The Potential of O‐MMT as a Reinforcing Filler for Uncured and Dynamically Cured PVC/XNBR Composites

Organic montmorillonite modified with quaternary ammonium (O‐MMT) was compounded with uncured and dynamically cured poly(vinyl chloride)/carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (PVC/XNBR) composites, using a Brabender Plasticorder at 130°C and 50 rpm rotor speed. The reinforcing efficiency of the O‐MMT was investigated in the uncured PVC/XNBR composite and the dynamically cured PVC/XNBR counterpart. Mixing and dynamic curing of the composites were monitored by typical torque‐time curves derived from a Brabender internal mixer. The torque‐time curves revealed that the dynamic curing process was successful and the incorporation of O‐MMT has no adverse effect on the processibility of the composites. It has been found that the introduction of crosslinks within the rubbery phase in the presence of the O‐MMT has further improved the tensile properties. DMA studies revealed that dynamically cured composite with O‐MMT showed higher storage modulus than the composite without O‐MMT. Furthermore, a one‐step tensile modulus vs. temperature curve and a related one peak tensile loss modulus vs. temperature curve were obtained, consequently, both are characteristics of a miscible polymers system. Further evidence on the composite miscibility was purchased by thermal scans from DSC, which showed a single glass transition temperature of PVC/XNBR composites. This claim was further supported by ATR‐IR spectra which revealed that hydrogen bonding is extensively involved in PVC/XNBR composites. This evidence unveiled the exact nature of the specific interactions responsible for miscibility and hence, enhanced mechanical properties. Furthermore, we proved in our studies the reinforcing role played by layered clay due to better dispersion, as well as improved interactions.     

Structure-Property Dependence of Copolymers Prepared by Cationic Polymerization

α-Methylstyrene/isobutene, α-methylstyrene/diisobutene, cyclopentadiene/isobutene, and cyclopentadiene/α-methylstyrene were copolymerized by cationic polymerization techniques. Several properties of the copolymers such as softening ranges and oxidation stability depend on their constitutional composition, and were controlled by variation of the conditions of their synthesis.     

Preparation of a Conducting Flexible Material from Silane Coupling Agent and Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene Rubber by Hydrolysis and Condensation

Abstract

Synthesis and characterization of a flexible polymer produced from silane coupling agent (SCA) and hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) were performed. Mechanical properties of chemically and electrochemically prepared conducting composites synthesized from this polymer were investigated. Conductivities of the composites were also measured. Polypyrrole enhanced the mechanical properties of the chemically prepared conducting composite. Doping with iodine greatly changed the conductivity of the composite. However, the change in mechanical properties and the conductivities of the electrochemically prepared composite were not as significant when compared with the electrochemically prepared polypyrrole. Among the composites, a chemically prepared composite was highly flexible like rubber. However, the electrochemically produced composite possesses two orders of magnitude higher conductivity. Also, this composite revealed higher tensile strength and elasticity with respect to pristine polypyrrole.     

Polylactones. 13. Transesterification of Poly(L-Lactide) with Poly(Glycoude), Poly(β-Propio-Lactone), and Poly[ε -Caprolactone)

Homogeneous blends of poly(L-lactide) (M _n = 30 000 to 40 000) and poly(β-propiolactone) or poly(ε-caprolactone) were prepared in solution. The solvent-free blends were subjected to transesterification catalyzed by means of methyl triflate, triflic acid, boron trifluoride, or tributyltin methoxide at 100 or 150°C. At 100°C, transesterification was barely detectable even after 96 h. When poly(β-propiolactone) was used as the reactant at 150°C, degradation was faster than transesterification regardless of the catalyst. The same negative result was obtained for heterogeneous blends of poly(L-lactide) and poly(glycolide). In the case of poly(ε-caprolactone), copolyesters with slightly blocky sequences were obtained with tributyltin methoxide as catalyst, whereas the acidic catalysts caused rapid degradation. The copolyesters were characterized by means of ¹H-NMR spectroscopy with regard to their molar composition, by means of ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy with regard to their sequences, and by means of differential scanning calorimetry with regard to crystallinity.     

