Characterization of thermal decomposition behavior of commercial flame-retardant ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) rubber

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The thermal decomposition behavior of the commercial flame-retardant ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) rubber was studied employing...     

Effect of ZnO nanoparticles on kinetics of thermal degradation and final properties of ethylene–propylene–diene rubber systems

The morphology, thermal degradation behavior in addition to static and dynamic mechanical properties of various ethylene?Cpropylene?Cdiene (EPDM) rubber compounds containing nano-zinc oxide (NZnO) were investigated compared to those of EPDM with ordinary-sized ZnO (OSZnO). The field-emission scanning electron microscopy studies showed that unlike the conventional system, the formation of large size ZnO agglomerates was discouraged for NZnO filled systems. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) revealed that the thermal degradation of EPDM system was delayed upon the inclusion of NZnO instead of OSZnO in the compound. The kinetic analysis of TG data based on Friedman and Kissinger methods showed that the nanocomposite samples exhibited higher activation energy (E _a ) and lower order of reaction (n) over the conventional system, suggesting the enhancement of thermal stability upon decreasing ZnO particle size. The results obtained from dynamic mechanical analysis and static mechanical characterizations in terms of hardness, resilience, and abrasion tests interestingly indicated that NZnO not merely could act as a thermal insulator, but also could perform as a nano-filler to improve the final performance of EPDM elastomers.     

Mechanocaloric properties of poly(dimethylsiloxane) and ethylene–propylene rubbers

We measured the temperature change in strips of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and ethylene–propylene rubbers that occurred as they were stretched and allowed to shrink by a factor of 3.5–4.5, along with the tensile force that effected the deformation. Main results obtained are as follows: (1) the temperature change is fully reversible in E–P rubber and slightly but definitely irreversible in PDMS rubber. The temperature rise in the latter on stretching is larger than the fall on shrinking by ca. 20 %. (2) The reversible part of heat that evolves from or is absorbed by PDMS rubber is smaller than, but close to, the mechanical energy expended. For E–P rubber, the heat generated greatly exceeds the expended mechanical energy. (3) The entropy of extension as a function of extension is reproduced well by Wang and Guth calculation for PDMS rubber, but not for E–P rubber.     

Enthalpy of mixing in the propylene oxide–dimethylformamide and propylene oxide–ethylene glycol systems

Heat of mixing of propylene oxide with N,N-dimethylformamide and ethylene glycol has been determined by means of microcalorimetry. Theoretically suggested choice of the aprotic solvent as a selective separating agent for the propylene oxide–methanol binary mixture has been experimentally justified.     

Physicomechanical,thermal, and flame-retardant properties of elastomer compounds based on ethylene–propylene–diene rubber and filled with hollow aluminosilicate microspheres

The effect of hollow aluminosilicate microspheres on the Payne effect and on physicomechanical, thermal, fire-retardant, and heat-protecting properties of elastomer compounds based on ethylene–propylene–diene rubber was studied. Based on the results obtained, the mechanism of the interaction of the elastomer matrix with the microspheres was suggested. Enhancement of the filler–matrix and filler–filler interaction favors additional three-dimensional cross-linking, which influences the set of the physicomechanical and thermal properties, and manifestation of the reinforcing effect in a coke layer under the conditions of erosion removal and detachment of the material with a high-velocity gas flow.     

Solubility of naphthalene in aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(propylene glycol)–poly(ethylene glycol) triblock copolymers and (2-hydroxypropyl)cyclodextrins

The solubility of naphthalene was investigated in aqueous solutions of triblock copolymers poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(propylene glycol)–poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG–PPG–PEG) and (2-hydroxypropyl)cyclodextrins. The results with solutions of the individual solubilizers were as expected: the solubility enhancement was much higher with a micelle-forming copolymer than with the non-micellizing one and with (2-hydroxypropyl)--cyclodextrin (HPBCD) than with (2-hydroxypropyl)--cyclodextrin (HPACD). Although the formation of inclusion complexes between HPACD and PEG and between HPBCD and PPG is well established, the naphthalene solubility in mixed solutions does not significantly deviate from that predicted for a mixture of independent solubilizers. Thus the interactions between HPCD and PEG–PPG–PEG copolymers are not strong enough to disrupt micelles and aggregates formed by those copolymers. In fact, slight synergetic deviations were observed with the micellizing copolymer, indicating the existence of ternary naphthalene/HPCD/copolymer interactions. For pharmaceutical applications, it is important that the solubilization efficacy of PEG–PPG–PEG copolymers and that of cyclodextrins modified by the 2-hydroxypropyl group would not be compromised if these two types of solubilizers were co-administered.     

