Adhesive effect of high density polyethylene gels on polyethylene moldings

Adhesive effect of polyethylene moldings by use of high density polyethylene gels in organic solvents such as decalin, tetralin, ando-dichlorobenzene was investigated by shearing tests, electron microscope, and DSC measurements. All of the gels showed such a strong adhesive strength over 36 kg/cm² that polyethylene plates of 3 mm in thickness gave rise to necking sufficient for practical use, when heated at 120 °C for 2 h. In particular, the gel in tetralin showed a strong adhesive strength when heated at 110 °C. It was found that adhesive strength increases with the heating temperature; the temperatures at which adhesive strength begins to increase differ depending on the type of polyethylene sample and solvent. It is apparent that polyethylene gels exhibit an adhesive effect when they are heated at higher temperatures than the gel melting temperatures, and that the closer the SP values of solvents used for the gelation are to the molded polyethylene, the stronger the adhesion of the polyethylene molding.     

New solid polymer electrolytes based on polyester diacrylate for lithium power sources

New solid polymer electrolytes are developed for a lithium power source used at the temperatures up to 100°C. Polyester diacrylate (PEDA) based on oligohydroxyethylacrylate and its block copolymers with polyethylene glycol were offered for polymer matrix formation. The salt used was LiClO₄. The ionic conductivity of electrolytes was measured in the range of 20 to 100°C using the electrochemical impedance method. It is shown that the maximum conductivity in the whole temperature range is characteristic of the electrolyte based on the PEDA copolymer and polyethylene glycol condensation product (2.8 × 10^?6 S cm^?1 at 20°C, 1.8 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 at 95°C).     

Dynamic study of the noncrystalline phase of 13C-labeled polyethylene by variable-temperature 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy

The ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation times T₁ of ¹³C-labeled polyethylene crystallized under different conditions were measured at temperatures from ?120 to 44°C by variable-temperature solid-state high-resolution ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, in order to determine accurately the dynamics of the noncrystalline region of the polymer. From these results, it was found that the T₁ minimum for the CH₂ carbons in the noncrystalline region of solution-crystallized polyethylene with high crystallinity appears at higher temperature by about 20°C than that of melt-quenched polyethylene with low crystallinity. This means that the molecular motion of the CH₂ carbons in the noncrystalline regions is more constrained at a given temperature in the material of higher crystallinity. Furthermore, dynamics of the noncrystalline region is discussed in terms of the ¹³C dipolar dephasing times.     

Synthesis of polyethylene thermoplastic elastomer by using robust α-diimine Ni(II) catalysts with abundant tBu substituents

The synthesis of polyethylene thermoplastic elastomers via α-diimine-nickel-catalyzed ethylene polymerization using polymerization conditions of elevated temperatures and alkane solvents is highly desirable in industrial production. In this contribution, we constructed a series of highly sterically demanding α-diimine Ni(II) catalysts with abundant ^tBu substituents for this purpose. These nickel catalysts were examined for ethylene polymerization in hexanes at elevated temperatures (up to 90°C) and proved to be thermally robust at temperatures as high as 90°C. Generally, these nickel catalysts can generate highly branched (ca. 70–80/1000°C) polyethylenes with very high molecular weight (M_n up to 55.79 × 10⁴ g/mol) and the resultant polyethylenes displayed characteristics of thermoplastic elastomers with excellent elastic recovery (SR up to 84%). Compared with some similar α-diimine Ni(II) catalysts, it is shown that the presence of axial remote ^tBu substituents not only facilitates the dissolution of the catalyst in alkanes, but also improves the elastic recovery value of the obtained polyethylene.     

13C-NMR study of crosslinking and long-chain branching in linear polyethylene induced by 60Co gamma ray irradiation at different temperatures

H-type crosslinking and Y-type long-chain branching have been examined for linear polyethylene samples irradiate at different temperatures with ⁶⁰Co gamma rays in vacuum by solution-state ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. In this study, relatively low molecular weight samples were irradiated with doses less than a gel dose in both solid and molten states. Resonance lines associated with H-links and Y-branches have clearly been observed for each irradiated sample and their radiation yields significantly depend on the irradiation temperature and the morphology of the samples. In particular, the G-value for the production of Y-branches is higher than that for H-links at lower temperatures, while the latter is superior to the former at higher temperatures. This may be due to the decrease in the concentration of the primary radicals, which are formed by main-chain scissions and associated with the production of Y-branches, by the recombination with small fragments at higher temperatures. The radiation yields of methyl branches and double bonds are also briefly discussed.     

