Multigraft copolymer superelastomers: Synthesis morphology, and properties

The synthesis of well-defined multigraft copolymers having a polydiene backbone with polystyrene side chains is briefly reviewed, with particular focus on controlling branch point spacing and branch point functionality. Use of living anionic polymerization and chlorosilane linking chemistry has led to the synthesis of series of materials having regularly spaced trifunctional (comb), tetrafunctional (centipede), and hexafunctional (barbwire) branch points. The morphologies of these materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering, and it was found that the morphologies were controlled by the local architectural asymmetry associated with each branch point. Mechanical properties studies revealed that such multigraft copolymers represent a new class of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) with superior elongation at break and low residual strains as compared to conventional TPEs.     

Morphology, morphology development and mechanical properties of polystyrene/polybutadiene blends

Polystyrene/polybutadiene (PS/PB) blends with different plastic/rubber ratios were prepared by melt mixing. A detailed investigation on phase morphology development of 30/70 wt.% PS/PB blends as a function of processing conditions was quantitatively analyzed. Morphology is developed at the initial stages of mixing. Suitable blending conditions resulting in optimum phase morphology were obtained at 180 °C, 60 rpm and at 8 min mixing time. Phase morphologies of the blends were also studied as a function of composition. Mechanical properties of the blends were measured. Attempts were made to correlate the morphologies with the properties. Parallel-Voids model has been applied to characterize phase morphology of these blends.     

Creating super-tough and strong PA6/ABS blends using multi-phase compatibilizers

PA6/ABS blends with excellent mechanical properties are prepared using combination of two effective multi-phase compatibilizers, where finely dispersed domains with unique encapsulation structures are generated for the synergistic improvement in tensile and impact performances.     

Photooxidative behaviour of polyethylene/polyamide-6 blends

The photochemical behaviour of several polyethylene/polyamide-6 blends was studied under conditions of artificial accelerated weathering. Particular attention was paid to five different compositions ranging from pure polyethylene to pure polyamide with blends of PE/PA-6 of various compositions: 75/25, 50/50 and 25/75 wt/wt%. Analysis by infrared spectroscopy of the chemical modifications caused by photooxidation showed that exposing the polyethylene/polyamide-6 blends to UV-light irradiation led to the formation of oxidation photoproducts in both polymer phases. In agreement with both the mechanical and spectroscopic analyses, the photooxidation rate of the blends was observed to be much higher than that of the homopolymers. The results given in this paper suggest that photooxidation of the PE/PA blends starts in the polyamide phase and that the subsequent photooxidation of the polyethylene phase may be initiated by the radicals coming from the oxidation of PA.     

Reactive blending of polypropylene/polyamide-6 in the presence of tailor-made succinic anhydride-terminated oligopropene compatibilizers

Various anhydride-terminated isotactic and atactic oligopropenes of number average molecular weights ranging between 1,000 and 10,000 g/mole, prepared by maleinating vinylidene-terminated propene oligomers obtained with isospecific and nonstereospecific metallocene-based Ziegler–Natta catalysts, have been evaluated as blend compatibilizers of polypropylene/polyamide-6 (70 vol%/30 vol%) blends to study the role of blend compatibilizer molecular architecture. When added during processing, as shown by IR spectroscopic analysis, the anhydride-terminated oligopropenes react with the amine-terminated polyamide-6 to yield polypropylene-block-polyamide-6 in situ. Such block copolymers are efficient dispersing agents. While the polyamide dispersion in the polypropylene continuous phase is not affected by blend compatibilizer stereoregularities, both stiffness and yield stress as well as notched Charpy impact strength increase with increasing stereoregularities and molecular weights. With oligopropene molecular weights exceeding 1,150 g/mole, the average size of the dispersed polyamide microphases correlates with the volume fraction of the oligopropene-block-polyamide-6 blend compatibilizer and the dicarboxylic acid anhydride/amine molar ratio.     

