Approaches for Making High Performance Polymer Materials from Commodity Polymers

A brief surrey of ongoing research work done for improving and enhancing the properties of commodity polymers by the author and author’s colleagues is given in this paper. A series of high performance polymers and polymer nanomaterials were successfully prepared through irradiation and stress-induced reactions of polymers and hydrogen bonding. The methods proposed are viable, easy in operation, clean and efficient. 1. The effect of irradiation source (UV light, electron beam, γ-ray and micr…

Approaches for Making High Performance Polymer Materials from Commodity Polymers

A brief surrey of ongoing research work done for improving and enhancing the properties of commodity polymers by the author and author's colleagues is given in this paper. A series of high performance polymers and polymer nanomaterials were successfully prepared through irradiation and stress-induced reactions of polymers and hydrogen bonding. The methods proposed are viable, easy in operation, clean and efficient.1. The effect of irradiation source (UV light, electron beam, γ -ray and microwave), irradiation dose, irradiation time and atmosphere etc. on molecular structure of polyolefine during irradiation was studied. The basic rules of dominating oxidation, degradation and cross-linking reactions were mastered. Under the controlled conditions, cross-linking reactions are prevented, some oxygen containing groups are introduced on the molecular chain of polyolefine to facilitate the interface compatibility of their blends. A series of high performance polymer materials: u-HDPE/PA6,u-HDPE/CaCO3, u-iPP/STC, γ-HDPE/STC, γ-LLDPE/ATH, e-HDPE, e-LLDPE and m-HDPEfilled system were prepared (u- ultraviolet light irradiated, γ- γ-ray irradiated, e- electron beam irradiated, m- microwave irradiated)2. The effect of ultrasonic irradiation, jet and pan-milling on structure and changes in properties of polymers were studied. Imposition of critical stress on polymer chain can cause the scission of bonds to form macroradicals. The macroradicals formed in this way may recombine or react with monomer or other radicals to form linear, branched or cross-linked polymers or copolymers. About 20 kinds of block/graft copolymers have been synthesized from polymer-polymer or polymer-monomer through ultrasonic irradiation.Through jet-milling, the molecular weight of PVC is decreased somewhat, the intensity of its crystalline absorption bonds becomes indistinct. The processability, the yield strength, strength at break and elongation at break of PVC get increased quite a lot after blending it with small amount of degraded PVC, fulfilling the idea of plasticizing PVC by itself.Through co-milling of PS and TiO2 with the pan-mill designed by our Lab, the co-milled PS/TiO2 is easier to process and has higher impact strength than that of the blended PS/TiO2.3. Stress induced reactions and irradiation processing technique were utilized for making polymer nanomaterials. PMMA microlatex, polyamiline nanoparticles, PBA/SiO2 nano-composite latex,ultra-fine PA6 filled PP blend, ultra-fine waste tire rubber (WTR) filled PP and Fe/PP nanocomposite were successfully prepared.4. The superstructure and properties of polymer might be improved through hydrogen bonding.Intermacromolecular complexation is a physical way to control the supermolecular structure of polymers at the molecular level and may be treated as a molecular design at higher structure level.A series of high performance polymer materials: PC/EAA complex, P(MMA-MAA)/PEO-LiClO4 complex, P(AN-AM-AA)/PVA complex, UV-irradiated PET/PVA complex and UV-irradiated HDPE/PA6 complex were prepared through hydrogen bonding.