Study of the Drying Behavior of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Aqueous Solution

This paper deals with the drying behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol) aqueous solution containing an active substance and placed into a Petri box. The objective is to reduce the drying time while respecting some constraints. To succeed, it is important to understand complex mechanisms governing heat and mass transfers. During the drying, the product thickness shrinks and its properties evolve. Drying kinetics in convective and infrared radiation are presented.     

Structure and property development in poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) during heat treatment under tension

The evolution of several structural characteristics during isothermal heat treatment of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) was studied. In this work, heat treatment was interrupted after different treatment times, with the specimens immediately quenched to room temperature. These specimens were then characterized by tensile testing, wide- and small-angle x-ray scattering, and optical microscopy. Structural parameters obtained from these measurements relate to crystal perfection (via the paracrystalline axial distortion parameter), axial crystallite size, transverse crystallite size, degree of chain misorientation, and degree of pleating. Structural and mechanical parameters were then plotted against heat-treatment time to obtain kinetic isotherms for each parameter. The kinetics of the removal of chain misorientation parallels that of tensile modulus increase under all conditions. Of the other structural parameters, only the kinetics of pleat removal mimics that of modulus change, indicating that pleat removal is the effective cause of increased chain alignment and thereby of increased axial stiffness. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation and properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/silica nanocomposites derived from copolymerization of vinyl silica nanoparticles and vinyl acetate

Nanocomposites of poly(vinyl alcohol)/silica nanoparticles (PVA-SNs) were prepared by in-situ radical copolymerization of vinyl silica nanoparticles functionalized by vinyltriethoxysilane (VTEOS) and vinyl acetate with benzoyl peroxide (BPO, i.e., initiator), subsequently saponified via direct hydrolysis with NaOH solution. The resulting vinyl silica nanoparticles, PVA-SNs were characterized by means of fourier transformation spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the elemental analysis method. Effects of silica nanoparticles on viscosity and alcoholysis of PVA-SNs were studied by a ubbelohode capillary viscometer and the back titration method. The morphological structure of PVA-SN films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and tensile test were used to determine the thermal and mechanical properties of PVA-SN films. The results indicated that the content of vinyl groups on the surface of the vinyl silica nanoparticles was up to 3.02 mmol/g and vinyl silica nanoparticles had been successfully copolymerized with vinyl acetate. Furthermore, compared to pure PVA, silica nanoparticles bonded with polymer matrix in a low concentration affected the viscosity and alcoholysis of the PVA-SNs materials. At the same time, it resulted in the improvement of the thermal and mechanical properties of the PVA-SN materials due to a strong interaction between silica nanoparticles and the polymer matrix via a covalent bond. It could be found that the optical clarity of the membrane was changed through UV-Vis absorption spectrum due to the introduction of silica nanoparticles.     

Effects of microscale calcium carbonate and nanoscale calcium carbonate on the fusion,thermal, and mechanical characterizations of rigid poly(vinyl chloride)/calcium carbonate composites

A Haake torque rheometer equipped with an internal mixer has been used to study the influence of microscale calcium carbonate (micro‐CaCO₃) and nanoscale calcium carbonate (nano‐CaCO₃) on the fusion, thermal, and mechanical characteristics of rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/micro‐CaCO₃ and PVC/nano‐CaCO₃ composites, respectively. The fusion characteristics discussed in this article include the fusion time, fusion temperature, fusion torque, and fusion percolation threshold (FPT). The fusion time, fusion temperature, and FPT of rigid PVC/calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) composites increase with an increase in the addition of micro‐CaCO₃ or nano‐CaCO₃. In contrast, the fusion torque of rigid PVC/CaCO₃ composites decreases with an increase in the addition of micro‐CaCO₃ or nano‐CaCO₃. The results of thermal analysis show that the first thermal degradation onset temperature (T_onset) of rigid PVC/micro‐CaCO₃ is 7.5 °C lower than that of PVC. Meanwhile, the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of rigid PVC/micro‐CaCO₃ is similar to that of PVC. However, T_onset and T_g of PVC/nano‐CaCO₃ composites can be increased by up to 30 and 4.4%, respectively, via blending with 10 phr nano‐CaCO₃. Mechanical testing results for PVC/micro‐CaCO₃ composites with the addition of 5–15 phr micro‐CaCO₃ and PVC/nano‐CaCO₃ composites with the addition of 5–20 phr nano‐CaCO₃ are better than those of PVC. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 451–460, 2006     

