FTIR spectroscopic and NMR studies of hard elastic polypropylene

The variation of amorphous orientation and crystalline regularity of hard elastic polypropylene (HEPP) films during cyclic deformation and stress relaxation processes were studied using a FTIR spectrometer. The result proves entropic elasticity and shows the orientational hysteresis in the amorphous region or within the microfibrils, and also shows that the amorphous orientation increases, but that the crystalline regularity decreases with the increase of extension rate.Three spin-spin relaxation timesT _2f,T _2m, andT _2s and associated mass fractionsF _f,F _m, andF _s of HEPP fibers were measured with a solid echo of NMR method at different elongations and after relaxation or recovery for a long time A new possible interpretation was proposed that, while the microfibrils are formed in HEPP, the medium decay component should be ascribed to inner molecules of the microfibrils, and the slow decay component to the surface molecules of the microfibrils. According to this interpretation, the results implied that subfibrillation is the main process when HEPP is stretched up to 15% strain, and that at above 15% strain thinning and lengthening of the microfibrils become the main process. Thickening of the microfibrils was found in the recovery and relaxation processes.     

Torsional potential and strain energy distribution in an extended chain under stress

Torsional potentialV() for the single bond transformation in an extended hexadecane, subjected to elongation, has been determined by molecular mechanics calculations. The stored elastic energy significantly modifies the potentialV(), the conformational energies and the barriers of transition. Apart from the soft torsional coordinate, elastic energy is also dissipated considerably by bond stretching and angle bending. Maximal variations of the valence coordinates occur in the vicinity of the torsional defect and dampen along the chain. At higher elongation, the gauche minimum on the potentialV() disappears and the calculations predict the abrupt gauche to trans transition. The energetics of torsion of a deformed chain are compared with the experimental data on the hydrodynamic extension of polymers in dilute solution by elongational flow. The calculations also provide details of a single bond transformation mechanism at conformational interconversions in a long chain, proposed by Helfand.     

The effect of segment length and concentration on dielectric properties of polypropyleneoxide-based polyurethanes

Three series of segmented polyurethanes based on MDI, variable chain extender, and polypropylene oxide of MW=1000, 2000, and 3000 were synthesized and their dielectric behavior examined.Dielectric relaxations in the segmented polyurethanes were investigated between –150°C and +150°C in the 100 Hz to 10 kHz range. In general, three transitions, designated as, , and were observed, and ascribed in accordance with calorimetric relaxations to glass transitions of the hard and soft segments, and Shatzki-type motions, respectively. The effect of structure variables such as soft segment size, type of chain extender (ethylene glycol, butane diol, and hexane diol) and soft segment concentration, as well as the effect of interaction of the phases on dielectric properties was discussed. It was found that a certain degree of phase mixing exists in all series, detected by the variation of theT _g of the soft segment with soft segment concentration, contrary to DSC results, which was ascribed to thermal treatment prior to the dielectric measurements. It appears that interfacial polarization becomes important only above the transition temperature.     

Preparation of micron-size monodisperse polymer microspheres having cationic groups

Micron-size monodisperse crosslinked polymer microspheres having chloromethyl groups were prepared by seeded copolymerization of styrene, divinylbenzene, and chloromethylstyrene in the presence of 2.1- monodisperse polystyrene seed particles produced by dispersion polymerization. The modification reaction of chloromethyl groups on the surfaces with polyamines such as triethylenetetramine and ethylenediamine was carried out. From the measurements of potential and the amount of chloride ion released, the introduction of a large number of cationic groups at the surfaces was confirmed.Part CXXXI of the series Studies on suspension and Emulsion.     

Dielectric properties of cleaned and monodisperse polystyrene latexes in microwaves

The dielectric behavior (, ) of three well-cleaned monodisperse polystyrene latexes having the same particle size and the same number of chemically-bound surface groups has been studied at a fixed microwave frequency (9.4 GHz), as a function of temperature and surface group (SO ₄ ^– , COO^–, OH).A large dielectric relaxation was observed in the sulfate-stabilized latex, which has the most polar surface end-group. The anomalous behavior in the thermal dependence of the hydroxyl and carboxyl-stabilized latexes (the OH latex being more pronounced than the COO^– latex) may originate from differences in the experimental conditions used for the preparation of such polymer colloids, or due to the presence of ionic species.On the basis of various dielectric models, the apparent volume fractions of the latexes were calculated. The amount of bound water around the latex particle was quantitatively correlated to the polarity of surface end-group (SO ₄ ^– > COO^– > OH). The differences between the calculated and actual values were not only a reflection of the thickness of vicinal water, but could also be indicative of the presence of oligomeric species in the suspension's medium (serum) of the latex. The permittivities of hydrated particle and of bound water were obtained with a non-linear iterative procedure.     