Crystallization kinetics,morphology, and mechanical properties of novel poly(ethylene succinate-co-octamethylene succinate)

The crystallization kinetics, morphology and mechanical properties of a novel poly(ethylene succinate-co-octamethylene succinate) (PEOS) copolyester with 82 mol% ethylene succinate (ES) units and 18 mol% octamethylene succinate (OS) units, and its homopolymer poly(ethylene succinate) (PES) were extensively investigated. The glass transition temperature, cold crystallization peak temperature and melting point of PEOS are around −24, 47.5, and 80.5 °C, respectively. The Avrami equation was used to analyze the isothermal melt crystallization kinetics of PEOS and PES. They display the same crystallization mechanism, and PEOS crystallizes slower than PES at the same degree of supercooling. The spherulitic growth rates of PEOS and PES exhibit a bell shape within the investigated crystallization temperature range, with the crystallization regime transition temperature of PEOS being lower than that of PES. In addition, PEOS has high thermal stability and good mechanical properties.     

苯乙烯-马来酸酐共聚物增容Nylon-6/ABS共混体系的形态和力学性能

通过熔融共混法制备了苯乙烯-马来酸酐共聚物(SMA)增容的尼龙6(Nylon-6)/ABS共混物.采用TEM、SEM、FTIR等研究了SMA增容的Nylon-6/ABS共混物的相形态与性能.发现在Nylon-6和ABS的简单共混体系中,分散相易聚集,相界面清晰,断裂面光滑,呈脆性断裂,相容性差.加入少量SMA后,共混物由共连续相结构转变为典型的"海-岛"结构,分散相分布均匀,界面粘接程度增加,表明SMA对Nylon-6/ABS体系有显著的增容效果.     

Phase morphology, crystallisation behaviour and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene/high density polyethylene blends

The phase morphology, crystallisation behaviour and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/high density polyethylene (HDPE) blends were investigated. It was found that the properties are intimately related to each other. The morphology of the blends showed a two phase structure in which the minor phase was dispersed as domains in the major continuous matrix phase. The domain size of the dispersed phase increased with increasing concentration of that phase due to coalescence. It was also found that the domain size of the dispersed phase depends on the viscosity difference between the two phases. For a given HDPE/iPP blend, where HDPE is the matrix and iPP is the dispersed phase, the iPP domains were smaller than HDPE domains of the corresponding iPP/HDPE blend where iPP is the matrix and HDPE is the dispersed phase. A co-continuous morphology was observed at 50/50 PP/HDPE composition. Crystallinity studies revealed that blending has not much effect on the crystalline melting point of polypropylene and high density polyethylene. The crystallisation enthalpy and heat of fusion values of HDPE and PP in the blend were decreased as the amount of the other component increased. The variation in percent crystallinity of HDPE and PP in the blend was found to depend on the morphology of the blend. All the mechanical properties except Young's modulus and hardness showed negative deviation from the additivity line. This is due to the incompatibility of these blends.     

Study and characterization of virgin and recycled LDPE/PP blends

Recycling of mixed plastic wastes composed of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix and polypropylene (PP) was carried out by compounding using single-screw or twin-screw extruders. Blends of virgin polymers have been prepared to compare mechanical properties of both virgin and regenerated materials. First, a model composition of virgin LDPE/PP blend was prepared to study the effect of process parameters and that of different types of compatibilizers. Second, the results were applied to plastic wastes coming from industrial post-consumer plastic wastes. By adding compatibilizing agents such as ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, ethylene-propylene monomer, or PE-g-(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) graft copolymer, elongation at break and impact strength were improved for all blends. The effect of these various copolymers is quite different and is in relation with their chemical structure. The recycled blends exhibit suitable properties leading to applications that require good mechanical properties.     

