Cold crystallization and thermal shrinkage of uniaxially drawn poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) by solid-state coextrusion

Solid-state coextrusion has been used to prepare uniaxially drawn films from isotropic poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PEN) of a minimum degree of crystallinity (ca. 5%) both below and above its glass transition temperature T_g. The onset of cold crystallization (T_c) of the drawn films has been studied as a function of the extrusion temperature (ET) and the draw ratio (EDR). It has been shown that T_c decreases markedly on draw, as much as 95°C, and, at constant draw ratio T_c goes through a minimum in the T_g region. For undrawn PEN, annealing below 153°C has no significant effect on T_c. To evaluate the crystallization rate constant (k) and the activation energy (E_a) of the drawn specimens, a nonisothermal DSC procedure has been used. With increasing EDR, k increases markedly and E_a goes down over threefold compared with the undrawn polymer. At high ET, strain-induced crystallization has also been shown to play an important role in lowering E_a for cold crystallization. Thermal shrinkage above T_m indicates a high elastic recovery, underlining the efficiency of deformation, ca. 93%, achieved by solid-state coextrusion.     

Determination of charge density of anionic polyacrylamide flocculants by NMR and DSC

New methods are suggested for the determination of the charge density of acrylamide/acrylate copolymers.¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to determine the comonomer ratio by comparing the peak intensities of the methine carbon in acrylamide and acrylate monomers. Results were compared with those obtained by conductometric and potentiometric titration and were found to be in good agreement. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to determine the glass transition temperatures (T _g) of the copolymers. A master curve was established by plottingT _g versus charge density of the copolymers previously determined by NMR and conductometric titration. Compositions of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate) samples can thus be determined by measuring theT _g and reading the percent composition directly from the master curve.     

Comments on a paper by Axelson and Mandelkern concerning 13C NMR spectra of polymers

It is shown that the ¹³C NMR spectral collapse temperatures T_c reported by Axelson and Mandelkern tend to give a constant ratio of T_c/T_g averaging 1.21 ± 0.05 and independent of T_g or of polymer structure. It is further shown that T_c is not a high-frequency value for T_g because this would require T_c/T_g to decline with increasing T_g. T_c/T_g agrees in numerical value with T_u/T_g, where T_ll is the liquid-liquid transition lying above T_g. Direct comparison of T_c and T_u for four polymers PIB, PnBA, atactic PP, and isotactic PMMA shows very close agreement. The various results suggest, but do not prove, that T_c from ¹³C NMR spectroscopy may be a new, direct measure for T_ll. A measured T_c of 233K for linear PE is compatible with a T_g near 195 K (233/195 = 1.19), whereas a T_g of 148 K gives the ratio 233/148 = 1.57, which is outside any value shown in tabulated form.     

Thermal decomposition and glass transition of industrial hydrolysis lignin

Thermal properties of industrial hydrolysis lignin (HL) obtained from bio-ethanol production plants were investigated by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal decomposition of HL was observed in two stages suggesting coexisting carbohydrates. Glass transition temperature (T _g) was observed in a temperature range from 248 to 363 K. T _g values were lower than that of other industrial lignins, such as kraft lignin or lignosulfate. Enthalpy relaxation was observed as sub-T _g, which is not as prominent as other industrial or laboratory scale isolated lignins. T _g of HL decreased in the presence of water and saturated at water content (W _c) of 0.18 (mass of water/mass of dry HL). The amount of bound water calculated from melting enthalpy of water and W _c was ca. 0.18. Thermal decomposition and molecular motion of as obtained industrial HL are affected by coexisting carbohydrates.     

Sorption of water vapor by poly(vinyl acetate)

Summary The sorption property of water vapor by poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) of relatively low glass transition temperature (T _g) was studied at temperatures nearT _g.Tc_g of humidity-controlled samples of various moisture contents was measured and its variation with the moisture content was determined.T _g of the dry sample was estimated by dilatometry and DSC methods, and to confirm the value, the temperature dependence of mutual diffusion coefficient of the system of water vapor + PVAc was determined. A difference between the sorption mechanisms of water vapor by PVAc at 20 and 30 °C was observed: two sorption mechanisms are involved at 30 °C, while three mechanisms at 20 °C are involved which include the above two and another intermediate one. In earlier stage of sorption, at both 20 and 30 °C, water molecules sorbed by PVAc showed a tendency towards aggregation, while a mixing effect was found at higher stage of the sorption.

