Two-beam interference detection of the changes in fibre structural parameters during low drawing process

A Pluta polarizing interference microscope with a fibre stretching device attached was used to detect the changes in molecular structure that occur during the fibre cold drawing process. Fibres drawn with low draw ratios show different types of deformation mechanisms. The interference patterns recorded at different draw ratios are used to relate the deformation mechanisms with the measured structural parameters. Some optical parameters are measured such as; refractive indices nand n birefringence n, the polarizability per unit volume , the orientation distribution function f(θ), the angle θ between the stretching direction and the chain axis, and the angle θ_m which the transition dipole moment of the molecular species makes with the molecular axis (chain axis). Three polymeric fibres (Polyethylene terephthalate PET, Polypropylene PP and Polyamide PA) were used in this study and their interferograms are illustrated.     

Orientation of a chiral smectic C elastomer by mechanical fields

It is well known that, with respect to the director, nematic elastomers can be macroscopically aligned by uniaxial mechanical fields. Extending this method to a chiral smectic C elastomer, depending on the experimental set-up either smectic layer orientation or director orientation parallel to the stress axis occurs. In order to align the director and the smectic layers a biaxial mechanical field (e.g. shear field) consistent with the phase symmetry has to be used to achieve a macroscopically uniform orientation of the untwisted smectic C^* structure.     

The asymmetrical orientational behavior of compatible blends of PMMA and PVC

The orientation and relaxation behavior of compatible blends of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was investigated. The deformation was performed at 9 K above the glass transition temperature. Based on birefringence and IR-dichroic measurements, it was found that the orientation of PMMA is strongly increased in the blends as compared to pure PMMA at identical draw ratios.The orientation of PVC, on the other hand, is not changed by blending. The results are discussed in terms of friction coefficients and their enhancement by molecular interactions.Dedicated to Prof. E. W. Fischer on the occasion of his 665th birthday     

THE EFFECT OF PHOTO-CROSSLINKING ON THE ORIENTATION STABILITY OF POLYVINYL ALCOHOL CONTAINING 4-NITRO-4′-ALKOXYSTILBENE AND CINNAMYL PENDENT GROUPS*

Crosslinking is one of the effective routes for improving the orientation stability of poledpolymer films. The derivative of polyvinyl alcohol containing 4-nitro-4'-alkoxystilbene andphoto-crosslinkable cinnamyl groups as side chains has been synthesized. The in-situ simul-taneous photo-crosslinking poling of synthesized polymer films has been performed. Thesecond order nonlinear optical coefficient d_(33) of poled film is 11 pm/V. The SHG mea-surements show that the break-over temperature of SHG signal is raised obviously afterirradiation, its orientation stability is doubled as compared with that of non-crosslinkingsamples.     

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.     

Structural recovery mechanism after shear induced orientation of multiwalled carbon nanotube in polypropylene matrix

In this work the flow induced orientation and the governing mechanism of structural recovery of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) filled polypropylene nanocomposites were investigated. A series of linear and nonlinear melt rheological measurements including stress growth and time sweep experiments were performed at different temperatures to study the structural breakdown, nanoparticles orientation, subsequent structural recovery and MWCNT loadings. The results showed that the structural recovery occurred in two stages. The first stage, initial agglomeration, showed a quick recovery which was independent of temperature, can be interpreted in terms of inter-particle van der Waals interactions. This structural recovery stage had major contribution in the storage modulus increment. The second stage of the recovery, secondary agglomeration, was slower and dependent on temperature, can be attributed to rotary diffusion of nanoparticles. This stage had minor contribution to the storage modulus increase. Storage modulus increment in both of these agglomeration was attributed to the increase of nanotube-nanotube contacts. Both of these stages were confirmed by transmission electron micrographs. These result were in a good agreement with those calculated using van der Waals and diffusion concepts.     

Practical Study into Enhancing IgG Immobilisation on Screen-Printed Electrodes for Environmental Applications

This work is focused on the influence of pH and applied potential for the immobilisation of rabbit IgG on a carbon screen-printed electrode. The orientation of IgG molecule at the surface is fundamental for activity and reproducibility of the immunosensor. As the electrode potential is increased a particular order may be brought to the immobilised antibodies, i.e. the antibodies adapt a more favourable arrangement on the surface to facilitate better binding. The response increased when changing the pH from basic to acidic medium and the reverse trend was observed for the limit of detection (LOD). When a potential was applied to the electrode, the response generally decreased and the LOD increased in the order acidic > basic > neutral pH. The LODs obtained from antibodies immobilised at acidic pH and + 100 mV were better than the LODs obtained at other conditions.     

Estimation of martensite feature size in a low-carbon alloy steel by microtexture analysis of boundaries

A methodology for classifying the hierarchy of martensite boundaries from the EBSD microtexture data of low-carbon steel is presented. Quaternion algebra has been used to calculate the ideal misorientation between product α variants for Kurdjumov–Sachs (KS) and its nearby orientation relationships, and arrive at the misorientation angle-axis set corresponding to packet (12 types), block (3 types) and sub-block boundaries. Analysis of proximity of experimental misorientation between data points from the theoretical misorientation set is found to be useful for identifying the different types of martensite boundaries. The optimal OR in the alloy system and the critical deviation threshold for identification of martensite boundaries could both be ascertained by invoking the ‘Enhancement Factor’ concept. The prior-γ grain boundaries, packet, block and sub-block boundaries could be identified reasonably well, and their average intercept lengths in a typical tempered martensite microstructure of 9Cr–1Mo–0.1C steel was estimated as 31 μm, 14 μm, 9 μm and 4 μm respectively.     

聚(二甲基硅氧烷-co-甲氧基十二烷基硅氧烷)在棉纤维及其他模型表面的膜形貌及定向排列方式

用场发射扫描电镜(FESEM)、原子力显微镜(AFM)、光电子能谱(XPS)等仪器研究了棉纤维以及再生纤维素表面聚(二甲基硅氧烷-co-甲氧基十二烷基硅氧烷)(DDPS)的膜形貌及其定向排列方式.结果发现,在天然棉纤维以及再生纤维素模型表面,DDPS均能形成宏观上平滑、而微观形态学实则非均一的疏水性硅膜,表明DDPS的定向排列成膜方式为疏水性硅甲基、硅十二烷基朝外伸向空气,硅氧偶极键指向基质界面.     

不同管径聚乙烯管的旋转挤出

通过口模旋转挤出制备3种管径聚乙烯(PE)管,系统研究其结构与性能。结果表明,相较于传统挤出PE管内串晶平行与轴向,旋转挤出过程中聚合物熔体的流动是轴向牵引流动和环向拖曳流动的叠加,其方向偏离轴向,可诱导串晶偏离轴向排列,从而提高PE管的环向取向度,实现PE管的环向增强,抑制裂纹在PE管内沿轴向扩展。随PE管管径的增加,在相同旋转角速度下环向流动线速度增大,串晶偏离轴向的夹角增加,环向取向度更高,因而旋转挤出制备的大口径PE管具有更优的性能。