Studies on the Nonisothermal Crystallization Behavior of Polypropylene/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposites

Polypropylene/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PP/MWNTs) nanocomposites were prepared by a melt compounding process. The morphology and nonisothermal crystallization of these nanocomposites were investigated by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Scanning electron microscope micrographs of PP/MWNTs composite showed that the MWNTs were well dispersed in the PP matrix and displayed a clear nucleating effect on PP crystallization. Avrami theory, modified by Jeziorny and Mo's method, was used to analyze the kinetics of the nonisothermal crystallization process. It was found that the addition of MWNTs improved the crystallization rate and increased the peak crystallization temperature of the PP/MWNTs nanocomposites as compared with PP. The results show that the Jeziorny theory and Mo's method successfully describe the nonisothermal crystallization process of PP and PP/MWNTs nanocomposites.     

Self-Assembled Microfibers of Simple Amphiphilic Molecules Through a Facile Precipitation Route

One-dimensional (1D) fiber structures of simple amphiphilic molecules were prepared through a facile precipitation route. The self-assembly process was studied by ultraviolet-visible absorption and Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy, which indicated that hydrogen bonding interactions played a role in the1D growth along the axis of the fiber. The water content, self-assembling temperature, and concentration of 1,5-bis-(1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene)thiocarbonohydrazide molecules in the solution had obvious effects on the size and morphology of the self-assembled products. The formation of1D superstructures is not only of a hot subject in the process of nanoscience but also opens a new venue for conveniently controlling self-assembled structures of similar organic molecules.     

DRDF analysis of wide-angle x-ray scattering of natural rubber

A differential radial distribution function (DRDF) of molten natural rubber (NR) was derived from its wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) data. Three peaks with Bragg spacings 4.85, 2.31, and 1.23 Å corresponding, respectively, to interchain, C₁-C₃ and C₁ -C₂ distances are present in the corrected WAXS curve. The derived DRDF, which is shown to be greatly improved than the ones published so far, contains six peaks located at 1.51, 2.48, 3.98, 5.68, 10.65, and 15.25 Å. Maximum contributions of intramolecular atomic distances to the radial distribution peaks were estimated and compared with the experimental results. The comparison shows that the first three peaks are intramolecular in origin and the remaining peaks are predominantly due to intermolecular regularities. A periodicity of an approximately constant interval of 5.26 Å is found between the intermolecular peaks and is attributable to the organizations of more or less parallel chain segments in the material. This finding provided additional evidence for the presence of local lateral ordering to the extent of about 30 Å in molten-state natural rubber.     

Nonisothermal Crystallization Behavior of Polypropylene Grafted Silane and Styrene Using γ-Ray Irradiation

Polypropylene grafted silane and styrene (named PP-g-Si/St in this article) was successfully prepared by radical graft polymerization initiated by γ-ray irradiation. The influence of total absorbed dose on the graft ratio of vinyltrimethoxysilane onto PP and the melt flow rate (MFR) of the PP-g-Si/St product were studied. The effect of graft ratios of vinyltrimethoxysilane on the melting point and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of PP-g-Si/St was investigated by the method of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). With increasing vinyltrimethoxysilane and styrene (used as viscosity modifier and free radical source) grafted on PP, the melting point of PP-g-Si/St became lower. Several different analysis methods, including those of Avrami, Jeziorny, and Mo and colleagues, were employed to describe the nonisothermal crystallization process of the grafted samples. The results indicate that the peak temperature of crystallization of PP-g-Si/St sample was lower than that of virgin PP. Crystallization kinetics revealed that the rates of nucleation and growth were affected differently by the graft ratio of vinyltrimethoxysilane onto PP. The activation energy was calculated on the basis of the method of Kissinger, and the values were 253.6 and 215.7 kJ/mol for virgin PP and PP-g-Si/St, respectively.     

The Mechanical Properties,Compatibility, and Thermal Stabilities of POE-Graft-Methyl Methacrylate and Acrylonitrile(POE-g-MAN)/ Styrene-Acrylonitrile Copolymer (SAN Resin) Blends

POE-graft-methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile (POE-g-MAN) was prepared by graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and acrylonitrile (AN) onto polyethylene-octene copolymers (POE) with suspension polymerization. POE-g-MAN/SAN resin blends (AOMS) were prepared by blending POE-g-MAN with styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN resin). The mechanical properties, compatibility, and thermal stabilities of AOMS were studied. The notched impact strength of the blends reached 54.0 kJ/m² when the AN/(MMA + AN) ratio (f_AN) of POE-g-MAN, benzoyl peroxide dosage, and POE content in AOMS were 15 wt%, 1.0 wt%, and 25 wt%, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the highest toughness occurred when the size of POE-g-MAN particles and the surface-to-surface inter-particle distance were proper. Scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that the AOMS fracture surface had plastic flow visible, which looked like a fibril morphology when the AN/(MMA + AN) ratio (f_AN) of POE-g-MAN was 15 wt%. The toughening mechanism of AOMS was shear yielding of the matrix, which endowed AOMS with remarkable toughness. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis showed that the compatibility of the POE phase and SAN phase improved after graft copolymerization of MMA and AN onto POE. When the grafting chain polarity was appropriate, the miscibility between POE-g-MAN and SAN resin was the best. Thermogravimetry analysis showed that thermal stability of AOMS increased with increasing AN units in POE-g-MAN.     