Effect of melt temperature on the phase morphology, thermal behavior and mechanical properties of injection-molded PP/LLDPE blends

<正>The phase morphology and thermal behavior of various isotactic polypropylene(PP)/linear low density polyethylene(LLDPE) blends were investigated with aid of scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),respectively.The effect of barrel(melt) temperature on the morphology,thermal behavior and the resultant mechanical properties of the injection molded bars was the research focus,and the influence of LLDPE composition was also taken into account.It was found that the mechanical properties,especially the tensile ductility and the impact strength,were greatly affected by the processing temperature.The samples obtained at low temperatures had the highest elongation at break and impact strength,while those molded at high temperatures had the poorest toughness.Two reasons were responsible for that:first,the phase size in the samples increased with the processing temperature;second, possible orientation existed in the samples obtained at low processing temperatures.     

Phase morphology of iPP/aPS/SEP blends

Supermolecular structure and phase morphology of the ternary isotactic polypropylene/atactic polystyrene/poly(styrene-b-ethylene-co-propylene) (iPP/aPS/SEP) compression molded blends with 100/0, 90/10, 70/30, and 50/50 iPP/aPS weight ratios and with different amounts of added SEP compatibilizer were studied by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). SEP significantly reduced the size of dispersed aPS particles that enabled better spherulitization in the iPP matrix. Furthermore, iPP spherulites in ternary blends with 90/10 iPP/aPS weight ratio became larger in comparison with the pure iPP. TEM revealed that the SEP formed continuous interface layer around the dispersed aPS particles even when only 2.5 wt.% of SEP was added. Particle size distribution was distinctly bimodal. When the SEP content was increased to 10 wt.%, joining together smaller and bigger aPS and SEP particles formed dispersed aggregates. Additionally, both amorphous components (aPS and SEP) influenced crystallization process of iPP matrix and so modified, to some extent, its final supermolecular structure. SEP compatibilizer did not significantly affect crystallite orientation. The increase of crystallite sizes, which was more affected by the addition of aPS than by the addition of SEP, seemed to be influenced by the solidification effect rather than by the phase morphology of the blends.     

Photo-oxidation behaviour of polyethylene/polyamide 6 blends filled with organomodified clay: Improvement of the photo-resistance through morphology modification

The impact of small amounts of organomodified clay (OMMT) on the photo-degradation behaviour of two blends obtained by mixing either low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or high density polyethylene (HDPE) with polyamide 6 (PA6) (LDPE/PA6 and HDPE/PA6 75/25 wt-%) was studied. The complex photo-degradation behaviour was followed by monitoring the main physical-mechanical properties of the blends. In particular, mechanical and spectroscopic tests were performed in conditions of accelerated artificial aging. An accurate mechanical and morphological characterization was previously carried out. The presence of the OMMT promotes the unexpected formation of a co-continuous morphology for the HDPE/PA6 blend without significantly improving the interfacial adhesion. Differently, the OMMT-filled LDPE/PA6 blend exhibits a finely distributed morphology, and some apparent improvement of the interfacial adhesion was noticed. Probably due to these differences in microstructure, a different impact of the nanoparticles on the photo-resistance behaviours was observed for the two families of samples. In particular, the HDPE-based nanocomposite blend exhibits an improved photo-resistance, while the opposite occurs for the LDPE-based system.     

Weld line morphology and strength of polystyrene/polyamide-6/poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) blends

The effect of weld line on the morphology and mechanical properties of 70/30 polystyrene and polyamide-6 blends with various amounts of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMA) as compatibilizer was investigated. For blends without or with low content of SMA, the dispersed domains near the weld line were elongated parallel to the weld line; and the dispersed domains in weld line were spherical. But for blend with high content of SMA, the isotropic morphology was observed. And the difference of morphology at weld line caused the distinction of fracture mechanism. The tensile strength of the blend is greatly influenced by the morphology of dispersed domains at weld line. While the morphology has only slight effect on impact strength of the blends.     