Determination of the structure factor for concentrated silica dispersions using small angle x-ray scattering. II. Experiment

The structure factor of a number of silica suspensions in cyclohexane, with concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 0.714 gcm^–3, has been determined with small angle x-ray scattering, using a Kratky camera. The experimental structure factor is compared with a theoretical one for which polydispersity effects on the particle scattering factor and on the structure are explicitly taken into account.Analysis of the scattered intensity at a scattering angle=0 shows that the particles in the suspension interact like hard spheres, with a specific hard sphere volume of 0.61 cm³g^–1. A comparison of the experimentally determined structure factor with the structure factor found by a model calculation for a polydisperse system, using the experimental particle size distribution, showed a general agreement. The height of the first maximum agreed well for all concentrations, however its position varied stronger with concentration in the experimental curves. A possible explanation of this effect is given.     

The viscoelasticity of spinnable solutions of alkyltrimethylammonium salicylates

The viscoelasticity has been measured for aqueous solutions of tetradecyl-and hexadecyltrimethylammonium salicylates (C₁₄TASal, C₁₆TASal). The aqueous solutions of C₁₄TASal without salt displayed the gel-like behavior at 10.0×10^–2 g cm^–3, but those more dilute than 3.2×10^–2 g cm^–3 presented the viscoelasticity similar to that of a Maxwell liquid. The Maxwell-like behavior was converted to the polymer-like one on the addition of (0.1–0.2) M NaBr or (0.02–0.2) M NaSal. The gel-like viscoelasticity can be connected with the spinnability of cohesive fracture failure, and the Maxwell-like and polymer-like viscoelasticities are concerned with the spinnability of ductile failure. The gel-like and Maxwell-like viscoelasticities originate in the pseudo-network formed by the pseudo-linkages between rodlike micelles, while the polymer-like viscoelasticity is caused by the entanglement of long rodlike micelles in semidilute and concentrated solutions. The aqueous solutions of C₁₆TASal behaved very similar to those of C₁₄TASal.     

Microhardness and surface free energy in linear polyethylene: The role of entanglements

The microhardness of a series of melt crystallized samples of linear polyehtylene was investigated in a wide range of molecular weights. The x-ray long period was analyzed to study the variation of the hardness-derived constantb as a function of molecular weight (M ). It is pointed out thatb offers a measure of the hardness depression due to the finite thickness of the lamellar crystals. The data obtained show that the increase and final leveling-off (forM 200 000) ofb withM parallels the concurrent increase of the surface free energy, as derived from DSC experiments. Results are discussed using the concept og chain folded lamellae as thermodynamically stable non-homogeneous microphases. Comparison of experimental and calculated data supports the view that the number of molecular entanglements, segregated onto the defective surface boundary of the heterogeneous crystals influence the shearing mechanism within the mesocrystals and thereby control the yield behavior of the material.     

Water vapor adsorption and capillary reactions of silicates

States of disperse silicate systems classified according to their fundamental morphological types were represented by a ternary diagram. Water vapor equilibria of various silicate samples were investigated by energy levels, by equivalent pore number of potential bands determined from adsorption potential curves. The silicate adsorbents were characterized by adsorption energy, equipotential surface area and specific capillary. Electrical properties of adsorbents depending on their water contents were examined. Changes of adsorption properties of mechanical, thermal and by ion exchange treated silicates were observed. Electrical properties of adsorbents depending on their humidity were examined. Capillary reactions were observed causing irreversible adsorption-desorption cycles.     

Macromolecular conformations at the water-air interface: Interactions between alpha and beta conformations of polypeptides

Bidimensional miscibility between alpha and beta conformations of polypeptides was investigated at the water-air interface in the 15°–30°C temperature range. The polypeptides were poly--methyl-L-glutamate (PGMG), poly--benzyl-L-glutamate (PGBG) and poly--benzyl-L-aspartate (PBBA). The polypeptide conformations, alpha or beta, were checked by IR spectroscopy using the MIR technique.The spreading isotherms for mixed monolayers alpha-PGMG/alpha-PGBG and beta-PGMG/beta-PBBA showed bidimensional miscibility both for alpha-alpha and beta-beta mixtures.For the alpha-alpha system, attractive interactions among the polypeptide alphahelices were found (G_mix<0) and the driving factor appeared to be the entropic one (packing). Compressibility moduli and surface potential measurements showed a fluidification effect of alpha-PGBG on mixed monolayers. In the case of beta-beta mixed monolayers, ideal behaviour was observed and no fluidification effect detected.Scanning electron micrographs made on collapsed monolayers showed hexagonal structures for alpha-alpha mixtures and no well-defined or characterized features for the beta-beta system.     

