Surface Segregation in Miscible Blends of Polystyrene and Poly(vinylmethyl ether): Comparison of Theory and Experiment

The effect of the interplay between bulk and surface free energy terms on surface segregation in miscible blends is probed by comparing angle-dependent x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ADXPS) measurements for polystyrene/polyvinylmethylether (PS/PVME) blends of with those for perdeuteropolystyrene/polyvinylmethylether (dPS/PVME) blends. The magnitudes of the bulk interaction parameters for the two systems differ markedly while the surface interactions are essentially identical. Experimental concentration depth profiles are almost identical for the two systems indicating that their surface properties are little affected by bulk interactions and dominated by surface energy effects.These data and previous data from our group are compared to the predictions of the square gradient theory developed by Schmidt and Binder in order to gain a more quantitative understanding of the factors that control surface segregation in miscible blends. While there is general qualitative agreement between theory and experiment, predicted surface compositions fall significantly below experimental values and predicted composition depth profiles decay more gradually than what is observed experimentally, especially for low PVME contents. The use of the more appropriate Sanchez-Lacombe-Balazs equation of state does not yield any significant improvement over the use of the Flory-Huggins lattice model for representing the bulk free energy terms. Careful analysis of the experimental behavior suggests that configurational effects associated with the flattening of surface adsorbed chains and differences in mer-mer interaction parameters in the bulk and near surface regions are possible origins for the discrepancies between theory and experiment.     

Polymer Dynamics in Polyurethane/clay Nanocomposites Studied by Dielectric and Thermal Techniques

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS), and thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) techniques were employed to investigate glass transition and polymer dynamics in nanocomposites of polyurethane (PU) and organically modified montmorillonite (MMT) (weight fraction 0%–15%) prepared by solution casting. The PU matrix was obtained from oligo(oxytetramethylene glycol) of molar mass 1000 g/mol, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and 1,1-dimethylhydrazine as chain extender. Wide-angle X-ray scattering confirmed the formation of partly exfoliated structures at low MMT content. DSC, DRS, and TSDC show, in agreement with each other, that a fraction of polymer makes no contribution to the glass transition and to the corresponding α relaxation, whereas the rest exhibits similar glass transition dynamics as the pure matrix. This fraction of immobilized polymer reaches a maximum at about 5 wt% MMT. Effects of MMT on the microphase-separated structure of PU are negligible, as indicated by the study of glass transition and interfacial dielectric polarization/relaxation. No effects of MMT on the local, secondary γ and β relaxations were observed. Mechanical properties show a maximum improvement at about 5 wt% MMT, in good correlation with morphology and dynamics.     

Correlation Between Segmental Dynamics,Glass Transition,and Lithium Ion Conduction in Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)/Ionic Liquid Mixture

A solid-state membrane of a polymer/ionic liquid miscible mixture, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF₆) doped with lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄), was prepared and characterized. Miscibility, segmental dynamics, glass transition and ionic conductivity were investigated. Based on the results from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), the system is fully miscible and of single phase. Broadening of the glass transition was observed when increasing the amount of ionic liquid, which can be attributed to mobility and flexibility differences between the polymer and ionic liquid. A large dynamical asymmetry and intrinsic mobility difference allow segmental and structural motion/relaxation over a wider temperature range by increasing the amount of ionic liquid. Saturation recovery spin–lattice relaxation time (T₁) versus temperature obtained from ⁷Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) showed high mobility of lithium ions, which was almost temperature independent. Lithium ion conductivity significantly increases with increasing ionic liquid amount. It is concluded that lithium ion mobility and its conduction is positively correlated to segmental dynamics of ion carriers in this model system, which is more noticeable in mixtures with higher amounts of the ionic liquid.     