Synergic effect in electrical conductivity using a combination of two fillers in PVDF hybrids composites

The objective of this work was to prepare novel conductive blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with polypyrrole (PPy) and to compare their performance with PVDF/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites and novel PVDF/PPy/MWCNT hybrid systems. All the compositions were prepared by melt mixing using a miniature mixer. The mixtures were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM, respectively) and volume electrical resistivity. For the binary PVDF/PPy and PVDF/MWCNT systems, percolation thresholds of 10 and 0.3 wt%, respectively, were found. In the hybrid systems, however, the percolation threshold for each filler was lower than in the binary systems, but the electrical conductivities were always much higher at all concentrations than the conductivities of the binary systems. Therefore, the addition of both fillers had a synergistic effect on the hybrid system conductivity, which was attributed to its morphology: the PPy increased the homogeneity of the MWCNT distribution and decreased the available free volume for the MWCNT; as a result the MWCNT rolled around the PPy particles bridging them through the PVDF matrix, increasing the quantum tunneling effect and thus, the electrical conductivity of the system.     

Various ways to strengthen the fiber‐matrix interface for enhanced composite performance

Surface treatment (ST) of carbon fibers (CF) leads to an enhancement in fiber‐matrix adhesion. However, it deteriorates the strength of a fiber which makes its reinforcing action less effective in a composite. These effects in opposite directions control the net strength of a composite, and hence, the treatment has to be judiciously applied, which would enhance the first factor and minimize the second one. Authors have recently reported on four effective techniques (using various doses) such as treatments with nanoparticles of Ytterbium fluoride (YbF₃)_, cold remote nitrogen–oxygen plasma (CRNOP), γ‐ray irradiation and nitric acid oxidation. Amongst these methods, nitric acid oxidation is studied in depth in the literature, and γ‐ray irradiation is sparingly studied. However, nano‐YbF₃ and CRNOP were first time reported in the literature by the authors. However, comparative aspects of all these methods were not addressed. In this paper, these aspects in details are discussed to lay down the right criteria for selection of a ST technique of CF to design the desired performance of a composite. The composites with polyetherimide and treated CF (including untreated) were developed and evaluated for various properties including tribological one. Treated CF based composites exhibited excellent mechanical and tribological properties (under harsh operative conditions with wear rates ≈ 1 × 10^?15 m³/Nm and μ ≈ 0.09). It was concluded that for strength and tribo‐performance, different treatments and doses are to be employed. Overall nanosized‐YbF₃ treatment of CF proved to be the most promising ST method. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

微波辅助合成石墨烯/氧化镍复合材料及其表征

本文通过微波辅助的方法,快速而有效地在热膨胀石墨烯(RG)的缺陷上原位合成氧化镍纳米颗粒,形成石墨烯/氧化镍复合材料(RG/NiO)。利用X-射线衍射(XRD),拉曼光谱(Raman),傅里叶变换红外(FTIR),扫描电镜(SEM),透射电镜(TEM),热重-差热(TGA-DSC)对所制备样品的结构、形貌和NiO含量在复合材料中的含量进行表征。结果表明,热膨胀石墨烯层数约7~8层,层间距约为0.35nm,缺陷多,在水热和微波处理后抗氧化性明显变差。复合材料中氧化镍颗粒平均粒径为25nm,均匀而密集地分散在石墨烯平面上,同时在复合材料中的含量为19.8%。     

Synthesis and performance of electroless Ni–P–TiCN composite coatings on Al substrate

Electroless Ni–P and Ni–P–TiCN composite coatings have been deposited successfully on Al substrates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) techniques were applied to study the surface morphology and the chemical composition of the deposited films. Moreover, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) proved that Ni–P and Ni–P–TiCN deposits have amorphous structures. The properties of Ni–P–TiCN/Al composite films such as hardness, corrosion resistance and electrocatalytic activity were examined and compared with that of Ni–P/Al film. The results of hardness measurements reveal that the presence of TiCN particles with Ni–P matrix improves its hardness. Additionally, the performance against corrosion was examined using Tafel lines and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques in both of 0.6 M NaCl and a mixture of 0.5 M H₂SO₄ with 2 ppm HF solutions. The results indicate that the incorporation of high dispersed TiCN particles into Ni–P matrix led to a positive shift of the corrosion potential and an increase in the corrosion resistance for all aluminum substrates after their coating with Ni–P–TiCN. In addition, Ni–P–TiCN/Al electrodes showed a higher electrochemical catalytic activity and stability toward methanol oxidation in 0.5 M NaOH solution compared with that of Ni–P/Al. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.