---

Zusammenfassung In der Arbeit werden Wasserdampfsorptionseigenschaften von Polyvinylacetat mit relativ niedriger Glastemperatur (T _g) in der Nähe vonT _g untersucht. Es wurden Plastizitätseinflüsse und Veränderungen vonT _g mit dem Wassergehalt studiert. Es wurde gefunden, daß bei 30 °C ein 2-Stufen-Sorptionsmechanismus, bei 20 °C ein 3-Stufen-Mechanismus existiert.

---

---

With 7 figures     

Statistical mechanical model of diffusion of complex penetrants in polymers. I. Theory

A previously developed model of simple penetrant diffusion is extended to encompass complex penetrants of idealized molecular shape, characterized by dimensions of length, width, and thickness. Expressions are obtained for D(0,T), the diffusion coefficient at zero penetrant concentration (c), and the fractional increase in D(0,T) as a function of c and temperature (T). The model predicts that D(0,T) will exhibit Arrhenius behavior at temperatures well above T_g and gives the limiting activation energy as a function of penetrant thickness and the polymer energy/distance constants used previously. For T_g < T ? T_g + 150 K the model requires two new disposable parameters, in addition to the jump-length parameter of the simple penetrant theory. These parameters, however, have precise physical meanings (all are lengths) and together with the penetrant dimensions and polymer constants determine the absolute magnitude of the diffusion coefficient as well as its relative dependence on c and T. For T ? T_g + 40 the relative concentration dependence may be calculated in terms of the penetrant dimensions and polymer constants only.     

Water sorption and glass transition of freeze-dried camu-camu (myrciaria dubia (H.B.K.) Mc Vaugh) pulp

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine phase transitions of freeze-dried camu-camu pulp in a wide range of moisture content. Samples were equilibrated at 25°C over saturated salt solutions in order to obtain water activities (a_w) between 0.11–0.90. Samples with a_w>0.90 were obtained by direct water addition. At the low and intermediate moisture content range, Gordon–Taylor model was able to predict the plasticizing effect of water. In samples, with a_w>0.90, the glass transition curve exhibited a discontinuity and T^’_g was practically constant (–58.8°C), representing the glass transition temperature of the maximally concentrated phase(T_g ).     

Strain-induced post-curing of acrylate networks

The mechanical properties and network structure of photocurable polymers are strongly dependent on processing conditions. Here it is reported that highly crosslinked acrylate systems undergo unexpected additional post-curing during DMTA measurements, resulting in an increase in glass-transition temperature (T_g). A detailed study of the conditions under which this increase in T_g takes place unequivocally shows that a small (0.1%) oscillatory strain applied above T_g is responsible for additional cross-linking reactions. The effect of strain-induced post-curing is confirmed by applying post-curing treatments under oscillatory shear strain in rheological tests. Different acrylate systems were characterized and the results show that the strain induced post-curing depends on the network structure of the polymer. In polymer networks with an initial high crosslink density the effect is pronounced while in polymers with an initial lower crosslink density no shift in T_g is observed.     

Crystallization and glass transition of chlorobenzene/toluene binary amorphous systems

Crystallization and glass-transition phenomena were studied for amorphous chlorobenzene (CB)/toluene (TL) binary systems as the function of composition. Samples were prepared by vapor-deposition onto cold substrates, and their structural changes due to temperature elevation were monitored with Raman scattering and light transmission. It was found that the crystallization temperature (T _c) of CB-rich amorphous samples increases as the TL concentration is increased. This is similar to the linear dependence of glass-transition temperatures (T _g) of many organic compounds on the concentration of additive. Also found was that T _c of TL-rich supercooled-liquids decrease as the CB concentration is increased. Issues related to the two kinds of T _c are discussed briefly. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal properties of freezing bound water restrained by sodium lignosulfonate-based polyurethane hydrogels

