Thermal and structural stability of composite systems based on polyaniline deposited on porous polyethylene films

Conducting composite systems containing polyaniline layers produced on the surface and inside the pores of polyethylene support have been prepared. Microporous polyethylene films were obtained by melt extrusion with subsequent annealing, uniaxial extension, and thermal fixation. Polyaniline layers were formed by in-situ polymerization of aniline onto polyethylene porous support placed into the aqueous reaction mixture. Structural and chemical transformations upon heating of these systems in air in free state and in vacuum under load have been investigated by thermo-mechanical tests, IR spectrometry, and electron microscopy. Changes in mechanical properties of composites after heating have been analyzed. Composite systems have been found to demonstrate a considerably lower shrinkage upon heating than microporous polyethylene substrates. It has been discovered that the composites preserve mechanical integrity on heating up to temperatures much higher than the polyethylene melting point. It is concluded that thermo-mechanical behaviour of the composites is determined by the space-continuous phase of polyaniline on the surface and in the bulk of polyethylene support.     

Structure transfer from a polymeric melt to the solid state. Part I: The influence of chain entanglements in linear polyethylene

Melt-spinning experiments were carried out at high quenching rates. Mechanical properties (elongation at break, natural draw ratio, and elastic recovery) have been measured. Significant variations of these quantities were observed when extrusion conditions were changed. This has been attributed to different states of the entanglements within the melt, which are directly transferred into the solid state. This intercorrelation between melt and solid-state properties has been substantiated in the case of rapidly cooled samples, where a poor crystallization on one side and a simultaneous good conservation of melt history on the other side are provoked.     

Structure and mechanical properties of porous films based on polyethylenes of different molecular masses

The structure and mechanical properties of porous films of linear polyethylenes with different molecular masses obtained via a process including four successive stages—melt extrusion, isometric annealing, uniaxial extension, and thermal fixation—are studied. The molecular-mass range in which microporous structures containing through-flow channels can form is determined. The effects of molecular-mass characteristics of polyethylene on the morphological features of the structures, porosities, sizes of through-flow channels, specific surfaces, and permeabilities of the porous films are analyzed.     

Melting behavior of drawn films from polyethylene single-crystal mats

Drawing of mats of linear polyethylene single crystals prepared from dilute solution is possible at temperatures above about 90°C. The structure and properties of the drawn specimens are much different from those ordinary drawn bulk polymer. Drawn mats have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The characteristic experimental results are: (a) a broad melting curve, (b) considerable superheating depending on the rate of heating, (c) constancy of the melting point and the heat of fusion with annealing, (d) deviation from the relation between the heat of fusion and the density obtained for the drawn bulk specimens, (e) appearance of two melting peaks in samples annealed at temperatures above about 130°C. These results imply that the structure of the drawn mat is characterized by a larger number of the tie chains connecting the neighboring crystals (the structure postulated in earlier papers) than is the case in ordinary drawn bulk polymer. It can be concluded that the transformation of a fringed micellar type of structure to the folded lamellar structure may be difficult during annealing unless crystals melt and then recrystallize during cooling.     

Large tensile deformation behavior of oriented high‐density polyethylene: A correlation between cavitation and lamellar fragmentation

Oriented high‐density polyethylene (HDPE), prepared by melt extrusion drawing, has been employed to address the correlation between cavitation and lamellar fragmentation at large strain. This has been done by investigating the volume strain, elastic recovery properties, and microscopic morphology. The results indicate that the reversible volume strain becomes saturation at a true strain of about 0.3, which is essentially consistent with the critical one related to lamellar fragmentation (point C). Morphological observations on the deformed samples provide structural insights into above deformation behaviors. Enlarged voids are hard to recover due to dominant plastic deformation of crystals once lamellar fragmentation sets in and thus a transition of reversible volume strain with strain is presented. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1202–1206, 2008     