Segmental Dynamics in net -poly(methyl methacrylate)- co -poly(n-butyl acrylate) Copolymer Networks

Dynamic mechanical spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry investigations of segmental dynamics are reported for net-poly(methyl methacrylate)-co-poly(n-butyl acrylate) copolymer networks. Three characteristic temperatures, namely, Vogel (T_∞), glass transition (T _g ), and crossover (T _c ), were used to define cooperativity range and a new reduced temperature parameter (Solidness, S). The results showed that broadness of the α -dispersion (glass transition) and cooperativity length scale at the glass transition temperature decreased with increasing butyl acrylate content and T _g -scaled temperature dependence of the relaxation time (fragility). However, the cooperativity range (T _c –T_∞), decreased with increasing fragility index. Furthermore, the solidness at T _g (S(T _g )) was nearly independent of chemical structure of the samples. Finally, a correlation was found between two measures of cooperativity length scale in the glass transition region, namely, average volume of cooperatively rearranging regions, V _CRR , and the number of basic units in an act of rearrangement in the glass transition region, Z(T _g ), determined from two completely independent experimental techniques.     

Glass transition temperature and thermal stability of ZnS/PMMA nanocomposites

In this article, ZnS nanoparticles were prepared by wet chemical precipitation method using zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄), sodium sulphide (Na₂S) and thio-glycerol. These nanoparticles were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) measurements. The solution-based processing was used to prepare Poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanocomposites with different weight percents (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8) of ZnS nanoparticles. The obtained ZnS/PMMA nanocomposites were characterized through XRD, scanning electron microscope and TEM measurements. The dynamic mechanical analyzer was used to obtain the storage modulus and glass transition temperature (T _g) of the nanocomposites. The apparent activation energy of the glass transition region was also determined using the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation. The results indicated that the thermal stability of ZnS/PMMA nanocomposites was higher than PMMA and 6 wt. % of ZnS nanoparticles in PMMA matrix showed the maximum activation energy, which indicated that this nanocomposite had higher thermal stability than other composites.     

Nonisothermal Crystallization Kinetics of Miscible Blends of Polycaprolactone and Crosslinked Carboxylated Polyester Resin

The nonisothermal crystallization process of polycaprolactone (PCL)/crosslinked carboxylated polyester resin (CPER) blends has been investigated for different blend concentrations by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC measurements were carried out under different cooling rates namely: 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20°C/min. Thermally induced crosslinking of CPER in the blends was accomplished using triglycidyl isocyanurate as a crosslinking agent at 200°C for 10 min. The cured PCL/CPER blends were transparent above the melting temperature of PCL and only one glass transition temperature, T_g, located in the temperature range between the two T_gs of the pure polymer components, was observed, indicating that PCL and crosslinked CPER are miscible over the entire range of concentration. The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics was analyzed based on different theoretical approaches, including modified Avrami, Ozawa, and combined Avrami–Ozawa methods. All of the different theoretical approaches successfully described the kinetic behavior of the nonisothermal crystallization process of PCL in the blends. In addition, the spherulitic growth rate was evaluated nonisothermally from the spherulitic morphologies at different temperatures using polarized optical microscope during cooling the molten sample. Only one master curve of temperature dependence of crystal growth rate could be constructed for PCL/CPER blends, regardless of different blend concentrations. Furthermore, the activation energy of nonisothermal crystallization process (ΔE_a) was calculated as a function of blend concentration based on the Kissinger equation. The value of ΔE_a was found to be concentration dependent, i.e., increasing from 83 kJ/mol for pure PCL to 115 and 119 kJ/mol for 75 and 50 wt% PCL, respectively. This finding suggested that CPER could significantly restrict the dynamics of the PCL chain segments, thereby inhibit the crystallization process and consequently elevate the ΔE_a.     

压缩CO2中聚合物玻璃化转变温度的实验研究

 玻璃化转变温度（T_g）是聚合物重要的特性参数，压缩CO₂环境中聚合物的玻璃化转变温度的测定，更是超临界流体技术在聚合物科学领域中成功应用的前提条件。根据蠕变柔量实验原理，自建一套测定高压环境下玻璃化转变温度的实验装置。利用该装置对聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯（PET）、聚苯乙烯（PS）、聚氯乙烯（PVC）以及聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯（PMMA）在大气中及压缩CO₂环境中的T_g进行了测定。设定实验的平衡吸附温度为室温，平衡吸附压力范围分别为：PET，0~3.5 MPa；PS，0~11.0 MPa；PVC，0~9.0 MPa；PMMA，0~4.5 MPa。在大气中测定的结果与文献中的结果相吻合，表明所设计的实验方法及实验装置是可靠并有效的，可用于高压环境下聚合物的玻璃化转变温度的测定。从压缩CO₂中的聚合物T_g测定结果可以看出，CO₂对聚合物具有较明显的溶胀、增塑作用，可显著降低聚合物的T_g。     