Etude ATD-ATG du polyethylene ignifuge par l’hydroxyde de magnesium

Fire resistance of polyethylene is realized by magnesium hydroxide which is distinguished from halogenated fire-proofing agents by its lower cost and its non toxicity. Magnesium hydroxide decomposed by an endothermic reaction with liberation of water, contributing to fire proofing. The sample used (Kisuma 5A-N^*) is constituted from a powder (0.6–0.8 micrometre) its surface is treated by plastic material in order to ameliorate its compatibility. We studied the thermal decomposition by DTA and TG, of mixtures constituted by polyethylene and magnesium hydroxide. A sudden decomposition began at 385°C for pure polyethylene and decomposition took place at 429°C for the mixture polyethylene-Kisuma (50–50). Incorporation of magnesium hydroxide in polyethylene increases fire resistance.     

Oxidative degradation products of irradiated polyethylene

Oxidative thermal degradation products of polyethylenes at various temperatures crosslinked with electron beams have been analyzed with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are determined at a temperature range of 200–340°C, and the activation energies of the unirradiated and the irradiated polyethylene (at 100 Mrad) are 13.5 and 11.4 Kcal/mole, respectively. C₁ to C₈ hydrocarbons produced in air and in nitrogen are determined at temperatures from 400 to 450°C for the polyethylenes. The irradiated polyethylene produces less hydrocarbons in air than the unirradiated polyethylene, contrary to the fact that the crosslinked polymer evolves more hydrocarbons than the unirradiated polymer in a nitrogen atmosphere. Aldehydes and ketones are observed in the volatile oxidative degradation products, and these carbonyl compounds increase quantitatively with increase of temperature up to about 460°C. It is concluded that irradiated polyethylene is thermally more unstable in the absence of oxygen and more easily oxidable at low degradation temperatures in air than unirradiated polyethylene. Irradiated polyethylene, however, is more heat-stable than unirradiated polyethylene from the standpoint of the ignition process.     

Calorimetric Study of Micelle Formation in Polyethylene Glycol Monooctyl Ether Solution

The micellar solutions of polyethylene glycol monooctyl ethers C8Ej (j = 3,4,5) were investigated by employing the high-precision isothermal titration microcalorimeter at seven temperatures from 10^° to 40^°C. From the thermodynamic analysis of the experimental results, the differential enthalpies of solution of monomer and micelle of C8Ej were obtained separately; they are negative and increase with increasing temperature and decrease with the number j. It was found that C8Ej molecules interact with water molecules more strongly in the monomeric than in micellar state. The enthalpy of micelle formation of C8Ej was positive and decreased with rising temperature, while they increased slightly with increasing j. By comparing the results of ethylene glycol oligomers (C0Ej) with those of C8Ej, it seems reasonable to suppose that the driving force of micelle formation of C8Ej is mainly the increment of entropy caused by dehydration of hydrophilic parts at higher temperatures, while the increment caused by dehydration of hydrophobic parts becomes dominant at lower temperatures in the micellization process.     

Fiber spinning from the nematic melt. IV. Effect of P oxybenzoate crystallinity on the spinning and fiber properties of the copolyester of polyethylene terephthalate and p-oxybenzoate