聚全氟乙丙烯中空纤维膜的制备及性能

以聚全氟乙丙烯(FEP)为成膜聚合物,MT-Ⅱ型复合粉为致孔剂,邻苯二甲酸二辛酯(DOP)为稀释剂,采用熔融纺丝拉伸法制备了FEP中空纤维膜,研究了其耐酸碱等性能.结果表明,FEP中空纤维膜的表面具有由拉伸孔、界面孔及溶出孔组成的多重孔结构,而其横截面为均匀分布的海绵状孔结构.FEP中空纤维膜经质量分数为25%的硫酸水溶液和25%的氢氧化钠水溶液分别处理60 d后,膜的化学结构未发生变化,而且平均孔径增大,孔径分布变窄,断裂强度保持率分别在86.8%及80.8%以上,耐酸碱性明显优于商业化聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)中空纤维膜,显示出优异的化学稳定性及良好的热稳定性.     

Effect of stereoregularity on the structure and thermophysical characteristics of isotactic polypropylene

The structure, thermophysical, and thermomechanical characteristics of metallocene-synthesized isotactic PPs of different molecular masses containing different amounts of stereodefects have been studied. The degree of crystallinity and the content of a and g modifications in slowly cooled and melt quenched films are estimated by three independent methods, i.e., X-ray analysis, DSC, macroscopic density measurements, and changes in their phase structure upon annealing and orientation are analyzed. As the content of stereodefects increases, the fraction of g crystallites in the films increases, while the degree of crystallinity decreases (down to 5%). The formation of the g phase is assumed to be related to the epitaxial crystallization; this process is assisted by stresses induced on chains upon slow melt crystallization and after annealing of the oriented samples. This evidence allows the analysis of structural and thermodynamic characteristics of thermoplastic and elastic samples of the isotactic PP.     

The application of gas barrier and thermal expansion techniques to study structural changes on annealing

Changes occur in the structure of drawn polyethylene when it is annealed at temperatures close to that of the drawing process. Measurements have been made of the oxygen barrier properties and of the thermal expansion coefficient in the draw direction on samples over a wide draw ratio range both before and after annealing at various temperatures. The results are augmented by density, creep modulus, and shrinkage observations. All samples show a drop in the barrier properties and an increase in the thermal expansion after annealing. However, whereas high-draw-ratio samples show relatively small effects, the changes observed at low draw ratios are very large, with some barrier properties even lower than those of the isotropic feedstock. The effects are larger at the higher annealing temperatures. The diffusion and expansion measurements are greatly influenced by the amorphous regions in the polymer; these results are interpreted as a relaxation of internal stresses giving rise to greater accessibility of the intercrystalline regions. Further experimental work is required to exploit these techniques.     

Reactively compatibilized and dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers based on high-density polyethylene and reclaimed rubber

Melt blending was employed to prepare thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) of reclaimed rubber (RR) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). Mechanical properties of TPE samples were improved in different methods including dynamic vulcanization and reactive blending (reactive compatibilization) during melt mixing in an internal Haake mixer. The physical and mechanical properties of the TPE blends were investigated by the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile tests. The thermal behavior was characterized by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The phase morphology of the blends was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Experimental results showed that, both static and dynamic mechanical properties of reactively-compatibilized and dynamically-vulcanized samples improved significantly compared with the virgin samples. The effect of dynamic-vulcanization and reactivecompatibilization on the mechanical properties revealed that the Young’s modulus and storage modulus increased with both improvement methods. SEM results showed that, dynamic-vulcanization and reactivecompatibilization methods improved the distribution of RR particles in HDPE matrix. Although both methods improved the thermal and mechanical properties of the HDPE/RR blends, dynamic-vulcanization was more effective and promising approach due to the higher properties of HDPE/RR blends prepared by this method.     