Nanocomposites based on polymer blends: enhanced interfacial interactions in polycarbonate/ethylene-propylene copolymer blends with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

In this article, the phase separation in the melt blended polycarbonate (PC) and ethylene propylene copolymer (EPC) has been studied with dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two glass transition temperatures on the tan δ curves were detected. This confirms the immiscibility of PC and EPC phases. Different content of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added to the PC/EPC blends and the interfacial adhesion between MWCNTs and PC/EPC blend were shown using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The MWCNTs were located in the PC phase and at the interfaces of PC and EPC phases. Moreover, the storage modulus (E′) of polymer blends was changed by the increasing content of EPC elastomer and MWCNTs. The value of E′ of PC decreased with an incorporation of EPC. While, along with an addition of MWCNTs in the PC/EPC blends an increase of E′ was visible. The strong interfacial interactions between the matrix and MWCNTs played the main role in increasing the values of the E′ of the nanocomposites.     

Zr-Al-Ni-Cu(Nb,Ti)大块非晶玻璃转变的动力学性质

以Zr Al Ni Cu(Nb ,Ti)大块非晶合金差示扫描量热分析实验为基础 ,利用Lasocka方程、Kissinger方程及Vogel Fulcher Tamman(VFT)方程对其玻璃转变的动力学性质从不同方面进行了研究 .分析结果表明 :玻璃转变表观激活能越小 ,则晶化转变激活能越大 ,表现出相反的难易程度 ,且玻璃转变表观激活能数值远较传统非晶要小 ,验证了大块非晶合金独特的结构特点及玻璃形成能力 (GFA)强的原因 .利用VFT方程对玻璃转变弛豫时间与升温速度的VFT曲线进行了拟合 ,所算得的玻璃脆性参数m均在 30左右 ,反映了Zr Al Ni Cu(Nb ,Ti)非晶合金强的脆性属性 .玻璃转变处Lasocka关系的B值、原子表观激活能及玻璃脆性参数均反映了相同的GFA大小趋势 ,从不同方面进一步揭示了非晶合金玻璃转变区间的动力学行为与GFA之间的密切联系 ,可作为判断非晶合金GFA强弱的重要依据     

Zr-Al-Ni-Cu(Nb,Ti)大块非晶玻璃转变的动力学性质

以Zr-Al-Ni-Cu (Nb,Ti)大块非晶合金差示扫描量热分析实验为基础,利用Lasocka方程、Kissinger方程及Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman(VFT)方程对其玻璃转变的动力学性质从不同方面进行了研究.分析结果表明：玻璃转变表观激活能越小,则晶化转变激活能越大,表现出相反的难易程度,且玻璃转变表观激活能数值远较传统非晶要小,验证了大块非晶合金独特的结构特点及玻璃形成能力(GFA)强的原因.利用VFT方程对玻璃转变弛豫时间与升温速度的VFT曲线 进行了拟合,所算得的玻璃脆性参数m均在30左右,反映了Zr-Al-Ni-Cu (Nb,Ti)非晶合金强 的脆性属性.玻璃转变处Lasocka关系的B值、原子表观激活能及玻璃脆性参数均反映了相同的GFA大小趋势,从不同方面进一步揭示了非晶合金玻璃转变区间的动力学行为与GFA之 间的密切联系,可作为判断非晶合金GFA强弱的重要依据. 关键词： 玻璃转变 玻璃形成能力 表观激活能 玻璃脆性参数     

High UV-shielding Performance of Zinc Oxide/High-Density Polyethylene Nanocomposites

Zinc oxide/high-density polyethylene nanocomposites with high-UV-shielding efficiency were reported. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by the homogeneous precipitation method and calcination of the precursor at different temperatures. Zinc oxide/high-density polyethylene nanocomposites were subsequently prepared from high-density polyethylene and as-prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles via melt mixing process. The structural properties of the as-prepared zinc oxide nanoparticles and nanocomposites were studied in detail using X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimeter, ultrasonic pulse echo technique, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscope. The optical properties of the obtained nanocomposites were shown to depend on zinc oxide particle size and content. The nanocomposite containing zinc oxide nanoparticles with an average particle size of 25.22 nm after calcination at 350°C was found to have the most optimal optical properties, namely high-visible light transparency and high-UV light shielding efficiency, which are desirable for many important applications.     