We have previously reported two studies of the rheology and fiber properties of one sample of the copolymer of polyethylene terephthalate having 60 mol% of p-oxybenzoate (PHB) units. The DSC curve of that sample exhibited crystalline melting transitions, and the sample appeared to contain PHB blocks. Here we compare those results with observations for a second sample that, although nominally the same polymer, appears to be more random because it exhibits little PHB crystallinity. We had previously reported that the flow of the copolymer containing PHB blocks was non-Newtonian at all temperatures, and that it exhibited a thermal history effect. We find the flow of the more random polymer is Newtonian above the melting temperature, and the melt viscosity of the more random copolymer exhibits no thermal history effect. Fibers were spun from the more random copolymer with a capillary rheometer using a capillary having a length/diameter ratio of 14.1 and a shear rate at the wall of 6.4 sec^?1. Spinning temperatures were 250, 260, and 280°C, and the spin draw ratio was examined as a variable. The initial modulus increased with spin draw ratio but exhibited no dependence upon the spinning temperature. For the copolymer containing PHB blocks, the initial modulus increased as the spinning temperature was raised. These differences are due to the larger amount of PHB crystallinity in the more blocky sample. When chips of the more random sample were heated for 1 h at 235°C, the melt viscosity increased and the initial modulus of the fibers decreased. These changes are due to the crystallization of longer PHB blocks produced by melt interchange.     

Preservation of As(III) and As(V) in some water samples

This paper reports on the behavior of arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] in some water samples at storage under several conditions (pH=2/natural pH, 4°C/20°C). The investigation was carried out using⁷³As as a radiotracer for both forms and with the aid of earlier developed simple speciation methods for differentiation between arsenite and arsenate. Although arsenate is the thermodynamically stable arsenic form, it was observed that arsenate in deionized water is completely converted to the trivalent state; this phenomenon took place in about one week. By monitoring the radioactive As(III) and As(V) over a period of one month in two natural water samples, a fresh water and a sea water sample, it could be concluded that no adsorption occurs on the surface of polyethylene containers, independent of storage conditions. During that period, storage at natural pH values results for both water samples in a gradual oxidation of As(III); the oxidation rate is higher for storage at 20°C. At pH=2 As(III) is fairly stable in fresh water at both storage temperatures. However, in sea water a fast oxidation of As(III) is observed (complete oxidation within 3 d at both temperatures). As(V) is stable at all storage conditions studied.     

The diffusion of CO2, CH4, C2H4, and C3H8 in polyethylene at elevated pressures

Diffusion and solubility coefficients have been determined for the CO₂^?, CH₄^?, C₂H₄^?, and C₃H₈-polyethylene systems at temperatures of 5, 20, and 35°C and at gas pressures up to 40 atm. Diffusion coefficients were obtained from rates of gas absorption in polyethylene rods under isothermal-isobaric conditions by means of a new diffusivity apparatus. The concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficients was represented satisfactorily by Fujita's free-volume model, modified for semicrystalline polymers, while the solubility of all the penetrants in polyethylene was within the limit of Henry's law. Semiempirical correlations were found for the free-volume parameters in terms of physicochemical properties of the penetrant gases and the penetrant-polymer systems. These correlations, if confirmed, should permit the prediction of diffusion and permeability coefficients of other gases and of gas mixtures in polyethylene as functions of pressure and temperature.     

Long term stability of organic selenium species in aqueous solutions

Long term stability of organic selenium compounds (selenocystine, selenomethionine, trimethylselenonium ion) has been studied over a one year period for 2 analyte concentrations: 25 and 150 μg/L Se, at pH 4.5 in the dark, under different storage conditions: temperature of –20°C, 4°C, 20°C, 40°C; in Pyrex, Teflon, or polyethylene containers; in an aqueous matrix or in the presence of a chromatographic counter ion (pentyl sulfonate at 10^–4 mol/L concentration). Light effects have also been tested. The stability of the selenium species was monitored by HPLC-ICP/MS. Storage conditions can drastically alter the stability of organic selenium species. Organoselenium compounds were shown to be stable in the dark over a one year period in an aqueous matrix at pH 4.5 in Pyrex containers at both 4°C and 20°C. Pyrex vials exposed to natural sunlight at room temperature resulted in a steady decrease of the selenoamino acid concentration. Teflon containers caused losses of less than 25% at both 4° C and 20° C in the dark. However, polyethylene vials presented, at all temperatures tested, a rapid decrease of the TMSe⁺ concentration. The stability of the Se species studied did not show significant differences between 4° C and 20° C in any container material used. Storage of solutions at 40° C led to slight differences between the Pyrex and Teflon containers. However, polyethylene presented a drastic decrease of the three species over time at this higher temperature. Solutions frozen at –20° C in polyethylene vials did not stabilize the TMSe⁺ signal. Finally, concentrations and matrices of the samples did not significantly affect the stability of the species. Received: 15 July 1996 / Revised: 14 July 1997 / Accepted: 18 July 1997     

