeotropic cells. Some specific signatures of the in‐plane birefringence and of the ORP for the various phases are being established. A relatively small threshold field is needed for the unwinding process of the antiferroelectric phase with a unit cell of four layers [SmC_A*(1/2)] compared with that for two layers [SmC_A*(0)]. On application of the electric field on the high temperature side of the SmC_A*(1/2) phase (80.1–81.5°C), a field‐induced phase transition is shown to occur directly to the SmC* phase, whereas on the lower temperature side (79.4–80.1°C) the transition takes place to SmC* via the SmC_A*(1/3) phase. The in‐plane birefringence exhibits a critical power law dependence for the SmC*–SmA transition. The ORP changes sign within the temperature range of the phase with a unit cell of three layers, reflecting a change in the handedness during this phase. Using tilted conoscopy, the results for the biaxiality and the apparent tilt angle for a smectic liquid crystal with a tilt angle greater than 18° in the ferroelectric phase are reported. The biaxiality implies the difference in the refractive indices between the two minor axes of the refractive index ellipsoid. The optical transmittance at visible and IR wavelengths for free‐standing films reveal characteristic reflection bands for these phases. The modulated structures of the reflected bands appear just above the SmC_A* phase and below SmC_A*(1/3); these are possibly due to an easy deformation of the phase by the surfaces.     

Synthesis and characterization of red-luminescent graphene oxide functionalized with silica-coated Eu3+ complex nanoparticles

Traditional dye-doped fluorescent graphene oxide (GO) reveals a low quantum yield and a short life expectancy. Herein, red-luminescent silica-coated Eu(3+) complex nanoparticles were synthesized and covalently coupled to GO nanosheets by means of a carbodiimide-mediated amidation process. SEM and TEM studies demonstrated successful attachment of the silica-coated Eu(3+) complex nanoparticles onto the GO surface. Spectroscopic studies showed that the GO-nanoparticle conjugates exhibit strong luminescence, long lifetimes, as well as good photostability, which suggests that this new type of luminescent nanomaterial has the potential for highly sensitive time-resolved fluorescence cyto- and histochemistry imaging.     

苯封端还原态苯胺四聚体结晶形态的研究

研究了用溶液滴膜、甘油表面成膜以及溶液旋涂成膜等方法制备的苯封端还原态苯胺四聚体的结晶形态.晶体的晶片厚度、晶体尺寸及结晶完善性均随溶液等温结晶温度的升高而增大.齐聚物在较低过冷度下易于形成尺寸较大的晶体.详细讨论了溶剂及基底与结晶形态的关系.     

Glass transition of atactic polystyrene probed at the submolecular level by dynamic infrared linear dichroism (DIRLD) spectroscopy

Dynamic infrared linear dichroism (DIRLD) spectroscopy is a rheo-optical characterization technique developed specifically to probe the submolecular dynamics of polymer segments. The technique combines the measurement of submolecular orientation based on the directionally selective absorption of polarized IR light with a small-amplitude oscillatory tensile deformation used in dynamic mechanical analysis. A DIRLD spectroscopic study of atactic polystyrene reveals that a dramatic change in the reorientation behavior of aromatic side groups is observed around the glass transition temperature of 100 °C. The transition point for the main chain backbone, on the other hand, is observed at a much higher temperature around 125 °C. Thus, the macroscopically observable glass transition of polystyrene seems to be dominated by the dynamics of side groups rather than that of the coordinated motions of polymer segments along the backbone. This result suggests a fundamental similarity between the glass transition phenomena of polymers and those of small-molecule inorganic glasses.     

催化裂解CH4或CO制碳纳米管结构性能的谱学表征

利用TEM、HRTEM、XRD、XPS和TPO等方法对CH₄或CO催化分解生成的碳纳米管结构和性能进行了表征.结果表明,所得产物是管径15～20nm的均匀碳纳米管.其XRD谱图与石墨的相近,但特征衍射峰稍宽化,表明其长程有序度较石墨的低.由CH₄制备的碳纳米管系由多层具有类石墨片状结构的同心、等径及中空圆锥形面叠合而成,类石墨层面取向与管轴倾斜;而由CO制备的碳纳米管系由多层具有类石墨片状结构的圆柱形面围叠而成,类石墨层面取向与管轴平行.碳纳米管中C_1s的电子结合能比石墨的下降约0.5eV.TPO试验结果显示所制备的两种产物中无定形碳含量都很低,其整体结构石墨化程度较高;由CH₄制得的碳纳米管与O₂反应的起燃温度比由CO制得的约高100K.     

Development of morphology and properties of injection‐molded bars of HDPE/PA6 blends along flow direction

The structure and mechanical properties of injection‐molded bars of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE)/PA6 blends were studied in this article. The experimental results showed that the morphologies of injection‐molded bars change gradually along the flow direction, which is tightly related to the melt viscosity and processing conditions. The higher melt viscosity, lower mold temperature, and shorter packing time, restricting the macromolecular relaxation, enhance the difference in morphologies and properties at near and far parts of a mold. An injection‐molded bar (namely H2C5), consisting of 75 wt % of HDPE, 20 wt % of PA6, and 5 wt % of compatibilizer (HDPE‐g‐MAH), showed a greater difference in mechanical properties at near and far parts because of its higher melt viscosity. A clear interface between the skin and core layers of near part in it leads to a much higher impact strength than that of far part. And tensile tests show that its tensile strength of near part is higher than that of far part due to the higher orientation degrees of HDPE matrix and PA6 dispersed phase in near part. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 184–195, 2007     

Dielectric relaxation of a nematic eutectic mixture with a high glass temperature

Dielectric relaxation measurements in the frequency range from 2 Hz to 100 kHz have been carried out on an oriented binary nematic mixture of low molecular liquid crystals with a glass temperature of 307 K. For both relaxation frequencies, f_R‖ and f_R⊥, a glass behaviour according to the Vogel-Fulcher law could be detected. The Cole-Cole distribution parameter for reorientation around the long molecular axis increases strongly with decreasing temperature. This effect is discussed with regard to the optical biaxiality of the mixture.     

Microfluidic chip fabrication using hot embossing and thermal bonding of COP

The application of silicon mold inserts by micro‐hot embossing molding has been explored in microfluidic chip fabrication. For the mold insert, this study employed an SU‐8 photoresist to coat the silicon wafer. Ultraviolet light was then used to expose the pattern on the SU‐8 photoresist surface. This study replicates the microstructure of the silicon mold insert by micro‐hot embossing molding. Different processing parameters (embossing temperature, embossing pressure, embossing time, and de‐molding temperature) for the cycle‐olefin polymer (COP) film of microfluidic chips are evaluated. The results showed that the most important parameter for replication of molded microfluidic chip is embossing temperature. De‐molding temperature is the most important parameter for surface roughness of the molded microfluidic chip. The microchannel is bonded with a cover by thermal bonding processing to form the sealed microfluidic chip. The bonding temperature is the most important factor in the bonding strength of the sealed microfluidic chip. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.