Kinetic modelling of radiochemical ageing of ethylene–propylene copolymers

A non-empirical kinetic model has been built for describing the general trends of radiooxidation kinetics of ethylene–propylene copolymers (EPR) at low γ dose rate and low temperature. It is derived from a radical chain oxidation mechanism composed of 30 elementary reactions: 19 relative to oxidation of methylene and methyne units plus 11 relative to their eventual cooxidation. The validity of this model has been already checked successfully elsewhere for one homopolymer: polyethylene (PE) (Khelidj et al., 2006a, Khelidj et al., 2006b; Colin et al., 2007). In the present study, it is now checked for polypropylene (PP) and a series of three EPR differing essentially by their mole fraction of ethylene (37%, 73% and 86%) and their crystallinity degree (0%, 5% and 26%). Predicted values of radiation-chemical yields are in good agreement with experimental ones published in the last half past century.     

Selective assembly of cyclodextrins on poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide) block copolymers

This paper presents a computational study on the formation of a molecular necklace formed by specific threading of cyclodextrins (CDs) on block copolymers. Structural as well as energetic principles for the selective complexation of - and -cyclodextrin with poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide) block copolymers (PEO–PPO) are elucidated considering a diblock copolymer of equimolecular composition (PEO)4–(PPO)4 as guest. A non-statistical distribution of CDs, i.e. -CDs primarily located on the PEO chain and -CDs on PPO blocks of the polymer, is based on a variety of structural features and energetic preferences considering both potential as well as solvation energies. This selectivity becomes already obvious considering 1:1 complexes between PEO and PPO monomers and the two CDs, but is increasingly evident when calculating higher order ensembles. Besides the host–guest interaction, docking between CDs themselves is an important, also non-statistical, prerequisite for the self-assembly of highly ordered tubes. The formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between adjacent CDs in a tubular aggregate gives an important contribution to the overall stability of the molecular necklace. The net effect, based on the preferential interaction between host and guest as well as between the host molecules themselves, results in the formation of a stable, highly ordered macromolecular, multicomponent aggregate.     

Poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene)oxide triblock copolymers at the water/air interface and in foam films

The behavior of commercial poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)–poly(propylene oxide)(PPO)–PEO triblock copolymers at the water/air interface and in microscopic foam films is studied. In aqueous solution these amphiphilic nonionic substances exhibit a surfactant-like aggregation and adsorption behavior. Even below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) the surface concentration is so high that the PEO chains are squeezed and protrude into the solution in order to accommodate to the situation at the interface. As evidenced by measurements of the ellipticity of light reflected from the free surface of the solution a PEO brush is created at the fluid interface. The microscopic foam film is used as a tool for investigating the normal interaction between two PEO brushes facing each other. Stable foam films are obtained at concentrations below the cmc and steric repulsion predominates (in 0.1 M NaCl). A brush-to-brush contact is established only at higher capillary pressures and the disjoining pressure isotherm follows de Gennes' scaling prediction. At lower pressure a softer steric repulsion occurs. It is governed by the bulk copolymer concentration and hence is fundamentally different from the brush-to-brush repellency. On the whole PEO–PPO–PEO copolymers behave as nonionic surfactants, but the large size of their molecules exemplifies the excluded-volume features. Received: 13 July 1999/Accepted: 27 July 1999     

Synthesis and Reactivity of Hydroxypoly(ethylene oxide) propyl–b–polydimethylsiloxane–b–propyl hydroxypoly(ethylene oxide)