Synthesis of AB and ABA block copolymers as compatibilizers in nylon 6/polycarbonate blends

Nylon 6 (Ny6) and Bisphenol A polycarbonate (PC) are immiscible and form biphasic blends. To improve the compatibility of Ny6 and PC several ABA and AB Ny6/PC block copolymers were synthesized, and their compatibilizing behavior on the blends were tested. Block copolymers were prepared by reacting monoamino- or diamino-terminated Ny6 homopolymers with high molecular weight PC at 130°C in anhydrous DMSO. The reaction of diamino- and monoamino-terminated Ny6 with polycarbonate produces block copolymers of the type PC-Ny6-PC (ABA) and PC-Ny6 (AB), respectively, plus a certain amount of unconverted PC degradated to lower molecular weights. To separate the block copolymer from the unconverted PC, a selective fractionation with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and trifluoroethanol (TFE) was carried out. Three different fractions were obtained: THF-soluble fraction, TFE-soluble fraction, and the TFE-insoluble fraction. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of a 75/25 (wt/wt) Ny6/PC blend added with 2% of ABA or AB block copolymers, showed the presence of smaller PC particles more adherent to the polyamide matrix, with respect to the same blend nonadded, which is clearly biphasic. The size of the PC particles decreases from ABA to AB compatibilized blends and the adhesion with the matrix is increases in the same way. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Influence of composition on properties of nylon 6/EVOH blends

In this work, the relationships between composition and properties of Ny6/EVOH system were examined by means of several techniques and the results were interpreted in terms of level of compatibility. Blends of different ratio of Ny6 and EVOH have been processed in a laboratory‐based film blowing extrusion apparatus. Rheological measurements, FTIR and morphological analysis, and thermal and mechanical properties were carried out. Peculiar rheological, thermal, and mechanical behaviors were observed for the blend containing 25% by weight of EVOH. At this composition, FTIR analysis has pointed out that a minimum in molecular motion is achieved as a consequence of a maximum interaction of the polar groups (amide groups of Ny6 and hydroxyl groups of EVOH) involved. Moreover, gas permeability measurements on the blown films have been performed at T = 30°C. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2445–2455, 1999     

Preparation, structure, and properties of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer/clay nanocomposites: Part III. Effectiveness of compatibilizers

Styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS)/clay nanocomposites were prepared via a melt mixing technique. Various amounts of two types of compatibilizers, maleated styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS-g-MA) and maleated polypropylene (PP-g-MA), were incorporated to improve the dispersion of 5 wt% commercial organoclay (denoted as 20A), respectively. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) experimental results revealed that nanocomposites were achieved in all cases. The Fourier Transform infrared spectra and dynamic properties indicated a higher interaction for styrene blocks with clay moiety. The transmittance for the nanocomposites slightly decreased with increasing SEBS-g-MA dosage, which presented an opposing trend compared with the PP-g-MA case. The PP-g-MA compatibilized system conferred higher mechanical properties than the SEBS-g-MA compatibilized system, even though a higher dosage of SEBS-g-MA was beneficial in further expanding the interlayer spacing of the clay. The unexpected results suggested matrix properties and interfacial phase were the major factors in attaining the best performance in terms of mechanical properties for the investigated system.     

Altering the hierarchical morphology distribution of injection molded polyethylene by the introduction of crosslink network and periodical shear

High density polyethylene (HDPE) with moderate content of crosslink network (CPE) was successfully prepared through chemical method. Specimens for structural characterization have been molded by conventional injection molding (CIM) and pressure vibration injection molding (PVIM). Influence of crosslink network on hierarchical morphology distribution and mechanical properties was systematically studied. Polarized light microscopy (PLM) revealed that both CIM and PVIM PE samples have a typical “skin-core” structure and the thickness of shear layer of CIM PE and PVIM CPE samples obviously increase. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that shish-kebab structures are clearly observed in shear layer of CIM CPE sample, indicating that the crosslink network can surely improve the formation of shish-kebab structures. Moreover, we suppose that shish-kebab structures emerged in shear and core layer of PVIM CPE sample. Wideangle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) confirmed that more orientation and shish-kebab structures form even in core layer of PVIM CPE sample, which demonstrated that the hierarchical morphology was apparently altered by periodical shear and crosslink network. Finally, the mechanical properties revealed that this oriented structure increase the tensile strength from 31 MPa of CIM PE sample to 46 MPa of PVIM CPE sample. However, the tensile behavior tended to change from ductile fracture to brittle fracture.     