Melt rheology and morphology of thermoplastic elastomers from polyethylene/nitrile‐rubber blends: The effect of blend ratio,reactive compatibilization,and dynamic vulcanization

A study of the melt‐rheological behavior of thermoplastic elastomers from high‐density polyethylene and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) blends was carried out in a capillary rheometer. The effect of the blend ratio and shear rate on the melt viscosity reveals that the viscosity decreases with the shear rate but increases with NBR content. Compatibilization by maleic anhydride modified polyethylene has no significant effect on the blend viscosity, but a finer dispersion of the rubber is obtained, as is evident from scanning electron micrographs. The melt‐elasticity parameters, such as the die swell, principal normal stress difference, recoverable shear strain, and elastic shear modulus of the blends, were also evaluated. The effect of annealing on the morphology of the extrudate reveals that annealing in the extruder barrel results in the coalescence of rubber particles in the case of the incompatible blends, whereas the tendency toward agglomeration is somewhat suppressed in the compatibilized blends. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1104–1122, 2000     

Pore size and liquid impregnation of microporous aluminosilicate gels and glasses

Optically clear monolithic (OCM) gels of microporous aluminosilicates have been prepared by slow hydrolysis-polycondensation of alkoxides. Subsequent heating induces transformations into OCM microporous glasses. The surface area (∼610 m²/g after drying at 300°C) and the pore volume (∼0.35 cc/g at 300°C) decrease monotonously with increasing annealing temperature. However, after heat treatment at 600°C under air (glass state) the monoliths are still microporous. Modifications of the xerogel pore distribution by an impregnation process and metal aggregate formation with pyrolysis are studied by N₂ adsorption-desorption analysis and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The microporous structure becomes mesoporous. A model of microporous impregnation in the gel or glass state is proposed.     

Intercalated linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/clay nanocomposites prepared with oxidized polyethylene as a new type compatibilizer: Structural, mechanical and barrier properties

In this study, the use of low molecular weight oxidized polyethylenes (OxPE) with different molecular weight and acid number as a new type of compatibilizer in low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/org-clay nanocomposite preparation was examined. Nanocomposites having 5 phr (part per hundred) org-clay were prepared by melt processing. The effect of compatibilizer polarity and clay dispersion on the thermal, mechanical and barrier properties of the nanocomposites was investigated. It was observed that oxidized polyethylenes created a strong interfacial interaction between the clay layers and polymer phase based on the analysis of the linear viscoelastic behavior of the samples by small amplitude oscillatory rheometry. We showed that physical performance of the nanocomposites is not only affected by clay dispersion but also both melt viscosity and polarity of the oxidized polyethylene compatibilizers. It was found that oxygen permeability values of the nanocomposite samples prepared with the oxidized polyethylenes were lower than that of a sample prepared with conventional compatibilizer, maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA).     

非晶聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯薄片在低温退火过程中的声发射现象

从熔体淬火得到的聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(PET)薄片在室温下呈非晶玻璃态,已经证明这是一种非平衡态。很多文献曾报道,在T_g以下对它进行退火处理后虽然观察不到明显的结晶,但是它的延伸性能及抗冲性能会迅速变坏。不少文献的实验表明这退火过程是试样的分子链从非平衡态转变到更     

非晶聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯薄片在低温退火过程中的声发射现象

Acoustic emission during sub-Tg annealing fort amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet quenched from melt has been observed. The mechanical properties, texture and glass transition of annealed specimens have been studied. It is shown that some of PET chains change from non-equilibrium state to equilibrium state during sub-Tg annealing, which leads to stress concentration in specimen. When the level of internal stress approaches to the limit, the acoustic waves are emitted due to sudden releasing of stress and the micro-defects are for-med. This is one of the important reasons,the causes the loss of mechanical properties to an-nealed specimens.     

Fire retardancy of polyethylene‐alumina trihydrate containing clay as a synergist

The fire behavior of polyethylene combined with alumina trihydrate (ATH) and an oligomerically‐modified clay has been studied. The combination of polyethylene with 2.5% inorganic clay and 20% ATH gives a 73% reduction in the peak heat release rate (PHRR), which is the same as that obtained when 40% ATH is used alone. A further increase in the clay loading does not improve the fire properties. Mechanical properties, such as elongation at break, can be improved in comparing compounds with or without clay at the same reduction in PHRR. The oligomerically‐modified clay can also facilitate the melt blending process. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preliminary study on application PE filler modified by radiation

Mineral filler magnesium oxide (MgO) has been modified by a grafting process initiated by electron beam treatment. The methacrylic acid (MAA), methyl methacrylate (MM) and maleic anhydride (MA) were used as modifying monomers. The products of performed modification has been investigated by FTIR, DSC and TG methods. Modified fillers have been used in compositions with polyethylene (LDPE). Structure of the samples has been investigated by the SEM method. Mechanical properties of selected samples have been studied and discussed. The optimal results depends on dose level which is specific for certain monomers, ratio and type of monomers used and for grafting process. This paper presents data released to influence the type of monomer on properties of grafted filler. The obtained samples of filling polyethylene were characterized generally by better dispersibility and some mechanical properties.     

