Measurement of the density distributions in quenched polycarbonate specimens by a quantitative schlieren optical technique

A new technique for the determination of spatial density distributions is described. The density is derived from the refractive index gradient as determined with a quantitative Schlieren optical technique. The advantages of this technique are a high spatial resolution and sensitivity. Gapwise profiles can be measured without slicing the sample so that more reliable data are obtained quickly. This is demonstrated for the gapwise density distributions in quenched polycarbonate specimens. It is shown that the density distribution is determined by a competition between the local cooling rate variation and the cooling stress distribution. The residual density is predominantly determined by the coolant temperature. The density in the core is higher than at the surface for high coolant temperatures, whereas for low coolant temperatures the density in the core is lower than at the surface. The observed effects are explained semiquantitatively by a simple model using calculated cooling stresses and cooling rates.     

Compatibilization of Poly(Trimethylene Terephthalate)/Polycarbonate Blends by Epoxy. Part 2. Melting Behavior and Spherulite Morphology

The melting behaviors of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate (PTT/PC) blends, compatibilized by epoxy, and PTT spherulite morphology in the blends were investigated. When epoxy was present during blending, the melting behaviors of PTT/PC blends changed substantially; glass transition temperatures (T_g's) and cold crystallization temperature (T_cc's) of the PTT‐rich phase shifted to higher temperatures, while T_m's shifted slightly to lower temperatures, indicating that epoxy suppressed considerably all processes of dynamic movements pertinent to molecular (or segmental) movements. The cold crystallization process responded sensitively to thermal history. Changes of T_cc's with composition suggested that the epoxy's compatibilization effect was pronounced when PTT and PC were in near equal content.

Recrystallization or reorganization exotherms appeared before melting for isothermally crystallized PTT/PC and PTT/PC epoxy (E) blends. A wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis showed that, although the perfection of PTT crystallites was influenced either by PC content and the presence of compatibilizer or by the crystallization temperature and crystallization time, PTT's crystal structure was independent of these variables.

The polarized light microscopy (PLM) observations showed that PTT spherulite morphology was very sensitive to blend composition. Epoxy addition interfered severely with the growth of PTT spherulites, causing them to be much less developed. When the spherulites grew under a condition of varied composition, they would exhibit diversified spherulite morphology, though in one spherulite.     

Improving the Mechanical Properties of Polycarbonate Nanocomposites with Plasma‐Modified Carbon Nanofibers

The mechanical properties of polycarbonate film embedded with carbon nanofibers were studied based on plasma surface modification of carbon nanofibers by the use of polystyrene. The nanofiber surfaces were modified by various processing conditions including plasma polymerization power, nanofiber concentration, and ultrasonication time. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of the carbon nanofiber‐polycarbonate composites were then measured. The mechanical behavior of the composite was found to be affected by dispersion of the nanofibers. Higher plasma power resulted in improved mechanical strength. A maximum strength (10% increase) was achieved at a low concentration (1 wt.%) of nanofibers. The optimization of ultrasonication time indicated that the maximum strength occurred at different times for the composites with different concentrations of the modified carbon nanofibers.     

Crystal Morphology of High-Pressure Crystallized Bisphenol-A Polycarbonate

High-pressure crystallized bisphenol-A polycarbonate (BAPC) samples were investigated using wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that BAPC chain-extended crystals with c-axis thickness around 2.0 μm were developed through the melt crystallization. Furthermore, a high-crystallinity BAPC sample with a wide variety of microstructures was obtained by a stepwise double-heat treatment at high pressure. In the sample, individual spherulites can be easily exposed and isolated with selective etching, which results in open porous microspheres. These spheres provide the possibility to study the spherulite structure in three dimensions. The open porous microspheres may have functional applications, such as catalyst support and for other surface active materials.     

Rheological Behavior and Interaction of Polycarbonate/Barium Sulfate Composites

The effect of microsized barium sulfate (BaSO ₄ ) on the rheological properties of Polycarbonate (PC) was investigated. The composite exhibits a reduced viscosity as compared to pure PC, indicating that use of barium sulfate is a new method to enhance the mobility of PC melts. Model calculation of this behavior was carried out according to a viscosity rheological equation. Values of model parameters were obtained and discussed. Other rheological properties were also determined, including frequency dependence of storage modulus and loss modulus. Analysis by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) shows that the barium sulfate fillers strongly interact with PC chains, with the type of interaction being determined.     

