Effect of a Novel Polymeric Coupling Agent on the Water Uptake Property and Warp Stability of Poly(vinyl chloride)/Bamboo Flour Composite

Water uptake property and warp stability of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/bamboo flour composite were investigated employing a novel polymeric coupling agent, poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)-block-poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) {P[(SMA)-b-(SAN)]}. P[(SMA)-b-(SAN)] was synthesized through controlled/'living' radical polymerization (CRP) technique in an one-pot reaction and incorporated into the composite to improve the interfacial adhesion between PVC and bamboo flour. The structure of P[(SMA)-b-(SAN)] was confirmed by ¹H-NMR, FT-IR and GPC. PVC/bamboo flour composite sheets were then prepared from a single screw extruder and two-roll mill in the presence of P[(SMA)-b-(SAN)] coupling agent. As the content of the coupling agent increased, improved interfacial bonding between PVC and bamboo flour filler was observed. Water uptake property and warp stability were also improved in the presence of the coupling agent. These results suggest that the block copolymer successfully acted as a coupling agent in PVC/bamboo flour composites.     

Effect of ultrasound on the kinetics of anti-solvent crystallization of sucrose

The effect of ultrasound on the kinetics of anti-solvent crystallization of sucrose was studied. The influence of temperature, stirring rate, supersaturation and ultrasonic power on the anti-solvent crystallization of sucrose was investigated. The relationship between infrared spectral characteristic band of sucrose and supersaturation was determined with an online reaction analyzer. The crystal size distribution of sucrose was detected by a laser particle-size analyzer. Ultrasound accelerated the crystallization process, and had no impact on the crystal shape. Abegg, Stevens and Larson model was fitted to the experimental data, and the results were the following: At 298.15 K, the average size of crystals was 133.8 μm and nucleation rate was 4.87 × 10⁹ m⁻³·s⁻¹ without ultrasound. In an ultrasonic field, the average size was 80.5 μm, and nucleation rate was 1.18 × 10¹¹ m⁻³·s⁻¹. Ultrasound significantly reduced the average size of crystals and improved the nucleation rate. It was observed that the crystal size decreased with the increase of stirring rate in silent environment. When the stirring rate increased from 250 to 400 rpm, the average size decreased from 173.0 to 132.9 μm. However, the stirring rate had no significant impact on the crystal size in the ultrasonic field. In addition, the activation energy of anti-solvent crystallization of sucrose was decreased, and the kinetic constant of nucleation rate was increased due to the effect of ultrasound. In the ultrasonic field, the activation energy was reduced from 20422.5 to 790.5 J·mol⁻¹, and the kinetic constant was increased from 9.76 × 10² to 8.38 × 10⁸.     

Interphase sizing temperature effect of LaRC PETI-5 on the dynamic mechanical thermal properties of carbon fiber/BMI composites

The dynamic mechanical thermal properties of carbon fiber-reinforced bismaleimide (BMI) composites processed using polyacrylonitrile(PAN)-based carbon fibers unsized and sized with LaRC PETI-5 amic acid oligomer as interphase material at 150°C, 250°C, and 350°C were investigated by means of dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. It was found that the storage modulus, loss modulus, tan δ and the peak temperature significantly depend on the sizing temperature as well as on the presence and absence of LaRC PETI-5 sizing interphase. The result showed that the carbon fiber/BMI composite sized at 150°C had the highest storage modulus at a measuring temperature of 250°C. The storage modulus decreased with increasing sizing temperature from 150°C to 350°C, being influenced by interdiffusion and co-reaction between the LaRC PETI-5 interphase and the BMI matrix resin. The present result is quite consistent with the interfacial result reported earlier in term of interfacial shear strength and interlaminar shear strength of carbon fiber/BMI composites. It is addressed that in the present composite system the sizing temperature of LaRC PETI-5 interphase critically influences not only the interfacial properties but also the dynamic mechanical thermal properties and its control is also important.     

Effect of condensation conditions on the kinetics of crystallization of films during isothermal annealing

A study was made of processes involved in the nucleation of Me-Ge films (Me: Ni, Co, Fe) containing 30 at. % transition metal. Conditions which affect the activation energy of the crystallization process and the structural state of the crystallized films were examined. It is established that crystallization energies are somewhat lower for condensation in an electric field than the energies for films deposited under normal conditions.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 11, pp. 52–55, November, 1990.     

