Mechanical properties and morphological structures of short glass fiber reinforced PP/EPDM composite

The mechanical properties and crystal morphological structures of short glass fiber (SGF) reinforced dynamically photo-irradiated polypropylene (PP)/ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) composites were studied by mechanical tests, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The mechanical properties of PP/EPDM composites, especially the tensile strength were greatly strengthened by dynamically photo-irradiation and the incorporation of SGF. The results from the WAXD, SEM, DSC, and TGA measurements reveal: (i) the formation of β-type crystal of PP in the PP/EPDM/SGF composite; (ii) the fiber length in dynamically photo-irradiated PP/EPDM/SGF composites are general longer than that in corresponding unirradiated samples. The size of EPDM phase in the photo-irradiated composites reduces obviously whereas the droplet number increases; (iii) photo-irradiation improves the interface adhesion between SGF and polymer matrix; (iv) the melting and crystallization temperatures of the photo-irradiated composites are not affected greatly by increasing the SGF content; (v) the thermal analysis results show that the incorporation of SGF into PP/EPDM plays an important role for increasing its thermal stability.     

磨盘碾磨制备PP/石墨复合粉末的研究

通过磨盘碾磨制备了PP 石墨复合粉末 ,用粒度分析、SEM和XRD表征了复合粉末的形貌特征、结构与性能 .结果表明 ,磨盘碾磨实现了PP与石墨的粉碎、分散和混合 ,经过 2 5遍碾磨 ,石墨与PP已互相嵌入 ,均匀分散 ;PP 石墨复合粉末具有不规则薄片状形貌特征 ;XRD表明 ,磨盘碾磨使PP和石墨的结晶度降低 ,晶面间距增大 ,晶粒尺寸减小 .PP 石墨复合粉末与聚丙烯共混复合可制备出具有良好抗静电性能的复合材料 .     

Effect of long fiber thermoplastic extrusion process on fiber dispersion and mechanical properties of viscose fiber/polypropylene composites

Viscose fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP/VF) composites were manufactured using long fiber thermoplastic (LFT) extrusion techniques with two different methods namely LFT‐l and LFT‐2. The compatibilizer [maleated polypropylene (MAPP)] and dispersing agent [stearic acid (SA)] were added to the PP/VF in order to improve the fiber dispersion and interfacial adhesion. The PP/VF composites manufactured using LFT‐2 showed better fiber dispersion with higher tensile and flexural properties compared to the composites manufactured using LFT‐1 method. Similarly, the impact strength and toughness of the LET‐2 composites showed an improvement of 36 and 20% than LFT‐1 whereas the average fiber length of composites was decreased from 6.9 mm to 4.4 mm because of the increase in shear energy as a result of residence time. Further, the addition of SA and MAPP to LFT‐2 process has significantly improved the fiber dispersion and mechanical performance. The fiber dispersion and fracture behavior of the LFT‐1 and LFT‐2 composites were studied using scanning electron microscopy analysis. The Fourier transformation infrared spectra were also studied to ascertain the existence of type of interfacial bonds. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flexural properties of fiber‐reinforced polypropylene composites with and without a transcrystalline layer

The flexural properties of isotactic polypropylene (PP) matrix composites reinforced with 5–30 vol% of unidirectional pitch‐based carbon, polyacrylonitrile (PAN)‐based carbon, e‐glass or aramid fibers were measured using both static and dynamic test methods. Previous research has shown that these pitch‐based carbon and aramid fibers are capable of densely nucleating PP crystals at the fiber surface, leading to the growth of an oriented interphase termed a “transcrystalline layer” (TCL), while the e‐glass and PAN‐based carbon fibers show no nucleating ability. The PP matrices examined included unmodified homopolymers, nucleated homopolymers and PP grafted with maleic anhydride (MA). The composites based on the unmodified PP homopolymers all exhibited poor fiber/matrix adhesion, regardless of fiber type and presence or absence of a TCL. The addition of nucleating agent to the PP matrix had no measurable effect on either the amount of TCL material in pitch‐based carbon‐fiber‐reinforced composites, as measured by wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, WAXS, or the static flexural properties of the composites reinforced with either type of carbon fiber. However, MA grafting reduced the transcrystalline fraction of the matrix in pitch‐based carbon‐fiber‐reinforced composites; at the highest level of MA grafting, the TCL was completely suppressed. In addition, high levels of MA grafting improved the transverse flexural modulus of the composites containing both types of carbon fibers, and reduced the extent of fiber pull‐out, indicating an improvement in fiber/matrix adhesion. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure and Properties of β-Polypropylene Reinforced by Polypropylene Fiber and Polyamide Fiber