非晶材料玻璃转变过程中记忆效应的热力学

低温下处于非平衡态的非晶材料升温到玻璃转变以上,要先后发生弛豫和回复最终达到平衡过冷液态,其中弛豫过程中释放的能量在回复过程中以等量的方式获取,表现出明显记忆行为.本文基于氧化物、金属与小分子等多种非晶形成体系,全面探讨了在围绕玻璃转变的一个冷却加热循环过程中的焓弛豫特征,建立了弛豫谱,发现弛豫焓在数值上与熔化焓密切相关.基于弛豫焓与非晶材料动力学Fragility之间的关联,展示了非晶体系在动力学极限(m=175)条件下的玻璃转变热力学基本特征,与热力学二级相变进行了对比.研究深化了对非晶弛豫与玻璃转变热力学的理解.     

动态加载过程中石英玻璃诱导水的快速结晶相变

在气炮加载试验中利用弹载光源原位测试技术,观测了夹于石英玻璃之间的水在动态压缩过程中的透光特性. 通过其光透射特性研究了水的冲击相变. 实验结果发现液态水在动态冲击压缩过程中, 其压力低于2 GPa 就出现透明性变差的现象,而且水的透明性下降与石英玻璃的存在有关,是一种石英诱导水的结晶相变现象.     

Temperature Dependence of Structural Relaxation in Glass-Forming Liquids and Polymers

Understanding the microscopic mechanism of the transition of glass remains one of the most challenging topics in Condensed Matter Physics. What controls the sharp slowing down of molecular motion upon approaching the glass transition temperature T_g, whether there is an underlying thermodynamic transition at some finite temperature below T_g, what the role of cooperativity and heterogeneity are, and many other questions continue to be topics of active discussions. This review focuses on the mechanisms that control the steepness of the temperature dependence of structural relaxation (fragility) in glass-forming liquids. We present a brief overview of the basic theoretical models and their experimental tests, analyzing their predictions for fragility and emphasizing the successes and failures of the models. Special attention is focused on the connection of fast dynamics on picosecond time scales to the behavior of structural relaxation on much longer time scales. A separate section discusses the specific case of polymeric glass-forming liquids, which usually have extremely high fragility. We emphasize the apparent difference between the glass transitions in polymers and small molecules. We also discuss the possible role of quantum effects in the glass transition of light molecules and highlight the recent discovery of the unusually low fragility of water. At the end, we formulate the major challenges and questions remaining in this field.     

Hybrid Polyurethane-Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) Semi-IPN–Silica Nanocomposites: Interfacial Interactions and Glass Transition Dynamics

Polyurethane-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) semi-IPN-silica nanocomposites with low content (0.25 and 3 wt%) of differently functionalized 3-D fumed silica nanoparticles were studied using a combined AFM/DSC/CRS approach over the ?100 to 160°C range. The pronounced heterogeneity of the PHEMA and PU glass transitions’ dynamics and the effects of considerable suppression of dynamics and increasing elastic properties by silica additives were shown. It was caused by formation of peculiarly cross-linked structures due to “double hybridization,” in particular via selective covalent bonding of the silica surface, functionalized by ?OH, ?NH₂ or ?CH?CH₂ groups, with the matrix constituents. The silica dispersion remained unchanged in these nanocomposites; therefore the relationships between interfacial interactions and dynamics/modulus behavior could be followed.     