Influence of Mixing Technique on Microstructure and Impact Properties of Isotactic Polypropylene/ Poly(Cis-Butadiene) Rubber Blends

Isotactic polypropylene/poly(cis-butadiene) rubber (iPP/PcBR vol%: 80/20) blends were prepared by melt mixing with various mixing rotation speeds. The effect of mixing technique on microstructure and impact property of blends was studied. Phase structure of the blends was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All of the blends had a heterogeneous morphology. The spherical particles attributed to the PcBR-rich phase were uniformly dispersed in the continuous iPP matrix. With increase of the mixing rotation speed, the dispersed phase particle's diameter distribution became broader and the average diameter of the separated particles increased. The spherulitic morphology of the blends was observed by small angle light scattering (SALS). Higher mixing rotation speed led to a more imperfect spherulitic morphology and smaller spherulites. Crystalline structure of the blends was measured by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The introduction of 20 vol% PcBR induced the formation of iPPβ crystals. Higher rotation speed led to a decrease in microcrystal dimensions. However, the addition of PcBR and the increase of mixing rotation speed did not affect the interplanar distance. The long period values were the same within experimental error as PcBR was added or the mixing rotation speed quickened. The normalized relative degree of crystallinity of the blends slightly increased under lower rotation speeds (30 and 45 rpm) and decreased under higher rotation speeds. The notched Izod impact strength of the blends was enhanced as a result of the increase of mixing rotation speed.     

Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics and Melting Behavior of a Luminescent Conjugated Polymer,Poly(9,9-Dihexylfluorene-Alt-2,5-Didodecyloxybenzene)

A study of the isothermal crystallization behaviors of poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene-alt-2,5-didodecyloxybenzene) (PF6OC12) was carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallization kinetics under isothermal conditions could be described by the Avrami equation. The Avrami exponent n ranges from 3.43 to 3.71 for PF6OC12 at crystallization temperatures between 100.0°C and 90.0°C, indicating a three-dimensional spherical crystal growth with homogeneous nucleation in the primary crystallization stage for the isothermal melt crystallization process. In the DSC scan, after the isothermal crystallization, multiple melting behavior was found. The multiple endotherms could be attributed to melting of recrystallized materials produced originally during different crystallization processes. According to the Arrhenius equation, the activation energy was determined to be 211.29 kJmol^?1 for the isothermal melt crystallization of PF6OC12.     

Structural and Tribological Properties of Polytetrafluoroethylene Composites Filled with Glass Fiber and Al2O3 in Atomic Oxygen Environment

Effects of atomic oxygen (AO) irradiation on the structural and tribological behaviors of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites filled with both glass fibers and Al₂O₃ were investigated in a ground-based simulation facility, in which the average energy of AO was about 5 eV and the flux was 5.0 × 10¹⁵/cm² s. It was found that AO irradiation first induced the degradation of PTFE molecular chains on the sample surface, and then resulted in a change of surface morphology. The addition of Al₂O₃ filler significantly increased the AO resistance property of PTFE composites. Friction and wear tests indicated that AO irradiation affected the wear rate and increased the friction coefficient of specimens. The PTFE composite containing 10% Al₂O₃ exhibit the best AO resistance and lower wear rate after long time AO irradiation.     

Graft Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate- Acrylonitrile onto Poly(ethene-co-1-butene) and Its Toughening Effect on SAN Resin

Poly(ethene-co-1-butene)-graft-methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile (PEB-g-MAN) was prepared by suspension grafting copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and acrylonitrile(AN) onto PEB. PEB-g-MAN/SAN resin blends (ABMS) were prepared by blending PEB-g-MAN with styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN resin). The effects of AN/(MMA+AN) feed ratio (f_AN), PEB/(PEB+MMA+AN) feed ratio (f_PEB) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) dosage on the monomer conversion ratio (CR), rubber's grafting ratio (GR), grafting efficiency (GE) of the copolymerization and the toughening effect of PEB-g-MAN on the SAN resin were investigated. FTIR quantitative analysis showed that when the weight percent of AN unit in the unextracted product was 21.5 wt% with f_AN of 25 wt%, the toughening effect of unextracted PEB-g-MAN on SAN resin was the highest. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis showed that when f_AN was 25 wt%, the grafted copolymer had the lowest molecular weight and ABMS had highest toughness. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that the highest toughness occurred when the phase structure of ABMS was cocontinuous with f_AN of 25 wt%. When f_AN was 25 wt% PEB-g-MAN domains have numerous small SAN domains in them, which was occlusion structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis indicated that the ABMS fracture surfaces had plastic flow visible, which looked like a craze fibers morphology, for the sample with highest impact strength (f_AN = 25 wt%). Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA) showed that the miscibility of the PEB phase and SAN phase improved after graft copolymerization of MMA and AN onto PEB.