Crosslinking-Dependent Relaxation Dynamics in Ethylene–Propylene–Diene (EPDM) Terpolymer above the Glass Transition Temperature

Dynamic mechanical experiments performed on ethylene–propylene–diene (EPDM) terpolymer, cross linked to different extents, evidenced three relaxation processes. Besides the glass transition (T_g) and the melting of the ethylene crystals formed in the ethylene-based EPDM, a new transition appeared at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature (so-called tan δ_gh) and decreased dramatically in amplitude with increase in the degree of cure. The new transition (tan δ_gh) was also above the melting point. The viscoelastic properties of the rubber with various crosslinking degrees are described. Based on the behavior of tan δ_gh and the curing properties of EPDM, the tan δ_gh peak is primarily attributed to the motion of non-elastic network chains loosely attached to the three-dimensional network, including free chains.     

The Role of Interfacial Interactions in the Toughening of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate–Polypropylene Nanocomposites

This paper investigates the effect of the interphase properties and the interfacial interactions between matrix and filler on mechanical properties of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC)–polypropylene nanocomposites. PCC particles were coated with stearic acid (SA). The weight ratio of SA on the particles (w _SA) ranged from 0 to 0.135 g SA/g PCC. The introduction of PCC particles resulted in an increase in stiffness and yield stress compared with the pristine polymeric matrix and, at the same time, it increased the impact resistance. The maximum improvement in the impact behaviour was achieved for the composites with w _SA =0.045 corresponding to the theoretical monolayer ratio. A decrease in interfacial interactions between monolayer coated PCCs and the matrix with respect to the uncoated particles was observed by using a semi-empirical equation developed by Pukànszky. The low degree of interfacial interactions between particulate filler and matrix allows a matrix–particle debonding phenomenon, as shown by scanning electron microscopy analysis. Extensive plastic deformations were evident as well, promoting an improvement in toughness. The thickness of the interphase between particles and matrix was evaluated by using the Shen–Li model which is based on the hypothesis of a non-homogeneous interphase. It results that the thickness increased in the order uncoated < monolayer coated < 3% SA coated ? 13.5% SA coated particles. The thinner and stronger interphase found for the composite with uncoated particles can be explained with the high interaction between matrix and filler and the consequent low mobility of the polymeric chains.     

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Glass Transition of the Supercooled Zr–Nb Melt

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics - The glass transition of the supercooled Zr–Nb melt has been investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. The dependence of the critical...     

Micromechanical Behavior and Glass Transition Temperature of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)–Rubber Blends

Abstract

The microhardness of transparent rubber‐toughened poly(methyl methacrylate) (RTPMMA) was investigated by means of the microindentation technique. Core‐shell particles (CSP) with a rubbery shell were used as reinforcing material for the production of RTPMMA. The increasing volume fraction of CSP within the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix is shown to soften the material, diminishing the hardness (H) value of RTPMMA of about 40% of the initial value at 35 vol% CSP content. Creep experiments under the indenter are reported. The creep constant is found to increase by adding CSP up to a leveling‐off value. On the other hand, the thermal variation of the creep constant for the blends shows a maximum. Results reveal a good correlation of the glass transition temperature (T _g) value deduced from microindentation, and the values obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) techniques. Contrary to expectation H is shown to decrease with increasing glass transition temperature. In the case of the drawn materials, the indentation anisotropy is shown to gradually increase with draw ratio and CSP content. This finding is explained on the basis of the higher orientation of the PMMA molecules near the periphery of CSP.     

Specific Heat and Thermal Expansion of Triglycine Sulfate–Porous Glass Nanocomposites

The effect of restricted geometry on specific heat capacity and thermal expansion of the triglycine sulfate (TGS)–borosilicate glass composites have been studied first. A decrease in the entropy and temperature of the P2₁ ? P2₁/m phase transition in the TGS component with decreasing the glass matrix pore diameter at the invariable specific heat and thermal expansion coefficient has been observed. The estimates are indicative of the minor effect of internal pressure on the TGS pressure coefficient dT_C/dp in the composites.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Sol–Gel-Derived SiO2–CaO Particles: Size Impact on Glass (Bio)Properties

Four highly bioactive glasses in a binary SiO₂–CaO system are prepared following a sol−gel method using Ca(OH)₂ as a calcium precursor. In the synthesis of glass according to the modified Stöber method, Ca(OH)₂ suspended in polyethylene glycol allows the elimination of the presence of calcite and the increase of ammonia concentration causes formation of spherical particles with different sizes in the range of 26–266 nm. The relation among the size and properties, including bioactivity, of the glass particles is evaluated. New glasses that vary in composition (10–25 wt% CaO), porosity (15–113 m² g⁻¹), and hydroxyl groups content greatly enhance the formation process of hydroxyapatite (HA) in simulated physiological fluids. For all glasses, superior apatite-mineralization ability in time as short as 2 h in the physiological-like buffer is achieved, thus exceeding the bioactivity of the known bioactive glasses, including 45S5 glass (Bioglass). The assessment of the safety and toxicity profile of the obtained glasses is verified in a wide range of concentrations (1–1000 µg mL⁻¹) against human dermal fibroblasts and MC3T3 mouse osteoblast precursors, but also to human erythrocytes by determining hemocompatibility. Two glasses of different sizes, 73 and 266 nm, are promising and warrant further research.     