Activation Energy for the Glass Transition of a Confined Elastomer in HDPE/PP Blends

Blends of two highly crystalline polymers containing an elastomer were prepared to study the glass transition of the confined elastomer. The polymers chosen were high density poly ethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and two elastomers of a different nature: natural number (NR) and EPDM. The dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) technique was used to analyze the storage modulus of blends with elastomer content from 0% to 30% by weight, with the remainder made up of equal amounts of HDPE and PP, and blends with 10% of the elastomer, but varied ratios of polyolefins. We used the differentiation modification of the Arrhenius method in the kinetic analysis assuming an n‐order relaxation mechanism, which allowed detecting the percolation threshold of NR. Results indicate that both temperature and activation energy for glass transition (T _g ) are dependent on the types of polymers in the blend and blend composition. The T _g and E values of the unblended elastomers are higher than those in blends; this behavior is associated with the elastomer confinement and blend morphology.     

Miscibility and Crystallization Behavior of Poly (Ethylene Terephthalate)/Phosphate Glass Hybrids

Fundamental studies on miscibility and crystallization behavior of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and inorganic phosphate glass (Pglass) hybrids were conducted. The Flory–Huggins interaction parameter (χ) value of ?0.075 for the PET/Pglass hybrids was obtained using the Nishi–Wang equation, demonstrating that the Pglass and PET components were miscible in the melt state. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the phase separation occurred during quenching from the melt. The phase boundaries between PET and Pglass were blurred, which indicated partial compatibility of the components in the solid state. Contact angle measurements indicated the interfacial tension of PET/Pglass hybrids was 1.5 mN/m, and the work of adhesion was 78.0 mN/m at 28 °C. Based on the Hoffman–Lauritzen theory, the nucleation constant (K_g) and fold surface free energy (σ_e) of PET/Pglass hybrids were less than those of neat PET.     

The Evolution of Interfacial Strength as a Way to Characterize a Low-Temperature Limit of the Surface Glass Transition of an Amorphous Polymer

The evolution of autoadhesive strength, σ, with healing temperature, T _h, at the symmetric amorphous polystyrene (PS)?PS interfaces of the samples with vitrified bulk has been used to characterize a low-temperature limit of the surface glass transition temperature T _g ^surface(low). The existence of a linear relationship between the square root of σ and T _h has been found for both polydisperse and monodisperse polymers. By the extrapolation of straight lines σ ^1/2 ? T _h to σ ^1/2 = 0, the values of T _g ^surface(low) have been determined and compared with those of a high-temperature limit of T _g ^surface, T _g ^surface(high), measured earlier. The differences between T _g ^surface(low) and T _g ^surface(high) have been found to be insignificant, 10–20°C. Using an average value of the shift of T _g ^surface(low) with healing time, t _h, the quasi-equilibrium value of the surface glass transition temperature of amorphous PS T _∞ ^surface has been estimated to be 10–15°C.     

New Insights into the Effects of Physical Aging on Glass Transition of Polystyrene by FTIR

A new method to detect the glass transition was used to investigate the effects of physical aging on the glass transition of polystyrene by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the onset point of the glass transition shifted to higher temperature with aging, but the end point didn't change. It was demonstrated that this method was of great use in determining the glass transition temperature of aged polymeric samples. For each aged sample, the four bands assigned to the vibrational modes of the main chain groups and the side groups of polystyrene showed the same transition regions, indicating that the main chain and the side groups were aging synchronously. The rates of increase of the relative peak areas for the four investigated bands during the glass transition decreased with aging with the increased rates of the relative peak areas for the two bands assigned to side group decreasing less than those of main chain, which seemed to indicate the dominance of the side group in aging process.     

Dynamic Scaling and Fractal Behavior of Phase Dispersion in Multicomponent Polymer Blends

Dynamic scaling and fractal behavior of phase dispersion in a binary polymer mixture of polypropylene with poly(cis-butadiene) rubber during processing in a batch mixer was studied by means of a back small-angle laser scattering (BSALS) online system. In the late stage of phase dispersion, a special fractal behavior was found; different overlapped line groups existed simultaneously and the temporal distribution was stochastic. We defined the special behavior as quasi-self-similarity and calculated the fractal dimension, D _p, by using the power spectrum method. The results show that the evolution of different fractal dimensions with time is consistent with average chord length of the dispersed phase.