Crystallization kinetics of polypropylene/ethylene–octene copolymer blends

Blends of polypropylene and ethylene–octene copolymers (EOC) were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The main focus was on phase morphology and crystallization for blends containing EOC with different octene content (28, 37 and 52 wt.%). Also, for a given octene content (37 wt.%), the effect of molecular weight (115, 180, 229k) of EOC on morphology was observed. The largest particles were found in the blend with EOC-28 and the smallest with EOC-52. This blend with the smallest particles exhibits the fastest crystallization kinetics by two independent methods, optical microscopy and DSC. This behavior was explained by a model. Crystallizing polypropylene lamellae have to travel a longer distance going around large particles, which slows down overall crystallization growth rate. In the case of smaller particles, the obstacles are smaller and the crystallization is faster.     

Electronic and vibrational spectra of tourmaline – The impact of electron beam irradiation and heat treatment

Irradiation and heat treatment were performed on tourmalines of various colors from Antandrokomby, Madagascar. The samples were irradiated with 10 MeV electrons to fluencies of 2 ×10¹⁷ cm⁻² for 1 h and were heated at 550 °C for 3 h in air. Their electronic and vibrational spectra were investigated by UV–vis, mid-infrared, and WD-XRF spectroscopy for comparison to pristine samples. Changes in the Mn³⁺ ions after irradiation resulted in darker pink tourmalines, which had absorption peaks at 390 and 520 nm. These samples became colorless after subsequent heat treatment. After irradiation, colorless, light blue and yellow tourmalines displayed a new absorption band at 365 nm. Alteration of the stretching absorption bands and wavenumber after irradiation could be explained by the following reactions:OH⁻ + e⁻ beam irradiation → O⁻ + H°,Mn²⁺ + e⁻ beam irradiation → Mn³⁺ + e⁻ andFe²⁺ + e⁻ beam irradiation → Fe³⁺ + e⁻.Stretching vibration of the BO₃ structure occurred at 1330 cm⁻¹, while the SiO vibration absorption bands were assigned to around 1100 cm⁻¹. Colorless, green, and yellow tourmalines showed high-intensity peaks around 3608 and 3505 cm⁻¹ after irradiation. Pink and dark green tourmalines showed low-intensity peaks at 3605 and 3585 cm⁻¹, respectively. The combination modes of stretching and bending in the range of 4600–4300 cm⁻¹ were split after irradiation and heat treatment, and different color changes occurred after irradiation.     

The synergistic effects of β-nucleating agent and ethylene–octene copolymer on toughening isotactic polypropylene

The mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and ethylene–octene copolymer (POE) blends with or without β-nucleating agent (β-NA) were systematically studied. Results demonstrated that, after β-NA and POE were separately added, the impact strength of injection molded iPP samples increased. β-NA and POE were also found to have a synergistic toughening effect on iPP matrix, and the effect was significant. When the contents were 0.05 wt% β-NA and 10 wt% POE, the impact strength reached the maximum, i.e., almost 15 times that of neat iPP. SEM further revealed that POE in skin and core layers existed as long and narrow strips along the flow direction and throughout crystals. The tensile strength did not deteriorate because of the special phase morphology and tight interfacial interaction between POE phase and matrix. WAXD and DSC revealed that POE addition had negligible influence on crystal form, and a considerable number of β crystals was generated by adding β-NA. SEM results also confirmed a critical β-NA content. When β-NA content was lower than the critical value, perfect β sphaerocrystals were generated. When β-NA was higher, “bundle-like” crystal structures formed. Perfect β sphaerocrystals were more efficient for dissipating energy because of the looser stacking pattern, thus showing better toughness.     

Synthesis and properties of fibers prepared from lactic acid–glycolic acid copolymer

A method for preparing laboratory samples of fibers from glycolide-co-D,L-lactide to produce bioresorbing suture filaments with a controlled complex of properties is developed. The morphology of fibers obtained through melt spinning is studied. The peculiarities of the mechanical properties of fibers are investigated.     