Effect of WO3 on the glass transition and crystallization kinetics of borotellurite glasses

Tellurite glasses of the system xWO₃–75TeO₂–(25 ? x)B₂O₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 25 mol. %) were prepared and studied by differential thermal analysis to explore the effect of WO₃ on their glass transition and crystallization kinetics. The crystallization kinetics was studied under non-isothermal conditions using the formal theory of transformations for heterogeneous nucleation. The crystallization results were analyzed and both the activation energy of the crystallization process and the crystallization mechanism characterized. The phases into which the glass crystallizes were identified by X-ray diffraction. Diffractograms of the transformed material indicate the presence of microcrystallites of α-tellurite, Te_0.95W_0.05O_2.05, Te₂W and B₂O₃ in the amorphous matrix.     

Effect of extractives on the flexural properties of wood/plastic composites

This study investigated the effect of extractives in wood flour on the mechanical properties of wood-polypropylene (PP) composites. Three different solvents, acetone/water, dioxane/water and benzene/ethanol, were used to remove extractives in both pine and Douglas fir wood flour. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that extraction resulted in a change in the surface composition of the wood flour. Differential scanning calorimetry showed no changes in the percent crystallinity of the PP matrix in the wood-PP composites and optical microscopy showed no detectable changes in PP spherulite size or shape between filled PP containing extracted and unextracted wood flour. A large increase in the strength of pine flour-PP composites was observed upon removal of extractives from pine flour. The Douglas fir flour-PP composites showed a smaller, but statistically significant, increase in strength upon removal of extractives, with the exception of the dioxane/water extracted Douglas fir. Significant differences were also observed in stiffness between extracted wood-PP and unextracted wood-PP composites with the exception of the dioxane/water extracted Douglas fir, which was not significantly different from the control.     

Nb添加对Cu-Zr非晶合金玻璃转变和晶化动力学的影响

采用铜模吸铸法制备出直径为2 mm的Cu_50.3Zr_49.7-xNb_x(x=0,2)大块非晶合金，利用示差扫描量热分析(DSC)研究了2at%Nb元素添加对Cu-Zr非晶合金玻璃转变动力学和晶化动力学的影响，发现含Nb合金具有较低的脆性指数，和较高的晶化激活能.这表明微量Nb的添加提高了该二元Cu基非晶合金过冷金属液相的热稳定性，从而有利于其非晶合金的形成. 关键词： Cu-Zr非晶合金 Nb添加 玻璃转变动力学 晶化动力学     

Effect of gamma irradiation on high temperature hardness of low-density polyethylene

Gamma irradiation can cause the change of microstructure and molecular structure of polymer, resulting in the change of mechanical properties of polymers. Using the hardness measurement, the effect of gamma irradiation on the high temperature hardness of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was investigated. The gamma irradiation caused the increase in the melting point, the enthalpy of fusion, and the portion of crystallinity of LDPE. The Vickers hardness of the irradiated LDPE increases with increasing the irradiation dose, annealing temperature, and annealing time. The activation energy for the rate process controlling the reaction between defects linearly decreases with the irradiation dose. The process controlling the hardness evolution in LDPE is endothermic because LDPE is semi-crystalline.     

The Effects of Morphological Properties of Henequen Fiber Irradiated by EB on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Henequen Fiber/PP Composites

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of electron beam (EB) irradiation on the morphological properties, crystallinity and surface area of henequen fiber and on the mechanical and thermal properties of henequen fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites. The structure of henequen fiber was characterized by X-ray diffraction, mercury porosimetry and BET surface area analysis. The EB irradiation of 10 kGy led to the increasing of crystalline and surface pore area of henequen fiber, which contributed to the number of interlocking places with PP. From the results of tensile and impact strength tests, the highest value was observed for the composite reinforced with the henequen fiber treated with EB dose of 10 kGy, decreasing overall as EB dose increased. This tendency was also shown by coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) measurements, but the value of CTE decreased until 50 kGy, meaning that a large total surface area can provide many interlocking places and so improve adhesion between fiber and matrix. Therefore, it can be concluded that the optimum pore surface area by 10 kGy irradiation contributes to successful mechanical interlocking between fiber and matrix and consequently enhances the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites.     

Effect of epitaxial crystallization on packet-like space charge characteristics in low-density polyethylene under multi-field coupling conditions

In order to study the effect of epitaxial crystallization on charge transport in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) under multi-field coupling conditions, three typical epitaxial crystallizations, namely disorder (glass substrate), crossover (isotactic polypropylene substrate), and parallel (polytetrafluoroethylene substrate), were prepared and denoted as LD-G, LD-iPP, and LD-PT, respectively. Packet-like space charge through samples was analyzed by the pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) method. It is shown that different microscopic surface morphologies appeared in the LDPE samples with different epitaxial crystallizations, which, however, do not change the crystalline structure of the bulk. Packet-like space charge phenomena were observed and the distortion field increased with the temperature which could be attributed to the larger amount of charge injection in a shorter period. The differences of the amount and injection rate of the space charge were explained and verified considering the typical chain alignment of epitaxial crystallization, which, in our opinions, contributes to the pass over of positive charge in LD-iPP samples.     