Matrix/fiber composites of β-form isotactic polypropylene(iPP) matrix and α-iPP or PA6 fibers were prepared by laminating technique under different preparation temperatures. The mechanical properties and interfacial morphologies of these composites were studied by tensile test, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The experimental results show that the tensile yield load and tensile modulus of β-iPP/PA6 matrix/fiber systems increased significantly at the expense of elongation at break. These mechanical properties show essentially no dependence on the sample preparation temperature. On the other hand, the mechanical properties of iPP matrix/fiber single polymer composites depend strongly on the sample preparation temperature. At low sample preparation temperature, e.g., 172 ℃, the solid α-iPP fiber induces α-iPP crystallization, leading to the formation of α-iPP transcrystalline layer around the fiber. This results in a remarkable increment of the tensile yield load and tensile modulus. The elongation at break is also much better than that of the iPP/PA6 matrix/fiber system. It reflects a better interfacial adhesion of the single polymer composite compared with the iPP/PA6 composite. At higher sample preparation temperature, e.g., 174 ℃ or 176 ℃, the partial surface melting of the oriented fiber allows interdiffusion of iPP molecular chains in the molten fiber and matrix melt. The penetration of matrix chains into the molten iPP fiber results in some iPP molecular chains being included partially in the recrystallized fiber and the induced β-transcrystalline layers. This kind of configuration leads to an improvement of interfacial adhesion between the fiber and matrix, which causes a simultaneous increase of the tensile yield load, tensile modulus and elongation at break of β-iPP.     

Material removal and chemical and structural changes induced by irradiation of polymer surfaces with KrF-excimer laser radiation

Holes in polypropylene (PP) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plates, 0.5 mm in thickness were drilled by irradiation with up to 3000 pulses of KrF-excimer laser radiation (λ = 248 nm) at fluences per pulse ? in the range 0.1–10 J/cm², conditions which yield a laser-induced plasma/vapor plume. The process was analyzed experimentally in terms of material removal rate, optical emission of the laser-induced plasma, hole geometry, debris production at the hole edge, and chemical changes in the polymer induced by the laser irradiation. Additionally, the process was simulated using a model based on degradation of the polymer induced by optical absorption and heating, leading to gas-phase products. Such characteristics as the material removal rate as a function of fluence, the nature of the gas phase products and the deposition of debris were calculated.     

Crystallization and mechanical properties of basalt fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites with different elastomers

In this study, composites based on polypropylene (PP), basalt fiber (BF), polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (MAPP) and different elastomers were manufactured by extrusion compounding and injection molding. The main focus of this study was to comparatively investigate the effect of three kinds of elastomers (ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM), polyethylene–octene (POE) and ethylene–vinyl–acetate (EVA)) on non-isothermal crystallization and mechanical properties of the composites with various BF contents. The tensile test results showed that BF had a reinforcing effect on PP resin, and the addition of MAPP further improved the tensile properties by the enhancement of PP/BF interfacial bonding. Among the elastomers, EPDM was more effective in improving the tensile strength and tensile modulus, while POE significantly toughened the impact strength. Micrographs of scanning electron microscope on the impact fracture surfaces indicated a good dispersion by the addition of POE and EPDM, while some agglomerations were observed in the presence of EVA. The non-isothermal crystallization kinetics were investigated based on Avrami and Mo equations at six different cooling rates by using differential scanning calorimetry. Micrographic images of polarized optical microscopy showed that the spherulite size of PP reduced in the presence of EPDM and EVA.     