Preparation and characterization of poly(propylene carbonate)/montmorillonite nanocomposites by solution intercalation

Poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) is a new biodegradable aliphatic polycarbonate. However, the poor thermal stability and low glass transition temperatures (T_g) have limited its applications. To improve the thermal properties of PPC, organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) was mixed with PPC by a solution intercalation method to produce nanocomposites. An intercalated-and-flocculated structure of PPC/OMMT nanocomposites was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal and mechanical properties of PPC/OMMT nanocomposites were investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), and electronic tensile tester. Due to the nanometer-sized dispersion of layered silicate in polymer matrix, PPC/OMMT nanocomposites exhibit improved thermal and mechanical properties than pure PPC. When the OMMT content is 4 wt%, the PPC/OMMT nanocomposite shows the best thermal and mechanical properties. These results indicate that nanocomposition is an efficient and convenient method to improve the properties of PPC.     

PPESK/PES共混物热性能及动态机械性能研究

采用熔融共混法制备了不同重量比例的新型含二氮杂萘酮结构聚芳醚砜酮(PPESK)与聚醚砜(PES)共混物.利用热失重(TGA)及动态热机械仪(DMTA)对该共混物的热性能及动态机械性能进行了研究.研究结果表明,在氮气氛围中,PPESK热分解分为两步反应进行,反应级数n=1,说明PPESK在氮气氛围中的热分解反应类型与β(升温速率)无关而与材料物性有关;采用Ozawa方法得出在15%热失重前,热分解活化能的平均值为240 kJ/mol;随着升温速率的提高,PPESK热降解速率有减缓趋势.在280℃以前,PPESK储能模量值随温度变化较小,保持在较高值,温度在280~330℃之间,储能模量值降低幅度突变.另外,PPESK中加入PES会降低其储能模量值及其热稳定性.     

Dynamic mechanical behavior of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) blends

The dynamic mechanical behavior of uncrosslinked (thermoplastic) and crosslinked (thermosetting) acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) (NBR/EVA) blends was studied with reference to the effect of blend ratio, crosslinking systems, frequency, and temperature. Different crosslinked systems were prepared using peroxide (DCP), sulfur, and mixed crosslink systems. The glass‐transition behavior of the blends was affected by the blend ratio, the nature of crosslinking, and frequency. sThe damping properties of the blends increased with NBR content. The variations in tan δ_max were in accordance with morphology changes in the blends. From tan δ values of peroxide‐cured NBR, EVA, and blends the crosslinking effect of DCP was more predominant in NBR. The morphology of the uncrosslinked blends was examined using scanning electron and optical microscopes. Cocontinuous morphology was observed between 40 and 60 wt % of NBR. The particle size distribution curve of the blends was also drawn. The Arrhenius relationship was used to calculate the activation energy for the glass transition of the blends, and it decreased with an increase in the NBR content. Various theoretical models were used to predict the modulus of the blends. From wide‐angle X‐ray scattering studies, the degree of crystallinity of the blends decreased with an increasing NBR content. The thermal behavior of the uncrosslinked and crosslinked systems of NBR/EVA blends was analyzed using a differential scanning calorimeter. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1556–1570, 2002     

ChemInform Abstract: Crystal Growth,Crystal Structure of New Polymorphic Modification, β‐Bi2B8O15 and Thermal Expansion of α‐Bi2B8O15.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.     

Self‐reinforced composites based on commercial PP woven fabrics and a random PP copolymer modified with quartz

Self‐reinforced composites based on commercial polypropylene (PP) woven fabrics and a random PP copolymer modified with quartz were obtained by film stacking. The effect of the incorporation of quartz on the materials fracture and failure behavior was studied through uniaxial tensile tests and quasi‐static fracture experiments. Acoustic emission analysis was also performed in situ in the tensile tests. A higher consolidation quality was obtained for the composites containing quartz. In the composite with random PP modified with 5 wt% quartz, the higher consolidation and the better dispersion of quartz particles positively impacted on the materials tensile and fracture behavior. From the results of acoustic emission analysis, fiber fracture appears as the dominant failure mechanism in the investigated composites. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dielectric,thermal, and mechanical properties of CeO2‐filled HDPE composites for microwave substrate applications