Sensitization of polycrystalline SrTiO3 photoanodes by mechanical polishing

The photoelectrochemical properties of polycrystalline SrTiO₃ anodes have been investigated as a function of surface treatment. Mechanical polishing of the undoped samples results in an anomalous visible photoresponse extending to 600 nm. The polishing effect can be removed by either chemical etching or annealing of the samples. An energy diagram of the polished undoped SrTiO₃ electrode and the main mechanism of its visible photoresponse have been proposed.     

Annealing of Oriented PP/PE Double-layer Film within the Melting Range of PE: the Role of Partial Melting and Self-nucleation

Due to the mechanical stability of the PP layer, the oriented PP/PE double-layer film with a row-nucleated crystalline structure can be annealed at a higher temperature than the PE monolayer film. In this work, the effects of annealing temperature within the melting range of PE on the crystalline structure and properties of PP/PE double-layer films were studied. When the annealing temperature is between 100 and 130 °C, below the melting point of PE, the crystallinity, the long period, lateral dimension and orientation of the lamellae in the PE layer increase with the annealing temperature due to the melting of thin lamellae and the self-nucleated effect of partially-melted melts during annealing. With the annealing temperature further increasing to 138 °C, near the melting ending point of PE, since the lamellae melt completely and the melt memory becomes weak during annealing, some spherulite structures are formed in the annealed sample, resulting in a decrease of orientation. In contrast, the annealing only causes the appearance of a low-temperature endothermic plateau in the PP layer. The improved size and orientation of lamellar structure in the PE layer increase the pore arrangement and porosity of the stretched PP/PE microporous membrane. This study successfully applies the self-nucleation effect of partially-melted polymer melt into the practical annealing process, which is helpful to guide the production of high-performance PP/PE/PP lithium batteries separator and the annealing process of other multilayer products.

     

Effect of molecular structure on polyethylene melt rheology. I. Low-shear behavior

The melt rheological properties of both linear and branched polyethylene were investigated by use of narrow molecular weight distribution fractions and experimentally polymerized samples. Studies carried out in steady shear and in oscillatory shear yielded information concerning both the melt viscosity and the melt elasticity as a function of molecular structure, where the latter was characterized by various solution property techniques. The 3.4–3.5 power dependence of the low shear limiting viscosity on molecular weight was confirmed for linear polyethylene. The effect of long-chain branching on rheological properties was defined both at constant molecular weight and at constant molecular weight distribution and coupled with variation of molecular weight.     

Preparation and characterization of multiwalled carbon nanotube dispersions in polypropylene: Melt mixing versus solid‐state shear pulverization

Dispersions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) in polypropylene (PP) were prepared via conventional melt batch mixing and solid‐state shear pulverization. The properties and structure of each system were assessed via linear viscoelasticity, electrical conductivity, PP crystallization kinetics, dynamic mechanical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and small angle X‐ray scattering. Increasing either the duration or the intensity of melt mixing leads to higher degrees of dispersion of MWNT in PP, although at the cost of substantial melt degradation of PP for long mixing times. Samples prepared by pulverization exhibit faster crystallization kinetics and higher mechanical stiffness than the melt blended samples, but in contrast show no measurable low frequency elastic plateau in melt rheology, and lower electrical conductivity than melt‐mixed samples. X‐ray scattering demonstrates that neither sample has uniform dispersion down to the single MWNT level. The results illustrate that subtle differences in the size and distribution of nanotube clusters lead to differences in the nanotube networks with strong impact on bulk properties. The results also highlight distinctions between conductive networks and load transfer networks and demonstrate that a complete and comparative picture of dispersion cannot be determined by simple indirect property measurements. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1426–1436, 2009