Effect of pulse repetition rate and number of pulses in the analysis of polypropylene and high density polyethylene by nanosecond infrared laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

Pulse repetition rates and the number of laser pulses are among the most important parameters that do affect the analysis of solid materials by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, and the knowledge of their effects is of fundamental importance for suggesting analytical strategies when dealing with laser ablation processes of polymers. In this contribution, the influence of these parameters in the ablated mass and in the features of craters was evaluated in polypropylene and high density polyethylene plates containing pigment-based PbCrO₄. Surface characterization and craters profile were carried out by perfilometry and scanning electron microscopy. Area, volume and profile of craters were obtained using Taylor Map software. A laser induced breakdown spectroscopy system consisted of a Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm, 5 ns) and an Echelle spectrometer equipped with ICCD detector were used. The evaluated operating conditions consisted of 10, 25 and 50 laser pulses at 1, 5 and 10 Hz, 250 mJ/pulse (85 J cm⁻²), 2 μs delay time and 6 μs integration time gate. Differences in the topographical features among craters of both polymers were observed. The decrease in the repetition rate resulted in irregular craters and formation of edges, especially in polypropylene sample. The differences in the topographical features and ablated masses were attributed to the influence of the degree of crystallinity, crystalline melting temperature and glass transition temperature in the ablation process of the high density polyethylene and polypropylene. It was also observed that the intensities of chromium and lead emission signals obtained at 10 Hz were two times higher than at 5 Hz by keeping the number of laser pulses constant.     

Determination of the density of Pb-Sn melts and segregation phenomena on their crystallization

The density of liquid lead-tin alloys (17.64, 25.34, 25.61, 26.07, and 33.88 at % Pb) has been determined using an γ-ray attenuation technique over the temperature range from the liquidus line to 750–1040 K. The experimental uncertainty of the density measurements is estimated to be within the range of ±0.20–0.25%. It has been shown that the temperature hysteresis of the melt density and thermal expansion, which was observed previously in several studies, disappears after stirring the melts. The distribution of the components through the height of the liquid and solid samples and its variation with time and during melting-crystallization has been investigated. The study shows that the melts do not segregate on long standing (about 4 hours) near the liquidus temperature. However, crystallization and melting of homogeneous Pb-Sn alloys is accompanied by liquation phenomenon, which is enhanced as the sample composition deviates from the eutectic one. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Effect of curing temperature,fibre loading and bonding agent on the equilibrium swelling of isora-natural rubber composites

Isora fibre-reinforced natural rubber (NR) composites were cured at 80, 100, 120 and 150°C using a low temperature curing accelerator system. Composites were also prepared using a conventional accelerator system and cured at 150°C. The swelling behavior of these composites at varying fibre loadings was studied in toluene and hexane. Results show that the uptake of solvent and volume fraction of rubber due to swelling was lower for the low temperature cured vulcanizates which is an indication of the better fibre/rubber adhesion. The uptake of aromatic solvent was higher than that of aliphatic solvent, for all the composites. As the fibre content increased, the solvent uptake decreased, due to the superior solvent resistance of the fibre and good fibre–rubber interactions. The bonding agent improved the swelling resistance of the composites due to the strong interfacial adhesion. Due to the improved adhesion between the fibre and rubber, the ratio of the change in volume fraction of rubber due to swelling to the volume fraction of rubber in the dry sample (V_τ ) was found to decrease in the presence of bonding agent. At a fixed fibre loading, the alkali treated fibre composite showed a lower percentage swelling than untreated one for both systems showing superior rubber–fibre interactions.     

Effect of high density of states in the presence of interchain coupling on the transition temperature

The combinationN(0)I ² (N(0)-electronic density of states at the Fermi level,I ²-electron-phonon coupling constant) is calculated in the tight-binding approximation for the ₂ band of V₃Si. In this model the density of states can be very high even when strong interchain coupling is present. It is found thatI ² is almost insensitive to changes in the interchain coupling, and that a significant increase inN(0)I ² of this model can be achieved only for low occupation numbers of the ₂ band.Work supported by a grant from the National Council for Research and Development, Israel and KfK (Kernforschungszentrum, Karlsruhe, FRG)     

Effect of Pb additive on crystallization kinetics of Se80In20 glassy matrix

The crystallization kinetics of bulk Se₈₀In_20−xPb_x (x=0, 5, 10 and 15) chalcogenide glasses have been studied using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) with different heating rates (5, 10, 15 and 20 K/min) under non-isothermal conditions. Various kinetic parameters of crystallization, such as crystallization temperature T_c, peak crystallization temperature T_p, activation energy for crystallization E_c and order parameters n, m have been determined to study nucleation and growth during crystallization. The reaction rate constant K and pre-exponential factor K₀ also have been determined. The composition dependence of these parameters may be explained on the basis of modification of chemical bonds present in the Se–In system due to addition of Pb content.     

