Fluorination of polymers by sulfur hexafluoride gas under electric discharge

Fluorination of low-density polyethylene, polyacetylene, and poly(vinyl alcohol) was carried out using SF₆ gas under electric discharge. The polymers were partially fluorinated and the extent of fluorination was more in the case of poly (vinyl alcohol) than the other two polymers. The fluorinated polymers were characterized by elemental analysis (Fluorine), IR, and x-ray diffraction. Optical transparency of the films was also measured. The fluorinated polymers show better solvent resistance and decreased transparency than the virgin polymer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Study and characterization of virgin and recycled LDPE/PP blends

Recycling of mixed plastic wastes composed of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix and polypropylene (PP) was carried out by compounding using single-screw or twin-screw extruders. Blends of virgin polymers have been prepared to compare mechanical properties of both virgin and regenerated materials. First, a model composition of virgin LDPE/PP blend was prepared to study the effect of process parameters and that of different types of compatibilizers. Second, the results were applied to plastic wastes coming from industrial post-consumer plastic wastes. By adding compatibilizing agents such as ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, ethylene-propylene monomer, or PE-g-(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) graft copolymer, elongation at break and impact strength were improved for all blends. The effect of these various copolymers is quite different and is in relation with their chemical structure. The recycled blends exhibit suitable properties leading to applications that require good mechanical properties.     

Synthesis and Catalytic Application of Homo-bimetallic Metallocene Complexes as Ethylene Polymerization Catalysts

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Rheological investigation of the influence of molecular structure on natural and accelerated UV degradation of linear low density polyethylene

Metallocene and Ziegler-Natta (ZN) linear low density polyethylenes (LLDPEs) of different branch types and contents as well as linear high density polyethylene (HDPE) were exposed to natural and accelerated weather conditions. The degree of UV degradation of exposed samples was measured by rheological techniques and results were compared with unexposed polymers. Dynamic shear measurements were performed in an ARES rheometer in the linear viscoelastic range. The degree of enhancement or reduction in viscosity and elasticity was used as a measure of the degree of cross-linking or chain scission, respectively. The degradation results of LLDPE suggest that both cross-linking and chain scission are taking place. Chain scission dominated the degradation at high levels of short chain branching (SCB) and long exposure times. The degradation mechanism of m-LLDPE and ZN-LLDPE is similar; however, m-LLDPE showed a higher degradation rate than ZN-LLDPE of similar M_w and average SCB. ZN-LLDPE was found to be more stable than a similar m-LLDPE. Comonomer type had little influence on degradation. Dynamic shear rheology was very useful in revealing the influence of different molecular parameters and it exposed the degradation mechanism.     

Reversible Melting of Thermally Fractionated Polyethylene

Different grades of linear low density polyethylenes (LLDPEs) have been quenched cooled step-wise and crystallised isothermally at (a series of increasing) temperatures in a DSC (thermal fractionated samples). These samples have been investigated by temperature modulated DSC (MDSC). The heat flow curves of the thermal fractionated materials were compared with those obtained from samples crystallised at a relatively slow cooling rate of 2 K min^-1(standard samples). The melting enthalpy obtained from the total heat flow of the thermal fractionated samples was 0-10 J g^-1higher than those of standard samples. The melting enthalpy obtained from the reversing heat flows was 13-31 J g^-1lower in the thermal fractionated samples than in the standard samples. The ratio of the reversing melting enthalpy to the total melting enthalpy increased with decreasing density of the PE. The melting temperature of the endotherms formed by the step-wise cooling was 9 K higher than the crystallisation temperature. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mechanical properties of fiber reinforced styrene-butadiene rubbers using surface-modified UHMWPE fibers under EB irradiation

Aiming to develop a high performance fiber reinforced rubber of SBR, a special technique using electron beam (EB) irradiation-induced graft-polymerization was applied to ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers. Although UHMWPE is chemically inert, N-vinyl formamide (NVF) could be graft-polymerized onto the UHMWPE fiber surface with this special technique. A maximum grafting percentage of 23.6% was achieved. The composite of SBR and grafted UHMWPE fibers with maximum grafting indicated a linear increase in the initial modulus and strength with the fiber content. At the fiber content of 10%, the initial modulus was improved about five times with respect to that of the pure SBR, while the strength was done about twice. At this moment, only a small reduction could be observed in the strain compared with that of pure SBR. The fiber reinforced rubber with a good performance was obtained in the system of SBR and grafted UHMWPE fibers.     

