Effectiveness of Maleic Anhydride Grafted EPDM Rubber (EPDM-g-MAH) as Compatibilizer in NR/Organoclay Nanocomposites Prepared by Melt Compounding

The effectiveness of maleic anhydride grafted ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM-g-MAH) as an interfacial compatibilizer in enhancing the extent of interaction between natural rubber (NR) matrix and organoclay (OC) nanolayers, and also the eventually developed microstructure during a melt mixing process, has been evaluated as an alternative material to be used in place of commonly used epoxidized NR with 50 mol % epoxidation (ENR50). The latter usually weakens the processability of the final compound. The curing behavior, rheological, and dynamic mechanical properties of the prepared nanocomposites have been evaluated. Microstructural characterizations revealed better interfacial compatibilization by EPDM-g-MAH than ENR50, which is attributed to the lower polarity of the EPDM-g-MAH and hence more affinity for the NR matrix to be diffused onto the galleries of OC. This was confirmed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination and higher elasticity exhibited by the unvulcanized NR/OC/EPDM-g-MAH nanocomposites in melt rheological measurements. Also, lower damping behavior was observed for the vulcanized NR/OC/EPDM-g-MAH samples. These imply intensified polymer–filler interfacial interaction and hence restricted viscous motions by the NR segments. Vulcanized NR/OC nanocomposites compatibilized with EPDM-g-MAH showed greater enhancements in tensile properties than the sample compatibilized with ENR50.     

增容剂对煤直接液化残渣改性沥青低温性能的影响

为了评价不同增容剂对煤直接液化残渣改性沥青低温性能的影响,首先,通过正交实验确定出三种增容剂（硅烷偶联剂、苯甲醛、二甲苯）各自的最佳掺量及掺入方式;其次,采用双边缺口拉伸（DENT）试验评价加入三种增容剂后沥青的低温抗延性断裂性能;最后,结合SEM照片并利用Image Pro plus图像处理软件计算加入三种增容剂后沥青中煤直接液化残渣的分散面积比,以定量地表征三种增容剂对煤直接液化残渣改性沥青低温性能的改善效果。结果表明,加入适量增容剂在一定程度上有助于煤直接液化残渣在沥青中的分散,提高两者之间的相容性,保持煤直接液化残渣改性沥青体系的长期稳定状态,避免因煤直接液化残渣的沉淀聚集而在相界面产生应力集中,增强煤直接液化残渣改性沥青的低温抗延性断裂性能。三种增容剂对煤直接液化残渣改性沥青低温性能改善效果不同,硅烷偶联剂最优,次之为苯甲醛,最差为二甲苯。     

可膨胀石墨阻燃体系在聚丙烯中的作用

采用可膨胀石墨(EG)为主阻燃剂,包裹红磷(MRP)为阻燃协效剂制备阻燃聚丙烯(PP)。在mEG∶mMRP≥2时,阻燃效果最佳。阻燃剂(FR)含量达到30%后,阻燃效果大幅度提高,氧指数大于28。采用热失重和流变学方法分析了炭层质量,探讨了在mEG∶mMRP≥2时,阻燃效率最高的原因。相容剂马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯(PP-g-MAH)能够改善阻燃剂和聚丙烯之间的相容性,提高粘结力,改善炭层质量,提高材料的氧指数,PP-g-MAH用量为30%时,材料的氧指数达到31.4。     

大分子相容剂改性Mg(OH)2/PP阻燃材料的性能

用双螺杆挤出机熔融挤出法制备了相容剂改性氢氧化镁/聚丙烯[Mg(OH)2/PP]阻燃材料。研究了马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯(PP-g-MA),马来酸酐接枝(乙烯/辛烯)共聚物(POE-g-MA)和马来酸酐接枝聚醋酸乙烯酯(EVA-g-MA)3种大分子相容剂对阻燃材料的熔体流动性、结晶行为、力学性能和断口形态的影响。结果表明:相容剂PP-g-MA和POE-g-MA的加入使阻燃材料的熔体流动速率降低,PP结晶温度提高,EVA-g-MA的加入使阻燃材料熔体流动速率数提高;Mg(OH)2对PP结晶存在异相成核作用,Mg(OH)2的加入使PP的冲击强度、拉伸强度和断裂伸长率降低,杨氏模量提高;相容剂改性后Mg(OH)2/PP阻燃材料的拉伸强度提高,其中以PP-g-MA最为明显,而POE-g-MA则提高了阻燃材料的冲击强度。     

Effects of polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene/propylene)‐b‐polystyrene compatibilizer on the recycled polypropylene and recycled high‐impact polystyrene blends

The recycled polypropylene/recycled high‐impact polystyrene (R‐PP/R‐HIPS) blends were melt extruded by twin‐screw extruder and produced by injection molding machine. The effects of polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene/propylene)‐b‐polystyrene copolymer (SEPS) used as compatibilizer on the mechanical properties, morphology, melt flow index, equilibrium torque, and glass transition temperature (T_g) of the blends were investigated. It was found that the notch impact strength and the elongation at break of the R‐PP/R‐HIPS blends with the addition of 10 wt% SEPS were 6.46 kJ/m² and 31.96%, which were significantly improved by 162.46% and 57.06%, respectively, than that of the uncompatibilized blends. Moreover, the addition of SEPS had a negligible effect on the tensile strength of the R‐PP/R‐HIPS blends. Additionally, the morphology of the blends demonstrated improved distribution and decreased size of the dispersed R‐HIPS phase with increasing the SEPS content. The increase of the melt flow index and the equilibrium torque indicated that the viscosity of the blends increased when the SEPS was incorporated into the R‐PP/R‐HIPS blends. The dynamic mechanical properties test showed that when the content of SEPS was 10 wt%, the difference of T_g decreased from 91.72°C to 81.51°C. The results obtained by differential scanning calorimetry were similar to those measured by dynamic mechanical properties, indicating an improved compatibility of the blends with the addition of SEPS.     

