Development of an Exfoliated Nanocomposite Prepared by Vinyl Acetate and Organic Montmorillonite: Structure,Dynamic Mechanical Properties and Thermal Degradation

Using in-situ emulsion polymerization, the exfoliated nanocomposites were prepared from vinyl acetate (VAc) and organic montmorillonite (OMMT) through five different experimental conditions. The different experimental conditions and OMMT had little effect on the structure of PVAc–OMMT, but significant effect on the dynamic mechanical properties. They produced a combined effect on the modulus, loss tangent and glass transition temperature (T _g). OMMT could lower T _g of PVAc, and improved PVAc's low temperature resistance. PVAc and PVAc–OMMT all were homogeneous amorphous linear polymers and they all displayed cold crystallization. The different experimental conditions and OMMT had some effects on the thermal degradation. The thermal degradation process was found to consist of eight phases, and those of PVAc and PVAc–OMMT were similar. OMMT had no obvious effect on the thermal degradation temperature, but mainly delayed the thermal degradation process.     

INVESTIGATION OF STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES FOR POLYMER SYSTEMS BASED ON DYNAMIC RHEOLOGICAL APPROACHES

The dynamic theological measurements have been a preferred approach to the characterization of the structure and properties for multi-component or multi-phase polymer systems, due to its sensitive response to changes of structure for these heterogeneous polymers. In the present article, recent progresses in the studies on dynamic theology for heterogeneous polymer systems including polymeric composites filled with inorganic particles, thermo-oxidized polyolefins, phaseseparated polymeric blends and functional polymers with the scaling and percolation behavior are reviewed, mainly depending on the results by the authors‘ group. By means of theological measurements, not only some new fingerprints responsible for the evolution of morphology and structure concerning these polymer systems are obtained, the corresponding results are also significant for the design and preparation of novel polymer-based composites and functional materials.     

物理界面界面层模型润湿理论

本文依据物理界面界面层模型讨论了润湿现象, 提出以润湿系数表示相间润湿能力, 研究了润湿系数的计算方法, 讨论了Young方程和物理界面界面层模型润湿计算公式的正确性, 并以实验数据验证了润湿系数计算值。     

Synthesis of Novel Double Network Hydrogels via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Novel double network (DN) hydrogels were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of the first network using two different initiators, and followed by ultraviolet (UV) photo-initiated polymerization for the second network. The first networks of DN hydrogels were prepared by using two different initiators; one is a one-side initiator, and the other is a double-side initiator. The mechanical properties of various DN gels, such as water content and compressive strength, were studied. The network structure of the DN hydrogels was also characterized by dynamic light scattering. Thus, we demonstrated that the ATRP method is useful to control the network structure of the first network for DN gels. Extensive inhomogeneous structure of the first network was obtained by ATRP method and increased both the swelling degree and softness of DN gels.     

Wetting behavior of modified vinylester resins on the surface of UHMWPE materials

A new testing method was used to observe on-line the dynamic wetting course of liquid resins on PE fabric. The measure procedures and data processing were introduced in detail. To aim at some applications of vinylester resins/polyethylene fiber composites, vinylester resins (VRs) were at first modified by three kinds of additives, including elastomer, liquid rubber and isocyanate-terminated prepolymer. Then the wetting behaviors of these modified resins on the surface polyethylene (PE) materials were observed. After they were modified by six kinds of elastomers, the infiltrate-steady-times of these resins on the surface of PE fabric all increased; only the contact angle of natural rubber-modified VR on the surface of PE film decreased. After VRs were toughened by three kinds of liquid rubbers, their wetting velocities all became slower and the contact angles on the surface of PE film all decreased. In addition, VRs were also modified by three kinds of isocyanate-terminated prepolymers, which were the products of different hydroxyl-terminated polymers reacted with methylene bisphenyl isocyanate and whose structures were characterized by means of GPC, DSC and FT-IR, respectively. The wetting state of these modified resins on the surface of PE materials suggested that the interfacial compatibility of modified VRs and PE fabric did not decrease at the same time when the other properties of vinylester resins changed.     