Cerium oxide‐filled high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites for microwave substrate applications were prepared by sigma‐blend technique. The HDPE was used as the matrix and the dispersion of CeO₂ in the composite was varied up to 0.5 by volume fraction, and the dielectric properties were studied at 1 MHz and microwave frequencies. The variations of thermal conductivity (k_eff), coefficient of thermal expansion (α_c) and Vicker's microhardness with the volume fraction of the filler were also measured. The relative permittivity (ε_eff) and dielectric loss (tan δ) were found to increase with increase in CeO₂ content. For 0.4 volume fraction loading of the ceramic, the composite had ε_eff = 5.7, tan δ = 0.0068 (at 7 GHz), k_eff = 2.6 W/m °C, α_c = 98.5 ppm/°C, Vicker's microhardness of 18 kg/mm² and tensile strength of 14.6 MPa. Different theoretical approaches have been used to predict the effective permittivity, thermal conductivity, and coefficient of thermal expansion of composite systems and the results were compared with the experimental data. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 998–1008, 2010     

Effect of Phosphorus-Nitrogen Intumescent Flame Retardant on Structure and Properties of Poly(propylene)

Summary : Phosphorus-nitrogen intumescent product (R₂₀₀₀) was filled into polypropylene (PP) as a flame retardant. The neat PP and flame-retarded PP blends were studied for their structural and mechanical properties after verification of the flame retardancy character of blends. In this paper, the influence of incorporation of different amount (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) of R₂₀₀₀ was studied. The flame retardancy is evaluated by limiting oxygen index (LOI) value, which is enhanced from 17.5 for pure PP to 22.7 for the blend comprising 15% intumescent product, phosphorus-nitrogen based (R₂₀₀₀). The thermal degradation behaviour of the PP/R₂₀₀₀ blends was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under nitrogen (N₂) and oxygen (O₂) atmospheres. The influence of the R₂₀₀₀ on the PP crystallization was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Further, the mechanical properties of the materials were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The incorporation of the flame retardant had no effect on the crystallization of the neat polymer and the mechanical properties of the materials remained unaffected.     

Effects of incorporation of modified silica nanoparticles on the mechanical and thermal properties of PMMA

Silica nanoparticles of various sizes have been incorporated by melt compounding in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix to enhance its thermal and mechanical properties. In order to improve nanoparticles dispersion, PMMA grafted particles have been prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from well-defined silica nanoparticles. This strategy was expected to ensure compatibility between both components of the PMMA nanocomposites. TEM analysis have been performed to evaluate the nanosilica dispersion whereas modified and non-modified silica/PMMA nanocomposites thermal stability and mechanical properties have been investigated by both thermogravimetric and dynamical mechanical analysis.     

Interpenetrating polymer networks of poly(carbonate-urethane) and polystyrene

Simultaneous two-component interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN's), pseudo IPN's, and linear blends of urethane-containing aliphatic polycarbonate (PCU) and polystyrene (PS) have been synthesized and characterized. The simultaneous full IPN's of PCU and PS had one T_g only at compositions above 50 wt % PCU, as determined by DSC and DMA. The single phase morphology in the one T_g region was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). However, the pseudo IPN's and linear blends of PCU and PS exhibited multiple (melting and glass) transitions by DSC measurements and phase separation was observed by TEM over the whole composition range. The full IPN's exhibited a maximum in ultimate mechanical properties at an intermediate composition. Superior solvent resistance as well as better thermal stability was shown by the IPN's as compared to the pseudo IPN's linear blends, and pure crosslinked components.     

Additive Effects of Lithium Salts with Various Anionic Species in Poly (Methyl Methacrylate)

We report that lithium salts in lithium-ion batteries effectively modify the physical properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The glass transition temperature (T_g) is an indicator of the heat resistance of amorphous polymers. The anionic species of the salts strongly affected the glass transition behavior of PMMA. We focused on the additive effects of various lithium salts, such as LiCF₃SO₃, LiCOOCF₃, LiClO₄, and LiBr, on the T_g of PMMA. The large anions of the former three salts caused them to form macroscopic aggregates that acted as fillers in the PMMA matrix and to combine the PMMA domains, increasing T_g. On the other hand, LiBr salts dispersed microscopically in the PMMA matrix at the molecular scale, leading to the linking of the PMMA chains. Thus, the addition of LiBr to PMMA increased T_g as well as the relaxation time in the range of glass to rubber transition.