Solid-state morphology,structure, and tensile properties of polyethylene/polyamide/nanoclay blends: Effect of clay fraction

The effect of nanoclay fraction on the linear and non-linear tensile properties of a polyethylene/polyamide 12 blend with droplet morphology was investigated. All ternary blends were prepared at a fixed polyamide (PA) weight fraction of 20%, and at clay volume fractions varying from 0.5 to 2.5% relative to PA. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of the blends and the clay interphase structure. The nanoclay content was shown to strongly influence both linear and non-linear tensile properties. Young's modulus, elongation at yield, yield strength, tensile strength and elongation at break as a function of clay fraction were studied and discussed in terms of morphological changes and strain-induced structural reorganization of the clay interphase.     

Effect of ionomers on mechanical properties, morphology, and rheology of polyoxymethylene and its blends with methyl methacrylate-styrene-butadiene copolymer

Two ionomers, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer ionized with sodium cation (EMA-Na) and zinc cation (EMA-Zn), were employed as impact modifiers to prepare blends with polyoxymethylene (POM) via a melt extrusion. A copolymer of methyl methacrylate-styrene-butadiene (MBS) used as a co-impact modifier was also incorporated into the blends. The mechanical properties, thermal properties, morphology, and rheology were studied. A moderate toughening was observed for POM/ionomer binary blends, which was attributable to the rubbery natural and good adhesion of the ionomers. EMA-Zn exhibited a much better toughening effect than EMA-Na because of its higher elasticity and stronger interaction with POM. The incorporation of the ionomers into POM/MBS blends resulted in an improvement of mechanical properties, which was attributable to the compatibilizing effect of ionomer on POM/MBS blending system. The observation of scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the finer phase domains were caused by incorporation of ionomers, which, acting as a compatibilizer as well as an impact modifier, reduced the interfacial tension and improved the interfacial adhesion between the phases. Differential scanning calorimetry investigation indicated that the presence of ionomer in the blends disturbed the crystallization of POM and resulted in a decrease in the crystallinity of POM. The evaluation of melt flow index revealed an increase in viscosity of the blends by incorporation of the ionomers, which was caused the ionic interaction between POM and the ionomers.     

Shear-induced change of phase morphology and tensile property in injection-molded bars of high-density polyethylene/polyoxymethylene blends

It is feasible to control the phase morphology and phase inversion for immiscible polymer blends to manipulate their properties. In this work, the blend of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/polyoxymethylene (POM) was used as an example, to demonstrate the effect of shear on the phase morphology and resultant mechanical properties in immiscible polymer blends. To do so, a well defined “in-process morphology control” process during injection molding was conducted. That was: after making the blends via melt mixing, the injection-molded bars were prepared via a so-called dynamic packing injection molding equipment to impose a prolonged shearing on the melts during the solidification stage. Phase morphologies and crystal structures of the blends were estimated mainly through scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and 2D wide-angle X-ray scattering, respectively. For in-process morphology controlled samples, co-continuous structures, especially subinclusions inside another continuous phase induced by shear, were observed when the HDPE content was between 30 wt% and 50 wt%, leading to much early occurrence of phase inversion and also the lowest degree of orientation for both HDPE and POM. However, for samples obtained via conventional injection molding, a droplet morphology was always observed with HDPE dispersed in POM as the content of HDPE was up to 30 wt%, but with POM dispersed in HDPE as the content of HDPE was 50 wt%. The performances of injection-molded bars were mainly respect to the phase morphologies for samples obtained via conventional injection molding in which tensile properties continuously decreased with increasing of HDPE content up to 30 wt% and then increased with further increasing of HDPE content. For the in-process morphology controlled samples, the tensile properties depended not only on the phase morphology, but more importantly on the degree of orientation. One observed only a slight decrease of tensile property as the content of HDPE was less than 15 wt%, while an abrupt decrease when the content of HDPE was between 30 wt% and 50 wt%, probably due to the lowest degree of orientation in this composition range.