In order to develop a new functional product from lignin, sodium lignosulfonate (LS)-based polyurethane (LSPU) hydrogels were prepared from LS and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) derivatives in water. Isocyanate/hydroxyl group ratio (NCO/OH ratio) was varied from 0.05 to 0.8 mol mol⁻¹, and water content (W_c = mass of water/mass of dry sample) of the obtained LSPU hydrogels was varied from 0 to 3.0 g g⁻¹. Phase transition behavior of hydrogels with various W_c’s was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). In DSC heating curve of LSPU hydrogels, glass transition, cold crystallization, melting and liquid crystallization were observed. Cold crystallization, two melting peaks and variation of melting enthalpy indicate that three kinds of water, i.e., non-freezing water, freezing bound water and free water, exist in LSPU hydrogel. Glass transition temperature (T_g) decreased from 230 to 190 K in a W_c range where non-freezing water was formed in the hydrogel. T_g increased when freezing bound water was formed in the system. T_g leveled off in a W_c range where normal ice was formed. The effect of NCO/OH ratio on molecular motion of LSPU hydrogel is examined based on T_g and heat capacity difference at T_g (ΔC_p). Water vaporization curve measured by TG also indicates the presence of bound water which evaporates at a temperature higher than ca. 410 K. By atomic force microscopic observation, the size of molecular bundle of LSPU hydrogel is calculated and compared with that of LS-water system. By cross-linking, the height of molecular bundle decreased from ca. 3–1 nm and lignin molecules extend in a flat structure.

     

Effect of water content on the glass transition and textural properties of hazelnut

This study is based on the assumption that the change in the texture of hazelnut, induced by water sorption or desorption, can be derived from the glass transition. No previous study has investigated the glass transition properties of hazelnuts. This study aimed to investigate the effect of water content on the glass transition and textural properties of a roasted hazelnut product. Water content of the sample was adjusted in various relative humidity conditions, and the mechanical glass transition temperature T_g was investigated using thermal rheological analysis (TRA), a type of thermomechanical analysis. The TRA curve exhibited a clear force drop induced by the glass transition, and mechanical T_g of the samples was determined. Water plasticizing effect caused mechanical T_g to decrease as the water content increased. The reduction in T_g was analyzed using the Gordon–Taylor equation and linear equation, and the critical water contents (water content at mechanical T_g?=?25 °C) were obtained. The fracturing properties of the hazelnut changed from brittle to ductile at the critical water contents. This suggested that the change in the texture of hazelnut can be characterized by the glass transition.

     

SEED SEMICONTINUOUS EMULSION MULTI-COPOLYMERIZATION OF (METH) ACRYLATES WITH HIGH-SOLID CONTENT: EFFECT OF THE OPERATION CONDITIONS

The seeded semicontinuous emulsion multi-copolymerization of butyl acrylate (BA),2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2EHA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), 2-hydroxyl propyl acrylate(HOPA) and acrylic acid (AA) was used to prepare the acrylic latexes with high-solidcontent. The effects of monomer emulsion feed rates (R_a) and (R/E)_E values, the ratio ofemulsifier amount between the initial charge (R) and the addition monomer emulsion (E),on the polymerization reaction features, the viscosities, surface tensions,particle sizes andparticle sizes distributions of latexes,T_g and the insoluble fractions of films, the 180° peelstrength, tack and holding power of pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes, preparedfrom the latexes, were studied. Experimental study shows that the grafting and cross-linking fraction in the PSA tapes must be controlled within a suitable range to keep thebalance of the 180° peel strength, tack and holding power.     