Cure Behavior and Thermal Properties of Poly (Amide-Amidic Acid) Modified Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol-A/4,4′-Diaminodiphenylsulfone

Poly (amide-amidic acid) (PAA) was selected to modify diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA)/4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS). The cure behavior was studied by means of nonisothermal differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis, indicating that PAA played a role of catalyst during the process of the curing reaction. Results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis showed that the PAA acted as a co-curing agent when the PAA content was 3.2–38.4 phr and also as a modifier when the PAA content was 12.8–38.4 phr. The glass transition temperature (T_g ) decreased with the increase of PAA content. The thermal stability improved when the PAA content was 3.2–6.4 phr because of the catalytic effect of PAA. The flexural strength improved for the varying PAA content studied in this work, with the highest flexural strength being obtained when the PAA content was 6.4 phr. The fracture surface morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the morphologies varied with changing content of PAA.     

IRMOF-1衍生介孔ZnO微球催化合成低聚聚碳酸酯二醇

IRMOF-1是一种最经典的IRMOF系列材料,通过直接在空气中不同温度下热处理IRMOF-1得到三种ZnO催化剂,并采用XRD、SEM、BET、CO_2-TPD等分析技术对所得样品的晶体结构、表观形貌、孔结构、表面碱性进行了表征。结果显示,ZnO为球状结构,是一种典型的介孔材料,BET比表面积和孔径分别为49.7~62.2 m2/g和2.18~2.92 nm。研究了ZnO微球在碳酸二苯酯(DPC)与新戊二醇(NPG)酯交换合成低聚碳酸酯二醇(PCDL)反应中的催化性能。结果表明,500℃下得到的ZnO微球在DPC与NPG酯交换反应中表现出良好的催化活性。     

聚(碳酸丁二醇酯-co-三环癸烷二甲醇碳酸酯)的制备与性能

采用熔融酯交换和缩聚两步法,合成了以1,4-丁二醇、4,8-三环[5.2.1.0(2,6)]癸烷二甲醇和碳酸二苯酯为原料的聚(碳酸丁二醇酯-co-三环癸烷二甲醇碳酸酯)(PBTCx, x为进料中TCD占二元醇总量的百分比)。用1H NMR和13C NMR对PBTCs的微观结构和组成进行了表征。采用GPC、 DSC、 XRD、 TG对PBTCs的分子量、玻璃化转变温度(Tg)、热稳定性等进行了研究。结果表明,PBTCs的Mw为10500~124800 g?mol-1, Mn为6300~73000 g?mol-1, PDI为1.59~1.73; PBTCs呈无定形态、Tg为-3.43 ℃~70.90 ℃, PBTCs表现出比PBC更高的热稳定性。薄膜拉伸试验结果表明,PBTC30(拉伸强度为33.54 MPa,断裂伸长率为275.69%)和PBTC40(拉伸强度为32.13 MPa,断裂伸长率为294.63%)具有较高的强度和韧性,在薄膜材料中具有一定的应用潜力。     

Surface modification of polycarbonate urethane by grafting polyethylene glycol and bivalirudin drug for improving hemocompatibility

As the clinical demand for blood-contacting materials increases, higher requirements are placed on their physicochemical properties, durability and hemocompatibility in vivo. In this work, a multiple functionalized material was developed through a facile modification process. Herein, polycarbonate urethane (PCU) surface was co-modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and bivalirudin (BVLD). PCU provides excellent physical and mechanical properties, PEG and BVLD, especially BVLD, enable the surface with outstanding anticoagulant capacity. Specifically, PCU surface was first treated with hexamethylene diisocyanate to introduce active isocyanate groups onto the surface, followed by hydroxy-PEG grafting to improve the hydrophilicity. Finally, BVLD was immobilized on the surface via Michael addition reaction to improve antithrombotic properties. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy and UV spectrophotometers were used to confirm the modified surfaces. The hydrophilicity was characterized by static water contact angle measurement, the morphology of the modified surfaces was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Blood compatibility of the modified surfaces was characterized by the hemolysis rate, platelet adhesion assay and cell culture test. The results showed that the BVLD immobilized surface has excellent anticoagulant properties, good fibrin-bound thrombin inhibition, and good resistance against non-specific adhesion of proteins. Hence, the co-modification with PEG and BVLD was proved an encouraging strategy for improving hemocompatibility.     

大环碳酸酯的Novozym-435酶促开环聚合

研究了14元环的碳酸丁二酯二聚体在固定化脂肪酶Novozym-435催化下的开环聚合反应制备聚碳酸丁二酯.聚合在常压,75℃的甲苯溶液中进行,反应条件温和.详细探讨了反应条件诸如单体浓度,酶浓度对于聚合的影响.结果显示Novozym-435具有与异辛酸亚锡可比拟的高催化活性,同时可以回收重复使用.聚合动力学研究表明碳酸丁二酯的酶促甲苯溶液开环聚合和环状内酯的酶促甲苯溶液聚合有所不同,没有表现出活性聚合的特征.