Highly toughened poly (acrylonitrile–styrene–acrylic)/chlorinated polyethylene blends: Mechanical,rheological and thermal properties

The effect of chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) on the properties of poly (acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylic) (ASA) was investigated. As an impact modifier, CPE effectively toughened ASA. With the addition of 15 phr CPE, the impact strength increased from 25.1 kJ/m² to 41.7 kJ/m². The morphology of the blends exhibited heterogeneous structure and correlated well with the results of impact strength. The glass transition temperature corresponding with ASA remained constant, indicating that CPE did not change the dual-phase structure of ASA. In rheological tests, the enhancement of storage modulus and complex viscosity of ASA, together with Cole-Cole plots, indicated that certain changes in phase structure existed after CPE content exceeded 8 phr. Thermogravimetric analysis results suggested that CPE slightly decreased the onset degradation temperature. Our study showed that CPE, as an impact modifier, can effectively improve the toughness of ASA.     

Preparation and properties of copolymer resins based on phenolphthalein benzoxazine–benzoic acid and bisoxazoline

The novel phenolphthalein benzoxazine–benzoic acid (PBB) was synthesized. The structure of the monomer was supported by FTIR, ¹H-NMR, and elemental analysis. The curing behavior of PBB–bisoxazoline (1,3-PBO) resin was monitored by FTIR and differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that PBB–bisoxazoline resin exhibited two-stage polymerization mechanism. The thermogravimetry showed that PBB–bisoxazoline resin had good heat resistance due to the rigidity of PBB polymer chains and the high cross-linking density of copolymer. Furthermore, it seemed that the reaction between PBB and 1,3-PBO also led to an additional cross-linking, which increased the cross-linking density and delayed the decomposition. The cured resin had low water absorption.     

The effect of chlorosulphonated polyethylene on thermal properties and combustibility of butadiene–styrene rubber

This article describes the test results of thermal properties and flammability of the unconventionally cross-linked blends of chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM) and butadiene–styrene rubber (SBR) by means of zinc oxide or nano-zinc oxide. The thermal curves have been interpreted from the point of view of the chemical transitions of elastomers and their blends. It has been found that the content of combined chlorine in CSM exerts a significant influence on the cross-linking kinetics of CSM/SBR blends, their thermal properties and flammability.     

Rheological properties of styrene–butadiene rubber filled with electron beam modified surface treated dual phase fillers

The rheological properties of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) loaded with dual phase filler were measured using Monsanto Processability Tester (MPT) at three different temperatures (100°C, 110°C and 130°C) and four different shear rates (61.3, 306.3, 613, and 1004.5 s⁻¹). The effect of electron beam modification of dual phase filler in absence and presence of trimethylol propane triacrylate (TMPTA) or triethoxysilylpropyltetrasulphide (Si-69) on melt flow properties of SBR was also studied. The viscosity of all the systems decreases with shear rate indicating their pseudoplastic or shear thinning nature. The higher shear viscosity for the SBR loaded with the electron beam modified filler is explained in terms of variation in structure of the filler upon electron beam irradiation. Die swell of the modified filler loaded SBR is slightly higher than that of the unmodified filler loaded rubber, which is explained by calculating normal stress difference for the systems. Activation energy of the modified filler loaded SBR systems is also slightly higher than that of the control filler loaded SBR system.     