Synthesis and characterization of graft copolymers of poly(vinyl chloride) with styrene and (meth)acrylates by atom transfer radical polymerization

Graft copolymers of poly(vinyl chloride) with styrene and (meth)acrylates were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization. Poly(vinyl chloride) containing small amount of pendent chloroacetate units was used as a macroinitiator. The formation of the graft copolymer was confirmed with size exclusion chromatography (SEC), ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy. The graft copolymers with increasing incorporation of butyl acrylate result in an increase of molecular weight. One glass transition temperature (T_g) was observed for all copolymers. T_g of the copolymer with butyl acrylate decreases with increasing content of butyl acrylate.     

A novel approach toward the prediction of the glass transition temperature: Application of the EVM model,a designer QSPR equation for the prediction of acrylate and methacrylate polymers

We describe an original QSPR model called the EVM model (Energy, Volume, Mass) to calculate the glass transition temperature (T_g) of aliphatic acrylate and methacrylate homopolymers using classical molecular mechanics and dynamics. The latter was used to calculate an energy density function related to the cylindrical volume of a 20 monomer unit polymer segment (TSSV, Total Space around a Standard deviation Volume). We then calculated the T_g as a function of this density function and the repeat unit molecular weight, although no interchain interactions were taken into account. For linear and branched aliphatic acrylate and methacrylate polymers, the standard deviation from linear regression was 12 K, and the r² was 0.96. The model allows calculation of the T_g with an average absolute error of error of 10% for linear and branched derivatives not included in the original linear regression analysis. The results obtained with the EVM model are compared with those obtained with Bicerano's model. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2579–2590, 1997     

DSC studies on sodium phosphate glasses doped with chlorides of Cd,Co and Ag

A number of samples of sodium phosphate glasses doped with Cd/Co or Ag chlorides were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectral, ion transport and DSC studies. It was found from DSC studies that the glass transition temperature (T _g) and crystallization temperature (T _c) values increased with the increasing concentrations of the dopants Cd/ or Co chlorides. However, the T _g and T _c values were found to decrease when the AgCl was taken as the dopant and the following sequence is observed: T _g(CoCl₂)>T _g(CdCl₂)> T _g(AgCl) T _c(CoCl₂)>T _c(CdCl₂)>T _c(AgCl) These results have been discussed and explained on the basis of changes in the structure of sodium phosphate glassy matrix by the addition of different cations as dopants.The authors are thankful to Prof. M. L. Srivastava, Head, Department of Chemistry, D. D. U. Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, and Prof. Suresh Chandra, Department of Physics, B. H. U. Varanasi for providing necessary laboratory facilities and help in carrying out the present work. The financial support from the Department of Science and Technology and University Grants Commission, New Delhi is also gratefully acknowledged.     

Tensile flow and stress–strain behavior over a wide temperature range for poly(butyl methacrylate) with a broad molecular weight distribution

The poly(butyl methacrylate) studied is a polymer with a normal molecular weight distribution and a relatively low molecular weight close to M_c, the critical molecular weight from the viscosity–molecular weight relation. The polymer was subjected to uniaxial extension and shear over a temperature range which included T_g. It was found that in the region of T_g an increase in applied stress is accompanied by a decrease both in the temperature shift factor a_T and in the activation energy for relaxation and rupture of polymer melts. Close attention is given to the long-term durability of the polymer. As is expected in the temperature range below T_g, its dependence on the stress is exponential, whereas at temperatures above T_g a power law fits the data. In the latter case a log-log plot of the long-term durability versus stress can be represented by two intersecting straight lines which can be replotted as a generalized straight line if the long-term durability values are normalized by the viscosity.     

Sodium and silver phosphate glasses doped with chlorides of Fe,Mn and Zn

A number of samples of sodium and silver phosphate glasses doped with various compositions of some transition metals viz. iron, manganese and zinc chlorides alongwith undoped samples of sodium and silver phosphate glasses were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectral, electrical conductivity and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The glass transition temperature (T _g) and crystallization temperature (T _c) values obtained from DSC curves were found to increase with increasing concentration of the dopant Fe/Mn/Zn chlorides in both sodium and silver phosphate glasses and the following sequence is observed: T _g(–FeCl₃)>T _g(–MnCl₂)>T _g(–ZnCl₂) T _c(–FeCl₃)>T _c(–MnCl₂)>T _c(–ZnCl₂) The increase in T _g and T _c values indicate enhanced chemical durability of the doped glasses. The electrical conductivity values and the results of FTIR spectral studies have been correlated with the structural changes in the glass matrix by the addition of different transition metal cations as dopants.     