Investigations on the interactions between Li-TFSI and glass fibers in the ternary PP/GF/Li-TFSI composites

The polypropylene/glass fiber(PP/GF) composites with excellent antistatic performance and improved mechanical properties have been reported by incorporation of a very small amount of the organic salt, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide(Li-TFSI), into the PP/GF composites. It was considered that GF could play the role as the pathways for the movements of ions in the ternary composites. In this work, the interactions between Li-TFSI and glass fiber and the effects of such interactions on the physical properties of the composites have been systematically investigated. Three types of glass fibers with different ―OH group concentrations have been prepared in order to compare the interactions between GF and Li-TFSI. It was found that the ―OH group concentrations on the surface of glass fiber have significant effects on interactions between glass fibers and Li-TFSI. Such interactions are crucial for both the antistatic and mechanical performances of the final PP/GF/Li-TFSI composites. The investigation indicated that the GF with high ―OH group concentrations confined the movement of TFSI-, which decreased the antistatic properties of PP/GF/Li-TFSI composites. On the other hand, the GF with low ―OH group concentrations inhibited the absorption of Li-TFSI onto the GF, which also hindered the formation of Li-TFSI conductive pathway. The best antistatic performance of the ternary composites can be achieved at the intermediate ―OH concentrations on the GF.     

Quantitative determination of interfacial adhesion in composites with strong bonding

An approach was proposed for the quantitative determination of adhesion strength in composites, in which adhesion is created by other mechanisms than secondary interactions. The approach is based upon a model, which gives debonding stress as a function of interfacial adhesion. Debonding stress was determined by acoustic emission experiments. The mechanism of deformation was checked by SEM experiments and the approach was verified on composites with known interfacial adhesion. The results showed that the use of functionalized polymer in PP/CaCO₃ composites resulted in adhesion strength one order of magnitude larger than without the coupling agent. The application of various surface modification techniques in PP/glass bead composites yielded different adhesion values covering a range of about one order of magnitude. The quantitative determination of interfacial adhesion makes possible the design and optimization of most surface modification techniques in particulate filled and short fiber reinforced composites.     

Spectroscopic Investigation for Purity Evaluation of Detonation Nanodiamonds: Experimental Approach in Absorbance and Scattering

Nanodiamond powders have excellent mechanical, chemical, physical, and optical properties. In this research, two non-pure groups of nanodiamond particles labeled as ND1 and ND2 have been selected for purity evaluation by means of absorbance and scattering analysis. The nanodiamond powders have been used for Raman and dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–Vis absorbance approaches. The Raman spectra show a weak diamond signal in ND2 as purity and 4 basic set of bands. FTIR absorbance spectroscopy was used in the spectral range of 400–3600 cm^?1. The results show that ND2 is almost non-absorbance with wavelength. It means that the diamond phase purity of ND2 is greater than ND1, and ND2 shows a better structure of diamond. UV–Vis absorption spectra of the sample have been recorded in the spectral range of 200–800 nm by means of nanodiamond suspended in methanol (NDM). The UV–Vis absorbance of NDM1 is stronger than NDM2 at the same concentration. Therefore the diamond phase purity of ND2 is greater than ND1. Particle size distribution and zeta potential of DNDs were investigated by DLS method. Finally the structure and phase of samples have been evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) for confirmation.     

聚丙烯混杂复合体系的界面和力学性能

从刚性粒子增韧聚合物体系的界面层性质入手，研究了带有柔性分子链界面改性剂包覆的高岭土（Ｋａｏｌｉｎ）刚性粒子增韧的，短切玻纤（ＧＦ）增强的聚丙烯（ＰＰ）混杂复合体系的微观结构，结晶性质，ＰＰ／Ｋａｏｌｉｎ／ＧＦ混杂复合材料的加工流动性及力学性能．实验结果表明，所合成的界面改性剂对ＰＰ／Ｋａｏｌｉｎ复合材料有显著的增韧效果；加入少量的短切玻纤可以弥补因界面改性剂引入而引起的ＰＰ／Ｋａｏｌｉｎ复合材料强度和模量降低的缺点；经界面改性剂包覆的高岭土刚性粒子和短切玻纤同时加入ＰＰ，混杂复合后，ＰＰ复合材料的冲击韧性大幅度提高，材料的强度和模量不降低．这个结果不仅在较低的Ｋａｏｌｉｎ含量下，而且可在Ｋａｏｌｉｎ含量为５０％（ｗｔ％）的高填充量下也得以实现     

Preparation of polypropylene/silica composites by in-situ sol–gel processing using hyperbranched polyethoxysiloxane

Based on a volatile-free silica liquid precursor polymer—hyperbranched polyethoxysiloxane (PEOS), an industrial compatible in situ sol–gel process for the preparation of polymer/silica nanocomposites has been developed. It has been shown that in the presence of a catalyst water vapor induced a fast conversion of liquid PEOS to solid silica in polypropylene (PP) melt in a twin-screw microcompounder. Solid state NMR showed that the in situ conversion of PEOS proceeded to a large extent. With small amounts of PEOS this procedure yielded PP/silica composites with particle size less than 100 nm. The particle size increased with the PEOS amount blended with PP. Nevertheless, the particles were observed to be homogeneously dispersed within the polymer matrix. PP/silica composites prepared by in situ sol–gel technology showed improved thermal properties, but almost not affected mechanical properties in comparison with pure PP.     