Development of an ICP-IDMS method for accurate routine analyses of toxic heavy metals in polyolefins and comparison with results by TI-IDMS

An inductively coupled plasma isotope dilution mass spectrometric (ICP-IDMS) method was developed as a suitable method – with respect to its sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and time-consumption – for the analysis of toxic heavy metal traces (Pb, Cd, Cr, and Hg) in polyolefins. Results for Pb, Cd, and Cr were compared with those obtained by thermal ionization isotope dilution mass spectrometry (TI-IDMS), which was used as a reference method. Because of its high first ionization potential and its high volatility mercury could not be determined by TI-IDMS. A multi-element spike solution, containing isotopically enriched ²⁰⁶Pb, ¹¹⁶Cd, ⁵³Cr, and ²⁰¹Hg, was used for the isotope dilution step. Decomposition of the polyolefin samples was carried out with concentrated HNO₃ at temperatures of about 300?°C in a high pressure asher (HPA). This procedure decomposes polyolefins completely and allows isotopic equilibration between sample and spike isotopes. Detection limits of 16 ng/g, 5 ng/g, 164 ng/g, and 9 ng/g were obtained for Pb, Cd, Cr, and Hg by ICP-IDMS using only sample weights of 0.25 g. In different commercially available polyethylene samples heavy metal concentrations in the range of < 5 ng/g to 4 × 10³ ng/g were analyzed. Both mass spectrometric methods were applied within the EU project “Polymeric Elemental Reference Material (PERM)” for the certification of two polyethylene reference materials. The ICP-IDMS results agreed very well with those of TI-IDMS which demonstrates the accuracy of the ICP-IDMS method also suitable for routine analyses.     

Nylon 6 structure in solid state as studied by high-resolution 13C-NMR spectroscopy

High resolution ¹³C-NMR spectra of nylon 6 samples crystallized under various conditions and of a drawn sample were measured at room temperature by the cross polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) and pulse saturation transfer/magic angle spinning techniques. Additionally, ¹³C-NMR spectra of the drawn sample were measured at temperatures from 20 to 100°C by the CP/MAS technique and at 20 and 100°C by the low-power decoupling/magic angle spinning technique. The nylon 6 structure in the solid-state is discussed on the basis of these results. The solid-state ¹³C chemical shift data are used for reference in a study of conformation in solution.     

Rheological evidence for high-temperature phase transitions in melts of high-density polyethylene

Melts of commercial high-density polyethylene (M̄_w = 36–85 × 10³) were subjected to the hydrodynamics of a Haake Rheocord blender at temperatures (T) spanning the normal processing range (190–260°C), far beyond the disappearance of solid crystals at about 140°C. Torque measurements revealed a peculiar dependence on T, including transitions at about 208°C and 227°C, and non-Arrhenius behavior above and below this range. Resemblances to liquid-crystal polymer phenomena are pointed out, and the impact on the melt processing industries is discussed.     

Surface Area Study of High Area Cobalt Aluminate Particles Prepared by the Sol-Gel Method

Cobalt aluminate particles were prepared by the sol-gel method, starting from aluminum sec-butoxide and cobalt salts with a Co:Al ratio of 1:3. Samples with the same composition were also prepared by the citrate-gel method from cobalt and aluminum nitrates and citric acid. The particles were calcined to temperatures between 400 and 1000°C, for the formation of the mixed oxide having spinel structure. The surface properties of the different samples (BET surface area and pore size distribution) were measured. The highest BET surface area obtained (about 339 m²/g) corresponds to a sample prepared by cobalt acetate and aluminum sec-butoxide, calcined at 400°C. The surface area of the sample is reduced progressively as the sample is calcined to higher temperatures (to about 65 m²/g at 1000°C). Narrow pore size distributions were observed with average pore radius ranging from 17–20 Å, for samples heated to 400°C, to about 55–65 Å, for samples heated to 1000°C. The different surface areas and porosities obtained for particles prepared by different methods, different precursors or calcination temperatures, are discussed.     