Loss of stability by migration and chemical reaction of Santonox R in branched polyethylene under anaerobic and aerobic conditions

Plaques of branched polyethylene stabilized with 0.1 wt.% 4,4′-thiobis(6-tert-butyl-3-methylphenol) [Santonox^® R] were aged at different temperatures between 75 and 95 °C in anaerobic (nitrogen or water) and aerobic (air or water saturated with air) media. Antioxidant concentration profiles were obtained by oxidation induction time (OIT) measurements using differential scanning calorimetry. Results obtained by high performance liquid chromatography of extracts confirmed that the gradual decrease in OIT with increasing ageing time was due to migration of antioxidant to the surrounding medium. The antioxidant concentration profiles along the plaque thickness direction were flat in the plaques aged in the non-aqueous media indicating that the migration of antioxidant to the surrounding medium was controlled by the low evaporation rate at the material boundary. Crystals of antioxidant were detected by optical microscopy on the samples exposed to nitrogen. The similarity of the antioxidant concentration profiles obtained after ageing in nitrogen and in air suggested that the fraction of the antioxidant oxidized is negligible in comparison with the loss of antioxidant by migration to the surrounding media. The antioxidant concentration profiles along the plaque thickness direction obtained after ageing in water were less flat, suggesting faster dissolution in the water phase than evaporation in the case of non-aqueous ageing. The antioxidant diffusivity could be determined from the aqueous experiments and was in reasonable agreement with data reported by Moisan. For the samples exposed to water, the loss of antioxidant was faster from the samples exposed to water saturated with air. This difference is attributed to a faster degradation of the antioxidant in the oxygen-containing water phase increasing the mass transport from the polymer phase boundary to the water phase.     

Copper (50 MeV) and Oxygen (84 MeV) Ion Irradiation Probed Thermal,Structural and Optical Behavior of Polyethylene Terephthalate

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films of 50?μm thickness were exposed to swift-heavy 50?MeV copper and 84?MeV oxygen ions, with fluence varying from 1?×?10¹¹ to 1?×?10¹³ ions cm^?2. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-visible spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the irradiated samples. The XRD and DSC analysis indicated the loss of crystallinity during/after the irradiation. The FTIR spectra revealed the formation of alkyne end groups, C═C groups and structural deformation with increase of ion fluence. Considerable reduction in the value of the optical bandgap was inferred from the study of the UV-visible absorption curves.     

保鲜膜材质及使用安全性的拉曼光谱分析

利用便携式拉曼光谱仪对聚乙烯(PE)、聚氯乙烯(PVC)、聚偏二氯乙烯(PVDC)和聚甲基戊烯(PMP)保鲜膜常温和不同条件下加热冷却后的拉曼光谱进行了对照分析。结果表明,应用便携式拉曼光谱仪在常温时可现场快速的对不同材质保鲜膜进行定性检测;同时还证明了聚氯乙烯(PVC)保鲜膜存在严重安全隐患,聚乙烯(PE)、聚偏二氯乙烯(PVDC)和聚甲基戊烯(PMP)保鲜膜为安全产品。     

简单方法制备与表征新颖复合凝胶及表面微结构——由科研成果转化的化学综合实验

材料表面的微结构会赋予材料独特的性能，水凝胶在生物医学领域有广泛的应用前景。采用紫外光刻蚀法创新性地实现了复合凝胶的制备和凝胶表面图案化微结构的构筑一步完成；通过原子力显微镜和光学显微镜的表征，复合凝胶聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺/聚乙二醇二丙烯酸酯兼具了温敏性能与图案化微结构的新颖性能结构特征。本实验有助于培养学生的创新意识，激发学生的学习兴趣以及未来从事科研的兴趣。