Asymmetrical Dynamic Propagation Problems Concerning Mode III Interface Crack

By application of the theory of complex functions, asymmetrical dynamic propagation problems concerning mode III interface crack were studied. The general representations of analytical solutions are acquired by the approaches of self-similar functions. The problems considered can easily be transformed into Riemann–Hilbert problems and two examples under the action of moving increasing normal force Px/t and increasing loads Pt located at the origin of the coordinates of the crack are given, respectively. After those solutions are used by superposition theorem, the solutions of arbitrarily complex problems can be attained.     

Computer Simulation Study of Model Nafion Membrane in Water/Methanol Solvent

Using NPT and NVT molecular dynamics simulation techniques, we have simulated an atomistic model of solvated Nafion in the lithium salt form, with the following three main objectives: (i) to obtain details on the local environment of the lithium cations and to assess the solvent effect on their binding, (ii) to investigate the translational and rotational motion of solvent molecules (water and methanol) absorbed in the polymer matrix, and (iii) to elucidate details of the ionic transport though the hydrophilic regions of the membrane and to study the ionic conductivity as a function of solvent (water/methanol) composition. A property which is of central importance for understanding the functional features of Nafion materials, including direct methanol fuel cells, is the ionic conductivity and methanol crossover. We have found that conductivity parameter is strongly dependent on the solvent composition and determined by the solvation effects and the spatial distribution of polar sulfonate groups in ion-conductive channels.     

Interphase sizing temperature effect of LaRC PETI-5 on the dynamic mechanical thermal properties of carbon fiber/BMI composites

The dynamic mechanical thermal properties of carbon fiber-reinforced bismaleimide (BMI) composites processed using polyacrylonitrile(PAN)-based carbon fibers unsized and sized with LaRC PETI-5 amic acid oligomer as interphase material at 150°C, 250°C, and 350°C were investigated by means of dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. It was found that the storage modulus, loss modulus, tan δ and the peak temperature significantly depend on the sizing temperature as well as on the presence and absence of LaRC PETI-5 sizing interphase. The result showed that the carbon fiber/BMI composite sized at 150°C had the highest storage modulus at a measuring temperature of 250°C. The storage modulus decreased with increasing sizing temperature from 150°C to 350°C, being influenced by interdiffusion and co-reaction between the LaRC PETI-5 interphase and the BMI matrix resin. The present result is quite consistent with the interfacial result reported earlier in term of interfacial shear strength and interlaminar shear strength of carbon fiber/BMI composites. It is addressed that in the present composite system the sizing temperature of LaRC PETI-5 interphase critically influences not only the interfacial properties but also the dynamic mechanical thermal properties and its control is also important.     

In-situ elastomer composite based on fluorocarbon elastomer/liquid crystalline polymer blend

Blends of fluorocarbon elastomer (FKM) and liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) have been prepared by melt mixing technique. Processing studies indicated the decrease in the viscosity and the state of cure with the addition of 10 wt% LCP, and then increased at a higher rate with the addition of more LCP to the blend. The tensile strength values decreased at lower level of LCP. However, the modulus and tear strength values increased with higher increment of LCP content. From the X-ray diffraction measurements it has been observed that the crystalline structure of the FKM is greatly affected by the addition of LCP. The degradation temperatures from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) suggested improved thermal stability of the fluorocarbon-LCP blends. From the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), it has been found that the glass transition temperature (T _g) of the blends increased with increase in LCP content. For the compositions of 10 wt% and 20 wt% LCP blends, enhancement in storage modulus is found above the glass transition of FKM. Under dynamic conditions the increase of LCP content restricts the matrix flow and hence cracks developed at the interface of the LCP fibrils and matrix.     

化学反应的几何分析 I:动态堆积模型研究

本文首次提出了化学反应过程中几何可能性的定量研究.在下列条件下:(1)反应过程中,惰性配位体的键长,立体角系数等参数保持不变;(2)惰性配位体的压缩性很小;(3)在不压缩其它配位体的条件下,某一配位体在配位球面漂移所需的活化能低于这一配位体所形成的化学键断裂时所需的相应能量.我们提出动态堆积模型.以此来模拟反应过程中各个配位体间的相对位置和运动、配位体之间间隙的大小与受压缩的程度,并计算在反应中间过程中能够容纳新的配位体的最大空缺.考虑到使惰性配位体压缩将产生很大的空间势垒,以UCp3X为例说明了Lewis碱的配合与解离;金属-碳σ键的热分解以及一氧化碳插入反应的可能性.