Moisture–absorption,dielectric relaxation,and thermal conductivity studies of polymer composites

In the search for new packaging materials for the electrical/electronics industry, three types of polymer composites have been studied. Silicone/boron nitride powders, polyurethane/alumina powders, and polyurethane/carbon fibers have all been synthesized to study the moisture–absorption kinetics, thermal conductivities, and the dielectric loss spectra under various levels of humidity. The water uptake data indicate that water molecules are absorbed not only by the polymer matrix, but also by the interfaces introduced by the fillers. For all materials, the dielectric relaxation spectroscopy shows the presence of a peak in the 175–200 K range, which is largely due to absorbed water. The silicone/boron nitride samples absorbed the least amount of moisture. Incorporating this result with the thermal conductivity data of the three types of polymer composites, it is concluded that silicone polymers embedded with boron nitride can best serve as the coating for the electronic devices that require heat dissipation and moisture resistance, in addition to electrical insulation. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 2259–2265, 1998     

Photochemical and photophysical properties of ion-pair charge transfer complexes for all-optical information processing

The photochemical and photophysical properties of ion-pair charge transfer (IPCT) complexes comprising of 4,4′-bipyridinium and various counter ions have been reviewed. Quantum chemical and thermodynamic properties of IPCT complexes are summarized. IPCT complexes of 4,4′-bipyridinium with tetraphenylborate derivatives showed specific absorption and fluorescence properties. The photoinduced electron transfer from a counter anion to 4,4′-bipyridinium cation occurred within less than 100 fs upon excitation of IPCT complexes. The back electron transfer was controlled by changing counter anions and/or microenvironments. The transient absorption spectroscopy showed the ultrafast back electron transfer between 4,4′-bipyridinium and iodide in less than 2 ps. The absorption spectra of reduced 4,4′-bipyridinium derivatives were controlled over a broad range covering from visible to optical telecommunication wavelength. This phenomenon was applied to all-optical light modulation based on the guided wave mode devices composed of a photoresponsive polymer layer and a low-refractive-index polymer layer.     

Isothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene/POSS composites

Polypropylene (PP)/octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) composites were prepared by two different processing methods: reactive blending and physical blending, and the crystallization behavior of PP and PP/POSS composites was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscope. The results showed that the crystallization of PP in PP/POSS composites was strongly influenced by the different processing methods. POSS particles can act as effective nucleating agent, accelerating the crystallization of PP. The crystallization rate increased more dramatically for the reactive blending composite due to the stronger nucleating effect of PP grafted POSS. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1762–1772, 2008     

Stability of electrical properties of conducting polymer composites

The effect of slow cycle heating and cooling on the stability of electrical properties of two polymer composites‐ polypropylene/polypyrrole (PP/PPy) and polypropylene/carbon black (PP/CB) ‐ was investigated. Conductivity in composites was measured in heating/cooling cycles in the temperature range from 16°C to 105°C in PP/PPy and to 125°C in PP/CB, respectively. It was found that the thermal treatment caused the decrease of PP/PPy conductivity while in case of PP/CB the treatment increased the electrical conductivity. The positive effect was explained by increased crystallinity in the thermally treated composite.     