Influence of the compatibilizer polarity and molar mass on the morphology and the gas barrier properties of polyethylene/clay nanocomposites

In this study, different modified polyethylenes with different molar masses and different modification rates were examined as compatibilizers to prepare high density polyethylene/organoclay nanocomposites. Nanocomposites having 5 wt % organo-modified clay and 20 wt % interfacial agent were prepared by melt blending. The effect of compatibilizer molar mass and polarity was investigated on the clay dispersion and on the gas barrier properties. It was observed that the amount of large and dense fillers aggregates was considerably reduced by introduction of an interfacial agent. The nanocomposite final morphology was governed by a diffusion/shear mechanism. A high degree of clay delamination was obtained with the high molar mass compatibilizers, whereas highly swollen clay aggregates resulted from the incorporation of the low molar mass interfacial agents. In the investigated nanocomposites series, the barrier properties could not be directly related to the clay dispersion state but resulted also from the matrix/clay interfacial interactions. A gas transport mechanism based on these both parameters was proposed to explain the barrier properties evolution in these low polar nanocomposites series. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2593–2604, 2008     

Single-Ionic Conductivityin Poly(Sodium 2-Methacryloyl 3-[Ω-Methoxyl Oligo(Oxyethylene)]Propylsulfonate)

Abstract

Sodium 2-methacryloyl 3-[ω-methoxyl oligo(oxyethylene)] propylsulfonate was synthesized, from which homopolymer-based polyelectrolyte was prepared. The polyelectrolytes thus obtained show single Na⁺ionic conductivity at ambient temperature, neither adding plasticizer nor hybridizing small molecular salt. The conductivity depends considerably on the length of oligo(oxyethylene) side-chain. Optimally, the highest conductivity of 6.0 × 10^?6 S/cm at 25°C is obtained when the number of (CH₂CH₂O) repeating units equals 16. Results indicate that the conductivity data follow WLF and VTF equations. The WLF parameters are found to be comparable with “universal” values, and analysis of the configuration entropy model suggests that the conduction of Na⁺ ions is carried out by an association mechanism.     

增容剂对PP/PA共混体系动态力学性能的影响

采用2种不同的增容剂对PP／PA共混体系进行增容：PP与马来酸酐的接枝共聚物PP—g—MAH和接枝改性的热塑性弹性体TPE—g．并对它们应变率从10^-4s^-1到100s^-1范围内的力学性能进行了研究．试验结果表明：采用PP—g—MAH作增容剂的PP／PA两元体系，在高应变率冲击条件下，界面损伤演化加速，应变约6％时即发生宏观应力应变曲线软化，应变率约2000s^-1，应变约23％时即发生剪切破坏．采用TPE—g界面相容剂的PP／PA两元体系，由于形成分散相为核，界面相容剂为柔性壳的核壳结构，在尼龙粒子及壳层的协同作用下，使该共混体系的韧性得到大幅度提高．该体系在应变率高于3500s^-1，应变约45％时才发生剪切破坏．断裂时单位体积吸收能量大幅度提高．     

Effect of Nanoclay on the Morphology and Properties of Nylon 6 and Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) Blends

The effect of organomodified nanoclay on the morphology and properties of a (70/30 w/w) nylon 6/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blend prepared by a melt processing method was investigated. The number average domain diameter (D_n ) of the dispersed PMMA phase was found to decrease with the addition of a small amount [0.5 per hundred resin (phr)] of clay in the blend. A much finer dispersion of the minor phase in the presence of a higher amount (5 phr) of clay indicated better mixing efficiency and improved morphology in the blend. X-ray diffraction indicated the exfoliation of the clays in the nylon 6 matrix, whereas PMMA chains only intercalated into the clay layers. However, the same effect of the clay was not observed in a (30/70 w/w) nylon 6/PMMA blend when nylon 6 became the dispersed domains. In the (30/70 w/w) nylon 6/PMMA blend, the addition of organomodified nanoclay (up to 2 phr) increased the D_n of the nylon 6 domains by preferential location of the clays inside the nylon 6 domains. Addition of styrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer effectively reduced the D_n of disperse phases in both compositions of the nylon 6/PMMA blends. Thus, in nylon 6/PMMA blends, clay platelets could prevent the coalescence of dispersed domains during melt mixing as long as it was dispersed in the matrix phase of the blend. Mechanical properties and thermal stability of the blends were also improved in the presence of clay.     

Study on Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) of Waste Polypropylene/Waste Ground Rubber Tire Powder

Recycling represents a valid alternative to the disposal of postconsumer materials if it is possible to obtain new materials with good properties. In this work the possibility to produce secondary materials by blending waste polypropylene (WPP) and waste ground rubber tire powder (WGRT) was studied. Several comparative experiments were made to evaluate the influence of bitumen content and different compatibilizers on the properties of WPP/WGRT blends using a universal testing machine (UTM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and capillary rheometry. The results suggested that the properties of WPP/WGRT blends were dependent on the content of bitumen and the kind of compatibilizer.