Adsorption of ponceau 4R from aqueous solutions by polyamidoamine–cyclodextrin crosslinked copolymer

Batch adsorption experiments were carried out for the removal of ponceau 4R (P4R, C.I. 16255) from aqueous solutions using a novel polyamidoamine–cyclodextrin crosslinked copolymer (PAMAM-CD). The influence of several operating variables, such as contact time, initial concentration, pH, ionic strength, was investigated. Results showed that PAMAM-CD exhibited very high adsorption capacity toward P4R. The adsorption capacity of P4R was even up to 254.3?mg/g when the initial concentration of P4R solution was 340?mg/L at 288?K. The maximum adsorption capacity occured at below pH 5. The adsorption rate was fast and over 52% of the equilibrium adsorption value occurred in the first 15?min at 308?K. Adorption kinetics followed the Ho and McKay equation. Intraparticle diffusion was involved in the adsorption process but it is not the only rate-controlling step. Equilibrium isotherm data were precisely fitted by the Langmuir model. The negative values of Gibbs free energy change indicated the spontaneous nature of adsorption. The PAMAM-CD was easily recovered by 2?M HCl as washing solvent and it could be used as a promising alternative adsorbent.     

Decontamination of food packaging using electron beam—status and prospects

In this paper the status of food packaging disinfection decontamination using electron beam at Mediscan GmbH is presented. The first section of the paper describes the activities at the service center, where food packaging materials, e.g. yoghurt cups are decontaminated in their final shipment containers. As important step in the hazard analysis and critical control point of food processing, microbiological uncontaminated food packaging material is of public interest and attracts a lot of attention from packaging material producers and food processors.The dose ranges for different sterility assurance levels are discussed and results from microbiological test are presented. Studies at Mediscan have demonstrated, that an electron beam treatment at a dose of 5–7 kGy is most effective against yeast and mold, which are mainly responsible for spoilage and short shelf-life of a variety of products.The second section is devoted to the field of inline decontamination of food packaging and sterilization of pharmaceutical packaging material and the research currently conducted at Mediscan. The requirements for industrial inline electron beam systems are summarized and design concepts discussed in terms of beam energy, beam current, irradiation topology, product handling and shielding.     

Thermal properties of chlorosulfonated polyethylene via gas–solid phase method

The thermal properties of chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), which was prepared via gas–solid phase method, were studied in this article. The thermal curves were completely tested by differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry, and differential thermogravimetry. The results showed that CSM 3550 and CSM 3570 prepared by gas–solid phase method had more excellent thermal properties (high initial/final temperature of degradation) than those via solution method, due to the uniform chlorine distribution of them in macromolecular chain. The differential scanning calorimetry curves showed that the transitions of CSM 3550 and CSM 3570 from glassy to the elastic state were also higher than those via solution method. Particularly, CSM 3570 was amorphous and no clear melting peak was observed during the melting process.     

Electron beam crosslinked gels—Preparation,characterization and their effect on the mechanical,dynamic mechanical and rheological properties of rubbers

Electron beam (EB) crosslinked natural rubber (NR) gels were prepared by curing NR latex with EB irradiation over a range of doses from 2.5 to 20 kGy using butyl acrylate as sensitizer. The NR gels were systematically characterized by solvent swelling, dynamic light scattering, mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. These gels were introduced in virgin NR and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) matrices at 2, 4, 8 and 16 phr concentration. Addition of the gels improved the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of NR and SBR considerably. For example, 16 phr of 20 kGy EB-irradiated gel-filled NR showed a tensile strength of 3.53 MPa compared to 1.85 MPa of virgin NR. Introduction of gels in NR shifted the glass transition temperature to a higher temperature. A similar effect was observed in the case of NR gel-filled SBR systems. Morphology of the gel-filled systems was studied with atomic force microscopy. The NR gels also improved the processability of the virgin rubbers greatly. Both the shear viscosity and the die swell values of EB-irradiated gel-filled NR and SBR were lower than their virgin counterparts as investigated by capillary rheometer.     

Optical properties of polymer blends composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer

Optical properties for immiscible polymer blends composed of poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, and ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) are studied employing various EVA samples with different vinyl acetate contents. PMMA/EVA shows transparency at room temperature when the difference in refractive index between both phases is small. The light transmittance, however, decreases with increasing the ambient temperature. This phenomenon is attributed to the difference in the volume expansion ratio, leading to the difference in refractive index, between PMMA and EVA. It is found that addition of tricresyl phosphate, TCP, improves the transparency and its temperature dependence. As a result, a ternary PMMA/EVA/TCP blend shows high level of transparency in the wide temperature range, although it has apparent phase separated morphology.     