Formation of NiZr2 Binary Metallic Glass： Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Analyses

The local atomic structure of an amorphous NiZr2 alloy is identified by using x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimeter. Based on the experimental results, molecular dynamics simulation is performed to investigate the glass formation of liquid NiZr2 alloy. Some relevant features of the pair correlation functions are in good agreement with those obtained by experiment. The pair analysis parameters are calculated, suggesting that there exist icosahedral ordering, four-fold symmetrical bipyramid and triangular- faced polyhedral units in the amorphous NiZr2 structure. The result is beneficial to open avenues toward the understanding of fundamental theoretical problems of glass formation of simple binary alloys.     

Epoxy/Silica Nanohybrids or Nanocomposites: Atomic Force Microscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Investigation of the Processing–Structure–Property Relationships

The structural and morphological features influencing the glass transition temperature of epoxy/silica nanohybrid and nanocomposite materials containing 25–30 phr of nanoscale silica phases are discussed in this letter to answer the questions related to the processing–structure–property relationships. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy are used to study the surface chemical structure and morphology of epoxy/silica nanohybrids and nanocomposites. Nanohybrids are synthesized via in situ sol-gel process, while the respective nanocomposites are prepared by mechanical blending of preformed silica nanoparticles into epoxy resin. Differential scanning calorimetry is used to determine glass transition temperature of different materials. The surface analytical characterizations reveal that in situ sol-gel process is more suitable for producing organic–inorganic hybrid materials with superior glass transition temperature owing to the achievement of stronger interfacial compatibility and greater crosslink density. A number of other factors affecting glass transition temperature are explored and discussed with reference to surface chemistry, microstructure, and morphology of epoxy/silica nanohybrids and nanocomposites, respectively.     

Structure and Lattice Dynamics of Rare Earth Stannates R2Sn2O7 (R = La–Lu): Ab Initio Calculation

Physics of the Solid State - For the first time, an ab initio study of the lattice structure and dynamics and the elastic properties of a number of rare-earth stannates R2Sn2O7 (R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd,...     

Interactions Between Solitons and Cnoidal Periodic Waves of the(2+1)-Dimensional Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky Equation

The(2+1)-dimensional Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky equation is an important prototypic model in nonlinear physics, which can be applied to many fields. Various nonlinear excitations of the(2+1)-dimensional Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky equation have been found by many methods. However, it is very difficult to find interaction solutions among different types of nonlinear excitations. In this paper, with the help of the Riccati equation, the(2+1)-dimensional Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky equation is solved by the consistent Riccati expansion(CRE). Furthermore, we obtain the soliton-cnoidal wave interaction solution of the(2+1)-dimensional Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky equation.     

Gaseous Metal and the Problem of Vapor–Liquid (Insulator–Metal) Transition in Metal Vapors

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics - We consider the main properties of a gaseous metal, viz., the state of metal vapor adjoining the vapor–fluid transition binodal. The gaseous...     

Using X-PEEM to study biomaterials: Protein and peptide adsorption to a polystyrene–poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-polyacrylic acid blend

Recent synchrotron-based soft X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (X-PEEM) studies of protein and peptide interaction with phase segregated and patterned polymer surfaces in the context of optimization of candidate biomaterials are reviewed and a study of a new system is reported. X-PEEM and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to investigate the morphology of a phase-segregated thin film of a polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-polyacrylic acid (PS/PMMA-PAA) blend, and its interactions with negatively charged human serum albumin (HSA) and positively charged SUB-6 (a cationic antimicrobial peptide, RWWKIWVIRWWR-NH₂) at several pHs. At neutral pH, where the polymer surface is partially negatively charged, HSA and SUB-6 peptide showed contrasting adsorption behavior which is interpreted in terms of differences in their electrostatic interactions with the polymer surface.     

Structure and Dynamics of a Lattice of Tetragonal Germanates R2Ge2O7 (R = Tb–Lu,Y): Ab Initio Calculation

Physics of the Solid State - The crystal structure, phonon spectrum, and elastic constants of a series of rare-earth germanates (including yttrium germanate R2Ge2O7 (R = Tb–Lu, Y)) with a...