Crystallization kinetics of chalcogenide glass Se0.8 Te0.2

The crystallization kinetics of the chalcogenide glass Se_0.8Te_0.2 was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry. The variation in partial area (X) with temperature (T) revealed that the transition from the amorphous to the crystalline phase occurs in two dimensions.Activation energies were determined for both the glass transition (E _t) and the crystallization (E _c).E _t was calculated from the variation inT _g with the heating rate (a).E _c was determined by three different methods: (i) variation inX withT, (ii) variation inT _p witha, and (iii) variation inT _c witha.E _t andE _c have values of 161.01±2.75 and 84.75 ±8.21 kJ/mol, respectively.

---

Zusammenfassung Mittels DSC wurde die Kristallisierungskinetik des Chalkogenidglases Se_0.8Te_0.2 untersucht. Eine Änderung partieller Gebiete (X) mit der Temperatur (T) zeigte, daß der Übergang von der amorphen zur kristallinen Phase zweidimensional verläuft.Es wurde die Aktivierungsenergie sowohl für den Glasübergang (E _t) als auch für die Kristallisierung (E _c) bestimmt.E _t wurde mittels der Abhängigkeit vonT _g von der Aufheizgeschwindigkeit (a) ermittelt.E _c wurde auf drei verschiedene Wege bestimmt: (i) Änderung vonX in Abhängigkeit vonT, (ii) Änderung vonT _p in Abhängigkeit vona und (iii) Änderung vonT _c in Abhängigkeit vona. Die Werte vonE _t undE _c betragen 161.01±2.75 bzw. 84.75±8.21 kJ/mol.

---

---

This work was partly supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the GTZ GmbH and DAAD, W. Germany.     

Effects of water on epoxy cure kinetics and glass transition temperature utilizing molecular dynamics simulations

Effects of water on epoxy cure kinetics are investigated. Experimental tests show that absorbed water in an uncured bisphenol‐F/diethyl‐toluene‐diamine epoxy system causes an increase in cure rate at low degrees of cure and a decrease in cure rate at high degrees of cure. Molecular simulations of the same epoxy system indicate that the initial increase in cure rate is due to an increase in molecular self‐diffusion of the epoxy molecules in the presence of water. Effects of water on the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the crosslinked thermoset are also studied. Both experiments and simulations show that water decreases T_g. Both types of results indicate that T_g effects are small below 1% water by weight, but that T_g depression occurs much quickly with increasing water content above 1%. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1150–1159     

Moisture effects on the glass transition and the low temperature relaxations in semiaromatic polyamides

The influence of moisture absorption on the primary (glass) transition (T_a or T_g) and the low temperature relaxations of semiaromatic amorphous polyamides synthesized by isomeric aliphatic diamine and metha or para oriented phthalicdiacids has been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analyser (DMTA). The glass transition of semiaromatic polyamides was lowered due to the water absorption, and the β and the γ relaxations were as well. From the observed T_g and the difference in the heat capacity, the calculated T_g depression per 1 wt % water content was 12.3 K and the result was in good agreement with the experimental data. The depression of the glass transition may be expressed by the same manner as the plasticization of nylon 6 by water. The depressed β relaxation observed in the specimen containing a few percent of moisture was splitted into two transitions due to the reduction of water content, of which one was the elevation of the T_β and another was the simultaneous appearance of the T_γ, and then the single T_γ solely was observed for the completely dried specimen. The T_γ seemed to be merged into or not to be observed by the large and broad T_β transition when the sample was governed by a few percent of water, then it was emerged from the T_β due to water desorption. Thus, the T_β is believed to arise from the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between water molecules or between water and amide groups in wet polyamides. In addition, the γ relaxation originated from the peptide groups is attributable to the inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding between amide groups. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polyn Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 807–815, 1997