Rheological characterization of polyvinyl caprolactam–polyvinyl acetate–polyethylene glycol graft copolymer (Soluplus®) water dispersions

Soluplus® is a graft copolymer, with PEG and vinylcaprolactam/vinyl acetate side chains, recently available as excipient used to promote fast drug release in pharmaceutical dosage forms and as solubility enhancer. Despite this copolymer is reported to be able to act as a thickening additive and even as gelling agent as a function of temperature, there is a lack of information about the physical–chemical properties of its water dispersions. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of Soluplus® concentration and experimental temperature on the modification of the rheological properties of Soluplus® water dispersions. The results clearly indicated the influence of both the studied parameters and of their interactions on the Soluplus® thickening ability. Although some systems appear gel by human perception at 37 °C, the mechanical spectra demonstrated the lack of the formation of a tridimensional network structure. Overall, in all the analyzed temperatures and concentrations, the systems always behave as a “rheological” dilute or semidilute polymer solution.     

Mechanical and sodium ion conductivity properties of graphene oxide–incorporated nanocomposite polymer electrolyte membranes

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Graphene oxide (GO) nano-sheets incorporated PEO/PVA composite membranes complexed with NaIO4 salt at different concentrations were prepared using the...     

Influence of chlorosulfonated polyethylene network structure on poly(acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate)/poly(α-methylstyrene-acrylonitrile) blends: Mechanical properties,morphologies, glass transition behavior and heat resistance

Acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate terpolymer and poly(α-methylstyrene-acrylonitrile) (ASA/α-MSAN, 25/75) with different loadings of chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM) were prepared via melt blending, with goals of toughening modification of ASA/α-MSAN blends and maintaining the heat resistance simultaneously. The results revealed CSM had excellent toughening effect at room temperature. At 0 °C, impact strength increased linearly with CSM content. However, toughening effect of CSM was undesirable at −30 °C. The temperature-dependent toughening efficiency of CSM was significantly related to its glass transition behavior. Scanning electron microscope analysis on cryo-fractured surfaces revealed the toughening mechanism was the formation of CSM toughening network in matrix, which was further confirmed by selective extraction tests. The formation of CSM network could lead to increased glass transition temperature of the blends at the low temperature region according to dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Different from other toughening agents, CSM network uncompromised the heat resistance of ASA/α-MSAN blends.     

Studies of thermal properties of di(methacryloyloxymethyl)naphthalene–divinylbenzene (DMN–DVB) copolymer and its alkyl-bonded derivatives

This paper presents the thermal properties of highly crosslinked di(methacryloyloxymethyl)naphthalene–divinylbenzene (DMN–DVB) copolymeric microspheres containing polar groups in the structure and their alkyl-bonded derivatives. C₈ and C₁₈ alkyl chains were introduced into the aromatic rings of the DMN–DVB porous copolymer by means of the Friedel–Crafts reaction. As a source of C₈ and C₁₈ alkyl chains, octyl and octadecyl chlorides were used. It was necessary to check whether the introduction of alkyl chains into the structure of polymeric packing had an impact on its thermal properties. The studies were carried out by thermogravimetry coupled online with FTIR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry in inert atmosphere (helium). It was stated that the modified materials showed 20 and 50% mass losses at higher temperatures than the non-modified one while 1% mass loss was observed at lower temperatures. Moreover, an analysis of volatile decomposition products was performed.

     

Synthesis of ZnO–SnO2 nanocomposites: impact of polyethylene glycol on morphological,luminescence and photocatalytic properties

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Zinc oxide-doped tin dioxide (ZnO–SnO2) nanomaterials were prepared by a sol–gel method with and without different amounts (0.5, 1.0 and...