A series of α, ω–bishydroxyl terminated PDMS, hydroxypoly(ethylene oxide) propyl–b–polydimethylsiloxane–b–propyl hydroxypoly(ethylene oxide) (HPEO–PDMS–HPEO) was prepared by a hydrosilation reaction of monoallyloxy substituted poly(ethylene oxide) with α,ω–bishydrogen terminated PDMS (HPDMS) that obtained via acid–catalyzed ring–opening polymerization of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane with 1,1,3,3–tetramethyldisiloxane. Chloroplatinic acid was employed as the catalyst of hydrosilation. The molecular weight of HPEO–PDMS–HPEO could be controlled easily by varying the chain length of HPDMS. FTIR and ¹H–NMR spectroscopy were used to identify the structure of HPEO–PDMS–HPEO and HPDMS. The conversion of Si–H bond to Si–C bond was affected by the catalyst amount, reaction time and temperature. It was found that the optimum condition of hydrosilation reaction was the catalyst amount of 22 μg/g and 5 h time at 100°C. Synthesized HPEO–PDMS–HPEO showed good storage stability at ambient temperature. Urethane reaction of OH and NCO group revealed that HPEO–PDMS–HPEO was more reactive toward to diisocyanate than α, ω –bishydroxylbutyl terminated PDMS.     

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.     

Pyrolysis and combustion kinetics of microcapsules containing carbon nanofibers by thermal analysis–mass spectrometry

The thermal properties of microcapsules containing carbon nanofibers (CNFs) suspended in ethyl phenylacetate (EPA) were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (TGA–MS). The pyrolysis of these microcapsules consisted of two stages. During the first one (100–150 °C), the emissions of aromatic compounds coming from the decomposition of EPA were identified. In the second one (150–290 °C), NH₂–CO coming from primary amide decomposition was mainly detected.A multiple-step model was used to predict the thermal decomposition of the synthesized microcapsules under both inert and oxidant atmospheres. Furthermore, pyrolysis and combustion kinetic parameters such as pre-exponential factor and activation energy of these microcapsules were estimated by nonlinear regression. An excellent agreement between experimental and predicted data was observed and confirmed from the statistical point of view.     

Chemical–physical behavior of hydrogels of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(ethylene glycol)

New hydrogels based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) of different degrees of hydrolysis were synthesized. To form the network the PEG was modified at their ends with acyl chloride groups to be used as the crosslinking agent. The compositions of the hydrogels were between 50% and 90% by weight of PEG and PVA of various degrees of hydrolysis were used. It was found that the degree of hydrolysis of the PVA and the PEG content influence the equilibrium water content of the hydrogel. The process of swelling of all the hydrogels prepared followed a second-order kinetics.     

Triad sequence determination of ethylene–propylene copolymers – application of quantitative 13C NMR

A methodology for acquiring fully quantitative ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra for high performance ethylene–propylene copolymers has been proposed. To minimize the spectral acquisition time without sacrificing spectral quality, different amounts of chromium(III)acetylacetonate relaxation agent has been added to optimize its concentration. The study demonstrates the critical setting of delay time for determining six triad distributions from eight discrete set of resonances which otherwise leads to inaccurate determination of triad concentrations. It allows precise integral measurements of low intensity resonances depending on copolymer composition, and significant reduction of experimental time.     

Effect of bovine serum albumin on the micellization of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers in aqueous solutions by fluorescence spectroscopy

Effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the temperature-dependent association behavior of poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) block copolymers was investigated using pyrene fluorescence spectroscopy. The critical micellization temperature (CMT) of pluronics in aqueous solution was increased by the addition of BSA. A closed association model was used to obtain the standard free energies (△G0), enthalpies (△H 0), and entropies (△S 0) of micellization. The standard enthalpy and entropy of micellization for pluronic polymers in water were decreased with an increase of the BSA content. The more PPO component in the pluronic polymer, the higher the changed values of micellization enthalpy and entropy. The hydrophobic part of the pluronics, PPO, was responsible for the interaction between pluronics and BSA. Hydrophobic interaction between PPO and BSA was correlated to the alternation of the PPO-PPO interaction by the addition of BSA, which would shift the CMT toward higher temperature and alter the thermodynamic parameters of micellization for pluronics in aqueous solutions.     

