Interactions between the components in isotactic polypropylene blended with EPDM

The interaction of isotactic polypropylene with ethylene propylene diene terpolymer in their blends has been investigated by use of differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, wide- and small-angle x-ray scattering, and by investigating the nucleation and kinetics of crystallization of the iPP component under the polarization microscope. It is found, that the dispersion of the EPDM component in the iPP matrix is dependent on blend composition and is maximal at 10% EPDM content. An interface layer between the two components is formed by migration of iPP molecules into the EPDM phase. A model for this interface is proposed.     

Production and characterization of refractive index gratings in high-birefringence fibre optics

In this work, we report production and modelling of both Bragg gratings and rocking filters in high birefringence fibre optics. Bragg gratings are produced by UV (257.0 nm) external interferometric exposition of a frequency-doubled Ar⁺ ion laser, whereas for rocking filters formation the visible Ar⁺ ion laser lines in 488.0 and 514.5 nm are used in an internal method. The spectral characteristics due to the birefringence properties are studied through numerical methods and experimental techniques. The spectral responsivity of the structures under temperature changes and stress application is presented.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of mass fractions of toxic metals in plastic

It is very challenging to decompose a plastic product for the purpose of analysis of hazardous elements contained. To circumvent such technical problem, it is imperative that an analyst employ a nondestructive analytical method free of any pretreatments. The analytical results of the concentrations of toxic metals such as Cd and Cr in polypropylene for seven samples at two different levels were obtained using the instrumental neutron activation analysis. This work was intended ultimately to establish certified reference materials (CRMs) of these metals in the polypropylene, traceable to the SI. The uncertainties associated with the analytical procedures were estimated in accordance with the ISO guideline. The results were subsequently validated by a comparison with those for CRM-680 and −681 of the Bureau Communautaire de Reference (BCR), which demonstrated acceptable agreement within their uncertainty ranges.     

A procedure for measuring the flexibility of single wood-pulp fibres

A way of determining the flexibility of wood-pulp fibres is developed, which involves i) a precise measurement of the topology of single-fibres by using a confocal laser scanning microscope and ii) the measurement of the elastic modulus of the fibres by using a single-fibre fatigue cell. Reported in this paper are the initial results of tests carried out on black spruce fibres, which have been subjected to three different levels of mechanical refining energy, namely ∼1100, 2300, and 3500 kWh/t. It is found that the fibre flexibility rises significantly between the first and second energy levels, but it does not change to the same degree between the second and third ones. The described procedure of measuring the flexibility of fibres may be used to establish the appropriate refiner energy necessary for the production of a specific grade of paper. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 115–128, January–February, 2006.     

Applications of chalcogenide glass optical fibers

Chalcogenide-glass fibers based on sulfide, selenide, telluride and their rare-earth-doped compositions are being actively pursued worldwide. Great strides have been made in reducing optical losses using improved chemical purification techniques, but further improvements are needed in both purification and fiberization technology to attain the theoretical optical losses. Despite this, chalcogenide-glass fibers are enabling numerous applications that include laser power delivery, chemical sensing, and imaging, scanning near field microscopy/spectroscopy, IR sources/lasers, amplifiers and optical switches.     

聚丙烯改性研究

采用马来酸酐、二甲基丙烯酸乙二醇酯、三羟甲基丙烷三基丙烯酸酯对聚丙烯进行改性。以自由基反应机理为基础，讨论了引发剂用量、反应时间、改性试剂的种类、用量等因素对改性ＰＰ凝胶含量及性能的影响，提出了力学性能的优选条件。得到了力学性能优良的改性ＰＰ，为其进一步功能化提供了理论参考。     

Influence of nanodispersed boehmite on polypropylene photooxidation

Nanocomposites containing pure or organically modified nanoboehmites of different sizes were prepared by melt compounding with polypropylene. The samples were UV light irradiated in artificial accelerated conditions representative of solar irradiation (λ > 300 nm) at 60 °C in air. The chemical modifications resulting from photooxidation were followed by IR and UV-visible spectroscopies. The presence of pristine nanoboehmites was shown to change the rate of oxidation of polypropylene by reducing the oxidation induction period due to the presence of residual processing antioxidant. The differences of the oxidation induction periods between the nanocomposites and the pristine polymer disappear after solvent extraction of the antioxidant. The inefficiency of traditional antioxidant in retarding the photooxidation of polypropylene containing nanodispersed boehmite is proved. Antioxidant migration to the boehmite surface induced by the preferential interaction with the polar filler is proposed as an explanation. The oxidative behaviour of the organically modified boehmites was shown to depend on the type of organic substituent. p-Toluenesulfonate reduces the adsorption of antioxidants while the presence of a long-chain alkyl benzensulfonate increased the oxidation rate by generation of radical initiators.     

INTROMISSION OF WATER-REPELLENT AND HYDROSCOPIC PROPERTIES SIMULTANEOUSLY TO PP BY PLASMA DISCHARGE METHOD

Plasma-induced surface graft copolymerization of acrylic acid on polypropylene non-woven fabric (PP-g-AA) and polypropylene membrane were reported. The extents of grafting were controlled by the plasma and polymerization condition. Hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide was then coupled with the carboxyl group of PP-g-AA to obtain a polyion complex (PIC). At last, CF4 plasma was used to give PICs hydrophobic property. The moisture regain and water-repellency of the processed PICs was investigated. The surfaces were characterized using ATR FT-IR and XPS. The result indicates that the products have very high ability to adsorb moisture, even better than cotton fiber. At the same time, the products show excellent hydrophobic property, which can‘t be wetted by those reagents whose surface tensions were higher than 327mN/m.     

Growth transition and morphology change in polypropylene

The growth rate of isotactic polypropylene is deduced from microscopic observations during isothermal crystallizations. A change in the growth regime is observed at 138 C and interpreted as a Regime III Regime II transition, according to Hoffman's kinetic theory of polymer crystallization. A Regime II Regime I transition is also theoretically predicted at 155 C, i. e. at a temperature outside the investigated temperature range. The Regime III Regime II transition is related to the positive to negative change in the spherulite birefringence, which is generally attributed to a change in the organization of crystalline lamellae: quadritic arrays of intercrossing lamellae atT _c < 138 C (Regime III) and preferentially radiating lamellae atT _c > 138 C (Regime II). It is suggested that such a morphological change could be interpreted using the concept of non-adjacent re-entry introduced in Hoffman's kinetic theory. This interpretation could also explain the interspherulitic ruptures observed in negative spherulites.     

Effect of nucleating agent on the structure and properties of polypropylene/poly(ethylene-octene) blends

The effect of the sorbital nucleating agent on properties of the ethylene-octene copolymer (POE) toughened polypropylene (PP) was studied. The results show that the addition of POE increases notched Izod and Charpy impact strength significantly but impair the tensile strength and flexural modulus. As a nucleating agent (1,3,2,4-di(p-methylbenzylidene) sorbitol, DM) was added, the toughness and stiffness of toughed PP increased simultaneously at the same content of POE. This result shows that the toughness and stiffness of toughed PP are in balance. Polarized light microscopy analysis shows that with the addition of POE and nucleating agent, only a low level of PP spherulites were observed.