Dielectric properties of moist CaCO3 filled polyethylene composites

The capacitance and the dielectric loss tangents of CaCO₃ filled polyethylene composites were studied. Composite samples, prepared by polymerizing ethylene on the surfaces of fillers, pre-treated by polymerization catalysts, were compared to normal mechanical mixtures. Dielectric dispersion,, and loss, , proved to be sensitive to heating or vacuum treatment. Investigation of samples under conditions of different relative humidities showed that the dielectric dispersion is due to adsorbed water. Both and increased with decreasing frequency and the ratio of loss and dispersion was nearly constant. Dielectric data measured at different relative humidities could be represented by a single Cole-Cole plot. Samples soaked in water for different periods yielded qualitatively similar but quantitatively different Cole-Cole plots. Composite samples showed higher losses at similar humidities.Possible interpretations in terms of a molecular relaxation model, an interfacial relaxation model, including a charged double layer mechanism, percolation theory and the universal response theory were examined, but none was able to fully explain the observed phenomena.     

The acceleration of decomposition of potassium persulfate in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and polymer particles as a model of emulsion polymerization system

The decomposition rates of potassium persulfate (KPS) in aqueous solutions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the presence of polystyrene or poly(methyl methacrylate) particles as models of emulsion polymerization systems were measured by isotachophoresis. Free SDS molecules dispersed in the monomolecular state had an ability to accelerate the KPS decomposition, but SDS molecules adsorbed onto the polymer particles did not accelerate it.Part CXX of the series of Studies on Suspension and Emulsion     

Determination of dispersive and nondispersive components of the surface free energy of glass fibers

The dispersive component _s ^d of the surface free energy of glass fibers and its interaction energy with alkanes, benzene, 1-nitropropane, ethyleneglycol, glycerol, formamide, and water were quantitatively determined by the tensiometric method within two liquids. The values of nondispersive interaction energy I _SL ^p were found to be a linear function of the square root of the nondispersive component of the surface free energy of liquids. This suggests that the nondispersive interaction energy may be represented by the geometric mean of the nondispersive component of the surface free energy of a solid and a liquid. The slope gave the nondispersive component _s ^p of the surface free energy. The _s ^p values are 33 and 14 mJ/m² for the untreated and aminosilane-treated fibers, respectively, suggesting that organophilic character has developed on the surface after aminosilane treatment. The _s ^p value was almost similar after the treatment, probably because of the polar characteristics of amino groups.     

Prediction of the non-Newtonian viscosity and shear stability of polymer solutions

The structure-property relationships derived here permit the prediction of both the zero-shear viscosity ₀, as well as the shear rate dependent viscosity . Using this molecular modeling it is now possible to predict over the whole concentration range, independently of the molecular weight, polymer concentration and imposed shear rate. However, the widely accepted concept: dilute — concentrated, is insufficient. Moreover it is necessary to take five distinct states of solution into account if the viscous behavior of polymeric liquids is to be described satisfactorily. For non-homogeneous, semi-dilute (moderately concentrated) solutions the slope in the linear region of the flow curve (= must be standardized against the overlap parameterc · []. As with the ₀-M-c-relationship, a-M -c- relationship can now be formulated for the complete range of concentration and molecular weight. Furthermore, it is possible to predict the onset of shear induced degradation of polymeric liquids subjected to a laminar velocity field on the basis of molecular modeling. These theoretically obtained results lead to the previously made ad hoc conclusion (Kulicke, Porter [32]) that, experimentally, it is not possible to detect the second Newtonian region.Roman and Italian symbols a exponent of the Mark-Houwink relationship - b exponent of the third term of the ₀-M -c relationship - c concentration /g · cm^–3 - E number of entanglements per molecule - F(r) connector tension - f function - G _i ^A shear modulus; A indicates that it /Pa has been evaluated by a transient shear flow experiment; i is the shear rate to whichG ^A refers to - G storage modulus /Pa - G _p plateau modulus /Pa - H() relaxation spectrum /Pa - h shift factor (₀/_r) - K _H Huggins constant - K _b third constant of the ₀-M -c relationship - K constant of the Mark-Houwink relationship - M molecular weight /g · mol^–1 - M _e molecular weight between two /g · mol^–1 entanglement couplings - N number of segments per molecule - n slope in the power-law region of the flow curve - p p-th mode of the relaxation time spectrum - R gas constant /8.314 J·K^–1·mol^–1 - r direction vector - T temperature /K Greek symbols ß reduced shear rate - shear rate /s^–1 - shear viscosity /Pa·s - _s solvent viscosity /Pa·s - _sp specific viscosity - ₀ zero-shear viscosity /Pa·s - apparent viscosity at shear rate - reduced viscosity - viscosity of polymeric liquid in /Pa·s the second Newtonian region - [] intrinsic viscosity/cm³·g^–1 - screening length/m - /g·cm ^–3 density - relaxation time/s - ₀ experimentally derived relaxation time/s - angular frequency of oscillation Indices conc concentrated - corr slope corrected - cr critical - deg degradation - e entanglement - exp experimental - mod moderately concentrated/semi-dilute - n number average - p polymer - R Rouse - rep reptation - s solvent - sp specific - theo theoretical - weight average - relaxation time - o experimental or steady state - * critical - ** transition moderately conc. — conc. - + transition dilute — moderately cone. Paper presented at the 2nd bilateral U.S.-West German Polymer Symposium, Yountville, the 7th–11th September 1987.     

