THERMAL BEHAVIOUR OF γ-IRRADIATED NYLON 610

The thermal behaviour of γ-irradiated nylon 610 was investigated. In DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) thermograms in addition to general features characteristic of γ-irradiatinn cross-linked crystalline polymers, a typical cold-crystallization phenomenon was observed during the sceond scan for samples that had been subjected to high radiation dose. G-values for cresslinking nylon 610 were estimated from gel fraction measurement and TMA (thermomechanical analysis), From TMA curves it was estimated that the dimensional stability of properly irradiated nylon 610 articles might be raised up to ca. 300℃.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF γ-IRRADIATED CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS Ⅰ. CHARACTERIZATION OF γ-RADIATION INDUCED CROSSLINKED POLYAMIDE 1010 BY CRYSTALLIZATION TEMPERATURE*

The effect of ~(50)Co γ-radiation on plain polyamide 1010 (PA1010 Ⅰ) and PA1010 containing dif-ferent amount of crosslinking agent (BMI) (PA1010 Ⅱ) both in vacuum and in air at room tempera-ture was investigated with DSC. It was found that the crystallization temperature T_c of crosslinkedsample determined with DSC at constant cooling rate decreased as the radiation dose increased. Thedifference between crystallization temperatures before and after crosslinking (T_(c_o)-T_(c_R) is linearlyrelated to the radiation dose for PA1010I. Based on the Charlesby-Pinner's equation an expressionwas derived S+S~(1/2)=A+B/(T_(c_o)-T_(c_R)) where S is the sol fraction, A and B are constants. Since thereis evidence that T_c is relative to S only and independent of the way of irradiation, the equation is alsoapplicable to the enhanced γ-irradiation crosslinked PA1010 Ⅱ. Therefore, determination of T_cof crosslinked polymer by DSC offers a convenient approach to study quantitatively the random andespecially non-random crosslinking reaction of crystalline polymer.     

A STUDY ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF γ-RAY IRRADIATED HDPE FILLED WITH SERICITE-TRIDYMITE-CRISTOBALITE*

The effect of γ-ray irradiation on the mechanical properties of high densitypolyethylene(HDPE) filled with sericite-tridymite-cristobalite(STC) was studied. The ex-perimental results show that γ-ray irradiation can improve the affinity between HDPE andSTC, and the dispersion of STC in HDPE matrix. Compared with HDPE/STC (80/20)blend, the yield stress and impact strength of irradiated HDPE (10kGy)/STC (80/20) blendare increased from 22.8 MPa and 70J/m to 28.5 MPa and 144J/m. The yield stress andimpact strength of HDPE/irradiated HDPE/STC (48/32/20) are 27.8MPa and 210J/m,respectively.     

POLYMERIZATION OF γ-STEARYL-α,l-GLUTAMATE N-CARBOXYANHYDRIDE USING RARE EARTH COORDINATION CATALYSTS*

A rare earth coordination system was first investigated as a new type of catalyst for the ring-openingpolymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs). The results for the polymerization of γ-stearyl-α,L-glutamate(SLG) NCA using neodymium acetylacetonate (Nd(acac)_3)- or neodymium tris(2-ethylhexylphosphonate) (Nd(P_(204))_3)-triethylaluminum-water as catalysts were compared with those using conventional catalysts. It was found that the helicalpoly(γ-stearyl-L-glutamate) with high molecular weight as well as narrow molecular weight distribution can be obtained inthe presence of Nd(acac)_3/AlEt_3-1/2H_2O. The polymer obtained was characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy.     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMERS WITH T-SHAPED TWO-DIMENSIONAL MESOGENIC UNITS (Ⅱ)*

A series of liquid crystalline polymers with T-shaped two-dimensional mesogenic unitswere synthesized via low temperature solution polycondensation of 2-(4'-alkoxy-phenyl)hydroquinone with various diacyl dichlorides. The polymers were found to be nematic andshown thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviors through observations using DSC, polarizedmicroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The melting temperature T_m and the isotropizationtemperature T_i of the polymers change regularly with varying of the monomer structures.