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) and Poly(lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)

Summary: This study reported the preparation and characterization of PCL-b-mPEG (poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)) and PLL-b-mPEG (poly(L-lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)) diblock copolymers by microwave heating and comparison of resulted products the ones with prepared by conventional heating. Diblock copolymers were synthesized successfully by the microwave-assisted ROP in the presence of stannous octoate (SnOct₂) as catalyst under nitrogen atmosphere in different monomer ratios. Structural and functional characterization of copolymers were performed by FTIR, ¹H-NMR and DSC. Molecular weight values were determined by GPC and also calculated from ¹H-NMR. According to the results, microwave irradiation allowed to obtain polymers with very narrow size distribution in very short reaction time. Similar polymers prepared by conventional heating were also synthesized for comparison. Molecular weight and conversion of polymers were increased by irradiation time. This change was continued until a certain time point after which no more increase was observed. It was concluded that microwave irradiation is a succesful method to obtain these diblock copolymers in very short reaction time and with a similar conversion obtained by conventional method.     

Uniaxial deformation and orientation of ethylene–tetrafluoroethylene films

This study concerns the thermal and mechanical response of several commercial grades of ethylene – tetrafluoroethylene copolymer films. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to show that, although films have similar degrees of crystallinity and melting temperature, the melting endotherms and crystallisation exotherms differ between materials, suggesting small changes in composition between manufacturers. Films were deformed in tension at a range of temperatures and rates. Selected films were unloaded immediately after stretching, and measurement of the elastic recovery highlighted further differences between materials. Batches of films were pre-drawn uniaxially above the glass transition and immediately quenched. When these materials were subsequently re-drawn below the glass transition temperature, most of them exhibited much improved yield stress, modulus and tensile strength (improving by factors of 5, 5 and 4, respectively at a draw ratio of 3), but a reduced strain to failure. In most of the films, the pre-drawing, as well as the initial orientation of the films, is accounted for by a simple shift in the true strain axis. This is indicative of a material response dominated by entropic network stretch. It also suggests that, in the cases where strain superposition does not work, a different arrangement of crystalline lamellae may be present, limiting the extent to which improved properties can be achieved in some materials.     

Selective permeation of ethylene and propylene through rh3+—Polyethylene glycol liquid membranes

Solubilities and permeabilities of ethylene and propylene were examined for a liquid membrane consisting of polyethylene glycol containing a series of transition metal ions. In the Rh³⁺—added system, olefin uptake by the metal ion occurred reversibly and the permselectivity of olefin gas against N₂ was improved. Addition of KNO₃ to the Rh³⁺—PEG system resulted in further enhancement of the permselectivity. Results of sorption and permeation measurements demonstrated that the olefin transport mediated by Rh³⁺ becomes more predominant as a result of the salting-out effect induced by the added salt.     

Phase equilibrium in aqueous two-phase systems containing ethylene oxide–propylene oxide block copolymers and dextran

Phase equilibrium of aqueous two-phase systems containing the polysaccharide dextran and ethylene oxide (EO)/propylene oxide (PO) triblock copolymers was investigated in this work. Phase diagrams at 25.0 °C were experimentally obtained for systems formed by either dextran 19 (average molar mass of 8200 g mol⁻¹) or dextran 400 (average molar mass of 236 kg mol⁻¹) and one of the following block copolymers F38, F68, F108, P105 and P103, which present different structures in terms of EO/PO ratios and molar masses. It was possible to assess the influence of the polymer features on the phase equilibrium: the main factors affecting phase equilibrium being the size of dextran molecule and the structure (mainly the EO/PO ratio) of the copolymer. The Flory–Huggins equation was used to correlate the experimental data with good qualitative agreement, allowing the inference that changes in the copolymer hydrophobicity are the main responsible for the observed phase diagrams.