Ethylene polymerization with long‐lifetime monopendant thienyl‐substituted group 4 metallocenes

A series of group 4 metallocenes (RCp)[Cp―(bridge)―(2‐C₄H₃S)]MCl₂ [M = Ti ( C1 , C2 , C3 , C4 ); M = Zr ( C5 , C6 , C7 , C8 )] bearing a pendant thiophene group on a cyclopentadienyl ring have been synthesized, characterized and tested as catalyst precursors for ethylene polymerization. The molecular structures of representative titanocenes C2 and C4 were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and revealed that both complexes exist in an expected coordination environment for a monomeric bent metallocene. No intramolecular coordination between the thiophene group and the titanium center could be observed in the solid state. Upon activation by methylaluminoxane (MAO), titanocenes C1 , C2 , C3 , C4 showed moderate catalytic activities and produced high‐ or ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (M_v 70.5–227.1 × 10⁴ g mol^?1). Titanocene C3 is more active and long‐lived, with a lifetime of nearly 9 h at 30 °C. At elevated temperatures of 80–110 °C, zirconocenes C5 , C6 , C7 , C8 displayed high catalytic activities (up to 27.6 × 10⁵ g PE (mol Zr)^?1 h^?1), giving high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (M_v 11.2–53.7 × 10⁴ g mol^?1). Even at 80 °C, a long lifetime of at least 2 h was observed for the C8/MAO catalyst system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanical and transport properties of drawn low-density polyethylene

Quenched, quenched and annealed, and slowly cooled branched low-density polyethylene films were drawn at 25, 40, and 60°. The true draw ratio λ^L of the volume element was obtained and used to characterize the dependence on plastic deformation of the density, drawing stress, and work of plastic deformation, and the sorption and diffusion of methylene chloride. The effects observed are similar but less drastic than on linear high-density polyethylene. In particular, the transformation from the original lamellar to the final fibrous structure seems to be fastest for λ^L between 3 and 4. But the changes of vapor transport clearly indicate that the transformation is not yet complete even at the highest draw ratio λ^L = 6, just before the sample breaks. Annealing at 90°C of the drawn samples with free ends restores or even increases the transport properties beyond those of the undrawn sample without causing the fibrous structure to revert to the original lamellar structure.     

Surface characterization on graphitization of nanodiamond powder annealed in nitrogen ambient

A nanodiamond thin film is deposited on a single crystal silicon substrate by dip‐coating technique. Surface characterization of the unannealed nanodiamond sample, and the samples annealed at various temperatures in nitrogen ambient, is conducted by XPS and Raman spectroscopy. The fitting data of the C1s core level XPS peak reveal that the sp²/sp³ ratio in the unannealed sample and the sample annealed at 900 °C and 1500 °C are 0.44, 0.55 and 6.08 respectively. All spectra including the C1s core level XPS spectrum, the plasmon energy‐loss spectrum associated with C1s peak, C KVV Auger spectrum of the sample annealed at 900 °C are similar to those of the unannealed sample. However, the spectra of the sample annealed at 1500 °C are very different. Annealing at 900 °C fails to produce appreciable graphitization, and an onion‐like carbon structure with a small diamond core is formed when the nanodiamond is heated to 1500 °C. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Newtonian behavior of a styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer

The melt rheological behavior of an anionically polymerized styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) block copolymer sample (S: 7 × 10³ and B: 43 × 10³) was studied using a Weissenberg rheogoniometer. Highly non-Newtonian behavior, high viscosity and high elasticity, which are characteristics of ABA type block copolymers, were observed at 125°C, 140°C, and 150°C. The data at these temperatures superimposed well onto a master curve giving a constant flow activation energy. However, the data at 175°C indicated a marked change in the flow mechanism between 150°C and 175°C. At 175°C, the sample showed Newtonian behavior, negligible elasticity, and deviation from the master curve. These findings may be considered as an indication that the SBS block copolymer sample undergoes a structural change from a multiphase structure at low temperatures into a homogeneous structure at some temperature between 150°C and 175°C.