Nylon‐6 nanocomposites,study of the influence of the nanofiller nature on morphology and material properties

In this article we investigated the influence of various nanofilllers' aspect ratio, chemical nature, and organic modification on some selected nylon‐6 properties, such as crystallinity, thermal and mechanical resistance, and fire behavior. Materials were prepared by twin‐screw extrusion and characterized by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, tensile tests, and cone calorimeter. Fillers characteristics were found to influence at different extents the material final properties. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1935–1948, 2009     

Effect of temperature and nanoparticle type on hydrolytic degradation of poly(lactic acid) nanocomposites

PLA and its nanocomposite films based on modified montmorillonite (CLO30B) or fluorohectorite (SOM MEE) and unmodified sepiolite (SEPS9) were processed at a clay loading of 5 wt% and hydrolytically degraded at 37 and 58 °C in a pH 7.0 phosphate-buffered solution. An effective hydrolytic degradation for neat PLA and nanocomposites was obtained at both temperatures of degradation, with higher extent at 58 °C due to more extensive micro-structural changes and molecular rearrangements, allowing a higher water absorption into the polymer matrix.The addition of CLO30B and SEPS9 delayed the degradation of PLA at 37 °C due to their inducing PLA crystallization effect and/or to their high water uptake reducing the amount of water available for polymer matrix hydrolysis. The presence of SOM MEE also induced polymer crystallization, but it was also found to catalyze hydrolysis of PLA. Concerning hydrolysis at 58 °C, the presence of any nanoparticle did not significantly affect the degradation trend of PLA, achieving similar molecular weight decreases for all the studied materials. This was related to the easy access of water molecules to the bulk material at this temperature, minimizing the effect of polymer crystallinity clay nature and aspect ratio on the polymer degradation.     

Thermal and combustion behavior of polyethersulfone-boehmite nanocomposites

In this paper, we report a thorough study on the thermal stability and fire behavior of polyethersulfone (PES) filled with 2 wt% nano-sized aluminum oxide hydroxide particles (boehmite). The nanocomposite was prepared through melt compounding technique in a co-rotating twin screw extruder. The obtained morphology of the composite was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with elemental analysis, proving that an even distribution of sub-micron boehmite particles was obtained. PES shear modulus, measured by DMA, is increased by 30% in the boehmite nanocomposite. Thermal stability of the produced materials was studied through thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), whereas the combustion behavior through cone calorimeter and vertical burning (UL-94) tests. Cone calorimeter results show that a significant overall flame retardant effect was observed due to the presence of boehmite nanoparticles, which could not be detected by UL-94 fire scenario where neat PES is already top ranked V0.     

Thermal Behaviour of Poly(propylene) Layered Silicate Nanocomposites

The thermal degradation behaviour of nanocomposites based upon poly(propylene)/organoclay, modified with protonated octadecyl amine (C18) in comparison to that of non‐exfoliated microcomposites based upon organoclay, modified with protonated butyl amine (C4), was studied by thermogravimetry. In the case of the nanocomposite, the temperature at which volatilisation occurs increases as compared of the microcomposite. Moreover, the thermal oxidation process of the polymer is strongly slowed down in the nanocomposite with high char yield both by a physical barrier effect, enhanced by ablative reassembling of the silicate, and by a chemical catalytic action due to the silicate and to the strongly acid sites created by thermal decomposition of the protonated amine silicate modifier.     

New nanocomposites constituted of polyethylene and organically modified ZnAl-hydrotalcites

The thermal properties and combustion behaviour of new PE–hydrotalcites nanocomposites are described. Hydrotalcites were synthesized and then intercalated with stearate anion, because of the compatibility of long alkyl chain with polyethylene chains. The presence of inorganic filler shields PE from thermal oxidation, shifting the temperature range of volatilisation towards that of thermal degradation in nitrogen, and brings to a reduction of 55% in heat release rate during combustion.     

Thermal behaviour of melamine

Melamine undergoes condensation on heating with elimination of ammonia and formation of insoluble products. Thermogravimetry and infrared characterisation show that two products of successive condensation can be reproducibly obtained upon heating atT}<500 °C and then at 600 °C. Above 620 °C, the melamine condensate undergoes thermal degradation with quantitative formation of volatile products.

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Zusammenfassung Melanin geht beim Erhitzen eine Kondensation unter Abgabe von Ammoniak und Bildung unlöslicher Produkte ein. Durch Thermogravimetrie und Infrarotspektroskopie wird gezeigt, daß beim Erhitzen zwei Produkte von aufeinanderfolgenden Kondensationsreaktionen beiT}<500 °C undT= 600 °C reproduzierbar erhalten werden. Oberhalb 620 °C wird das Melaminkondensat vollständig unter Bildung flüchtiger Produkte thermisch zersetzt.

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. , . , 500°, — 600°. 620° .

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The authors wish to thank Dr. N. Del Fanti of Mantefluos, Italy for most helpful discussion.

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This work has been supported by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche through the Progetto Finalizzato Chimica Fine e Secondaria.     

Influence of nanodispersed hydrotalcite on polypropylene photooxidation

Nanocomposites containing hydrotalcite and prepared by melt compounding with polypropylene were UV-light irradiated in artificial accelerated conditions representative of solar irradiation (λ > 300 nm) at 60 °C in air. The chemical modifications resulting from photooxidation were followed by IR and UV-visible spectroscopies.The presence of hydrotalcite was shown to change the global rate of photooxidation of polypropylene by reducing the oxidation induction time and increasing the oxidation rate. The differences of the oxidation induction time disappeared after solvent extraction of the antioxidant. They were attributed to a quenching of the antioxidant activity resulting from a migration onto the filler surface induced by the preferential interaction with the polar hydrotalcite. Extracting the antioxidant did not change the oxidation rate at the permanent regime. The increase of the oxidation rate was attributed to transition metal ions, present as impurities in hydrotalcite, which can accelerate the oxidation of the polymer by various mechanisms including a catalysed decomposition of hydroperoxides.     

Is there any bona fide example of O-H...F-C bond in solution? The cases of HOC(CF3)2(4-X-2,6-C6H2(CF3)2) (X = Si(i-Pr)3, CF3)

The reinvestigation of the title compounds, which are the only examples reported to show experimentally (by NMR) O-H...F-C bonds in solution proves that the NMR data were misinterpreted and the restrictions to rotation of one CF(3) group are due to crowding, not to intramolecular O-H...F-C bond.     

Aharonov-Bohm superperiod in a Laughlin quasiparticle interferometer

We report an Aharonov-Bohm superperiod of five magnetic flux quanta (5h/e) observed in a Laughlin quasiparticle interferometer, where an edge channel of the 1/3 fractional quantum Hall fluid encircles an island of the 2/5 fluid. This result does not violate the gauge invariance argument of the Byers-Yang theorem because the magnetic flux, in addition to affecting the Aharonov-Bohm phase of the encircling 1/3 quasiparticles, creates the 2/5 quasiparticles in the island. The superperiod is accordingly understood as imposed by the anyonic statistical interaction of Laughlin quasiparticles.