Effect of hemp surface modification on the morphological and tensile properties of linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE) composites

This work investigates different hemp surface modifications (mercerization, maleated polyethylene (MAPE) addition in solution or in melt blending) to improve the properties of linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE). From the composites produced, a complete morphological and tensile characterization was performed for a fixed hemp content (30% wt.). The morphological analysis showed that both the direct (melt blending) and solution modifications were able to significantly improve the composites interface quality and therefore the tensile properties (151% increase in modulus and 36% increase in strength over the neat matrix) within the range of conditions tested.     

Effect of crosslinking on the low-temperature relaxation behavior of polyethylene

The dynamic mechanical properties of polyethylene crosslinked by chemical methods and by electron irradiation were determined from 77°K to 250°K on an acoustic spectrometer at a frequency of approximately 50 Hz. Parallel stress-strain, swelling, and x-ray scattering experiments were also carried out to determine the degree of crosslinking and crystallinity. It is found that the effect of chemical crosslinking is to suppress the loss intensity of the γ relaxation in polyethylene while preserving the symmetrical shape of the loss curve without changing the temperature position. The effect of radiation crosslinking, however, also changes the symmetrical nature of the curves. Possible mechanisms of these observed changes are discussed.     

Effect of crystallization on the property of hard enamel coating on steel substrate

Crystallization treatment was conducted to improve hardness of an enamel coating on steel. Microstructure change of the enamel steel interface was observed. Phase transformation of the glassy enamel was analyzed, and adhesion of the enamel to steel was evaluated. As crystallization time increases, the as-fired enamel/steel interface roughens, protrudes to form anchor points and develops into dendrites growing into grain boundaries of the steel substrate. An adherence factor η is proposed to predict the adherence of the enamel/substrate interface metallographically. Microhardness of the enamel increases from 582HV_0.05 as-fired to 991HV_0.05 after crystallization treatment at 840 °C for 20 min, which is attributed to the transformation of the vitreous enamel into NaAlSi₂O₆ crystals during the crystallization treatment. Microstructure observation indicates that the white needle-like NaAlSi₂O₆ crystals in the as-fired glassy enamel matrix is increased in number and their morphology change from large aspect ratio into coarsened ones with increasing time at 840 °C crystallization treatment. The as-fired enamel coating exhibits an impact energy of 0.81 J, and the crystallization treatment at 840 °C increases impact energy of the enamel coating from 1.05 to 1.56 J with changing crystallization time from 5 to 20 min. A regression formula of impact energy associated with adherence factor is obtained to evaluate adhesion of the enamel to steel substrate on the basis of metallographic measurement. The aluminum melt corrosion resistance of the enamel is increased with increasing crystallization of its glassy matrix.     

Effect of chemical modifications of the pineapple leaf fiber surfaces on the interfacial and mechanical properties of laminated biocomposites

Natural fiber reinforced renewable resource based laminated composites were prepared from biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and untreated or surface-treated pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) by compression molding using the film stacking method. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of surface treatment of PALF on the performance of the fiber-reinforced composites. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to aid in the analysis. The mechanical properties of the PLA laminated composites were improved significantly after chemical treatment. It was found that both silane- and alkali-treated fiber reinforced composites offered superior mechanical properties compared to untreated fiber reinforced composites. The effects of temperature on the viscoelastic properties of composites were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). From the DMA results, incorporation of the PALF fibers resulted in a considerable increase of the storage modulus (stiffness) values. The heat defection temperature (HDT) of the PALF fiber reinforced PLA laminated composites was significantly higher than the HDT of the neat PLA resin. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results suggest that surface treatment of PALF affects the crystallization properties of the PLA matrix. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the distribution of PLA within the fiber network. SEM photographs of fiber surface and fracture surfaces of composites clearly indicated the extent of fiber–matrix interface adhesion. It was found that the interfacial properties between the reinforcing PALF fibers and the surrounding matrix of the laminated composite are very important to the performance of the composite materials and PALF fibers are good candidates for the reinforcement fiber of high performance laminated biodegradable biocomposites.