Factors and processes influencing the reinforcing effect of layered silicates in polymer nanocomposites

The analysis of the tensile yield stress of a large number polymer/layered silicate composites showed widely differing mechanical properties. The composition dependence of yield stress can be described and evaluated quantitatively by a simple model developed earlier for particulate filled polymers. The comparison of data produced in our laboratory or taken from the literature indicated that several processes may take place during the preparation of the composites and a considerable number of factors influence composite properties. Quite a few of these are often neglected and percentage increase in modulus, strength or other properties is reported in published papers instead. The most important of such effects are changing matrix properties when a functionalized polymer is used to promote adhesion (PE, PP), modification of crystalline structure due to nucleation (PA, PP), plasticization or lubrication (PVC), decreased interaction (PA, PVC, PET, rubbers) or chemical reactions (PVC, PP, PET). Using a few simple assumptions, most of which are supported by previous experience, the extent of exfoliation can be estimated quantitatively in nanocomposites. The analysis of the tensile yield stress of more than 80 composites with various matrices indicated that the extent of exfoliation is very low in most composites; it reaches maximum 10% in the best case, which corresponds to about 10 silicate layers per stack. Although the approach has limitations and several factors were neglected during analysis, this result is in agreement with observations indicating that complete exfoliation rarely can be reached in thermoplastic/clay composites. In order to achieve larger reinforcement, silicates must be exfoliated more perfectly in the future.     

Synthesis and electrical and optoelectronic properties of poly[(N-benzyldiphenylamino)methane]

Poly[(N-benzyldiphenylamino)methane] was synthesized by the condensation polymerization of benzyldiphenylamine and formalin (30% HCOH in water) and examined for electrical and optoelectronic properties. Dark conductivity and photoconductivity of the polymer film were investigated by steady-state measurements. Current-voltage characteristics and intrinsic photoconduction of the polymer in the visible wavelength range were studied. A superlinear current increase is tentatively explained in the light of the Poole-Frenkel effect. Dielectric constant and dielectric loss parameters of the polymer are independent of frequency (50 Hz–10 kHz) and temperature (273–323 K), respectively. The growth and decay rates of the photocurrent depend on the applied voltage, and the photocurrent varies directly with the light intensity. The activation energies for dark conductivity and photoconductivity are 1.16 eV and 1.05 eV, respectively, and the optical energy band gap as evaluated from absorption coefficient spectra is 2.86 eV.     

Ethylene–acrylic acid copolymer induced electrical conductivity improvements and dynamic rheological behavior changes of polypropylene/carbon black composites

The experimental data reveal that the addition of ethylene–acrylic acid copolymer (EAA) into carbon black (CB)/polypropylene (PP) composites can improve the electrical conductivity of CB/PP composites by two to six orders of magnitude at a comparatively low CB content (φ), and when φ = 2.5 vol %, 60/40 of PP/EAA is an optimum for electrical conductivity improvement. The dynamic rheological data show that with increasing φ there are apparent rheological percolations for CB/PP composites. A modified Kerner–Nielson equation can be used to describe the correlation between electrical percolation and dynamic viscoelastic percolation. The addition of EAA into CB/PP composites leads to apparent changes in dynamic rheological behaviors. When φ = 2.5 vol %, a rheological percolation appears in CB/PP/EAA (CPE) composites with increasing EAA content. The similar rheological behaviors correspond to the similar morphological structures for CPE composites with φ = 5.0 vol %. The appearance of bumps in the van‐Gurp–Palmen plots corresponds to the formation of network structure in CB/PP and CPE composites, and the more perfect the networks, the higher the amplitude of the bumps. All data indicate that the van‐Gurp–Palmen plot is sensitive to the formation of filler particle networks or cocontinuous phase which spans the whole composite. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1762–1771, 2009     

The effect of a semi‐industrial masterbatch process on the carbon nanotube agglomerates and its influence in the properties of thermoplastic carbon nanotube composites

This study details an industrial process to prepare polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with different loadings (0.5–10wt.%) of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from a direct dilution of a masterbatch produced by an optimized extrusion compounding process. The work demonstrates how the anisotropy in the distribution of CNTs can have a positive effect on the electrical conductivity and fracture toughness of the resulting composites. The composite with the highest loading of CNTs had an electrical conductivity of 10^?2 S/m comparable with those reported in the available literature. The composites showed anisotropy in their properties that seems to be caused by the non‐homogeneous distribution of the agglomerates produced by the orientation of the flow direction during the injection process. The composites produced in this work exhibited a fracture toughness up to 55% higher than neat PP and failed by polymer ductile tearing. It was found that the CNT agglomerates distributed throughout the matrix increased the toughness of PP by promoting plastic deformation of the matrix during the fracture process and by a slight load transfer between the polymer matrix and the CNTs of the agglomerates. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55 , 189–197