Electrokinetic study on concentrated suspensions using colloid vibration potential measurements

-potentials of a silica suspension and three types of polystyrene latex suspensions with different surface charge groups were measured, as a function of the particle concentration () in the suspension over a wide range, using the colloid vibration potential (CVP) technique. The concentration dependence of the-potential in silica suspension is explained well by Levine et al.s [1] cell model theory, verifying the applicability of the cell model to the CVP in silica suspension. However, the-potential of latex suspensions ordinarily decreases as the particle concentration increases, even after being corrected by the term of (1-). This tendency is especially noticeable in the systems that have particles with high surface charge densities. Furthermore, the conductivity measurements of these suspensions reveal that the conductivity of these systems, especially in their highly charged state, increases as the particle concentration is increased; opposite in tendency to silica suspensions. These new findings can be explained as follows: on the highly charged surface of a latex particle, a polyelectrolyte-like (hairy) layer is present, which overlaps at some point. This permits interparticle surface conduction and results in the abnormal behavior of CVP in these systems.     

Melt drawing as a route to high performance polyethylene

Well established routes for obtaining stiff and strong polyethylene (PE) involve solid state drawing either of solution crystallized gel films or melt crystallized spherulitic PE. The aim of this work is to show the potential of melt deformation as an alternative route for obtaining highly oriented products. Our previous work on the melt deformation route showed that oriented PE fibers could be directly extruded under appropriately controlled conditions [8,9]. Here, we show that PE films (or filaments) can also be melt drawn in the temperature window 130–160 °C, thus yielding oriented products. The advantage of melt drawing over direct melt extrusion is that it allows a wider operational latitude and thus does not require such carefully controlled conditions.The morphology produced by melt deformation is different from solid state deformation and consists of extended chain fibrils with platelet overgrowths. The relative amount of fibrils and platelets depends on operating parameters. The temperature window of PE melt drawing is identified with the regime where some flow induced crystallization takes place. The conditions for melt drawability are of wider generality for crystallizable flexible chain polymers. They are: (i) adequate strain rate to overcome entropie resistance to chain extension, (ii) but not high enough to activate the elastic response of the transient networks in the entangled system, (iii) sufficient strain to fully extend the chain, (iv) appropriate temperature for flow-induced crystallization and strain hardening, and (v) cooling to freeze the oriented structure.Ultra high molecular weight PEs were not the most suitable for melt drawing due to their high recoverable elongation in the melt (melt elasticity) in addition to added limitations imposed by their nascent grain systeme. Our work suggests that an optimum molecular weight for melt drawing is¯M _w(400–900)×10³ with further possibilities for improvement through multimodal distributions.     

Segmental size of poly(ethylene terephthalate) determined by optical birefringence and ESR spin-probe method

The segmental size in amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was determined by two methods: a) from deformational behavior of amorphous samples in the elastic state by optical birefringence measurement, and b) from dynamic behavior of a small spin probe by ESR measurement of correlation times. The use of the network model for orientation of segments in amorphous polymer and of the generalized free-volume model for re-orientation of the probe in the amorphous phase gave comparable values ofn=2.3 and 2.1 structural units/segment. We conclude that trans gauche conformational transitions of rather small macromolecular segments are the basic motion mechanism in _a-segmental mobility in PET.     

Theory of ring formation in a reversible system: general solutions

The enumeration theory is extended in this work into a more general theory, taking back-reactions into consideration. The solutions may faithfully reproduce real processes from arbitrary starting points to a steady-state. Therefore, the presented theory includes the equilibrium theory by Jacobson-Stockmayer, the numerical solution by Gordon-Temple, and the irreversible theory by the present authors. The solutions are described first in general forms of transition probabilities {P}, and then explicitly with the aid of rate equations; simple proofs are given. The presented theory was applied to an experimental data: the distribution of cyclic species in poly(ethylene terephthalate). We shall show that agreement between theory and experiment is nearly perfect.AB model N ₀ Total number of units - V System volume - C ₀=N ₀/N _A ·V Initial concentration (N _A : Avogadro's number) - L _x AB type chain x-mer; (AB)_x - N _x Number of AB type x-mers - R _x Ring x-mer - N _Rx Number of ring x-mers - E Small molecule eliminated by bond-formation - N _E Number of small molecules eliminated by bond-formation - h _k Number of reacted functional units (f.u.) in statek - _k Number of reacted functional units (f.u.) in chains in statek - _k Total number of units in chains in statek - D=h _k /N ₀ Extent of reaction in statek - D ^*= _k / _k Extent of reaction in chains in statek - k _L Chain-propagation rate constant - k _Rx Cyclization rate constant of chain x-mers - k _B Bond breakage rate constant of chains - k _B,Rx Bond breakage rate constant of cyclic x-mers - <k _Rx > _k Mean cyclization rate constant in statek - g(x)=k _B,Rx /k _B Ring-opening factor of cyclic x-mers - P _Lx,k Probability that a chain x-mer will be formed in statek - {P} Set of transition probabilities per single jump in forward direction or reverse direction (see the text on individual transition probabilities) AB model M _A Total AA monomer unit number - M _B Total BB monomer unit number - M ₀=M _A +M _B Total particle number - _A,i =2M _A –h _i Unreacted A functional unit (f.u.) number in statei - _B,i =2M _B –h _i Unreacted B f.u. number in statei - _Ax Unreacted A f.u. number on x-mers - h _i Number of reacted A (or B) f.u. in statei - _i Number of reacted A (or B) f.u. in chains in statei - _A,i =2M _A –h _i + _i A f.u. number in chains in statei - _B,i =2M _B –h _i + _i B f.u. number in chains in statei - _i =2(M ₀–h _i + _i ) Total f.u. number in chains in statei - D=h _i /M ₀ Extent of reaction in statei - D _A ^* = _i / _A,i Extent of reaction of A f.u. in chains in statei - D _B ^* = _i / _B,i Extent of reaction of B f.u. in chains in statei - D ^*=2 _i / _i Extent of reaction in chains in statei - L _x (AA-BB)_x-1-AA type chain x-mer;x=1,2,3,... - L _x BB-(AA-BB)_x type chain x-mer;x=0,1,2,... - L _x (AA-BB)_x type chain x-mer;x=1,2,3,... - N _x Number of type x-mers - N _x Number of type x-mers - N _x Number of type x-mers     

SAXS study of core-shell colloids

Polymeric core-shell systems were produced by a two-stage emulsion polymerization technique under fixed conditions: i) monodisperse seed latex with a sufficiently high particle number; ii) starved monomer-II addition; iii) water-soluble initiator; iv) incompatibility of core and shell polymer. From electron micrographs, it is not possible to determine where the second polymer is located within these two-stage emulsion polymers. The internal structure of the particles can be detected by small-angle x-ray scattering. The results indicate that; i) the emulsion polymerization process takes place in a small surface layer region of the seed particles, and ii) a small interfacial layer exists between the core and shell polymer.Part 6 of Polymerizations in the Presence of Seeds     

Surface characterization of modified glass fibers by inverse gas chromatography

The dispersive component of the surface free energy _d ^s of glass fibers and their acid-base interaction can be evaluated by the measurement of specific retention volumes of several kinds of probe molecules by use of an inverse gas chromatography. The effect of the treatment of glass fibers with silane-coupling agents was also evaluated. The specific retention volumes of n-alkanes changed linearly with theirC number or vapor pressure. Those of polar molecules varied with their donor number (DN) or acceptor number (AN). The _s ^d values and electron-accepting or donating abilities depended upon the kind of functional groups contained in the coupling agents.