Polyamide‐6 structure modification by combined solid‐phase extrusion

Methods of wide‐angle X‐ray analysis and transmission electron microscopy were performed to investigate structural and phase transformation occurring in polyamide‐6 (PA‐6) by combined solid‐phase processing including extrusion through a conical die (ED) and the following equal‐channel multiple‐angular extrusion (ECMAE). It was shown that high level of plastic and strength characteristics of extruded PA‐6 is determined by the formation of a duplex structure consisting of elongated disoriented fiber‐like entities and fragmented globular formations. Conservation of high values of plasticity of deformed PA‐6 is also controlled by the transition of the crystals of α‐form to the crystals of γ‐form with higher plasticity reserve. We have established rational technology parameters of PA‐6 processing by ED‐ECMAE processes (the deformation degree ε_ED at ED, deformation intensity ΔΓ and the value of accumulated deformation ε_ECMAE at ECMAE). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Solid‐phase extrusion of polyamide‐6 by using combined deformation schemes

Potentialities of new combined deformation schemes, including the solid state extrusion through conical die (ED) and equal‐channel multiple angle extrusion (ECMAE) implemented in different sequence to modify structure and properties of semicrystalline polymers, have been studied for polyamide‐6 as an example. It is shown that deformation by the ED‐ECMAE scheme gives the best complex of physical and mechanical properties. A significant improvement in elastic and strength properties of polyamide‐6 with the conserved high level of plastic characteristics has been observed. There was only a slight anisotropy and dispersion of microhardness across the extrudates. A more uniform oriented structure with lamellae orientation along extrudate's axis has been formed in semicrystalline polymer because the ED‐ECMAE scheme implementation. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene terephthalate‐co‐neopentyl terephthalate‐co‐ethylene isophthalate‐co‐neopentyl isophthalate) copolyester and its application in laminated tin‐free steel

A low crystallinity, the copolyester poly(ethylene terephthalate‐co‐neopentyl terephthalate‐co‐ethylene isophthalate‐co‐neopentyl isophthalate) (PENIT) was synthesized and applied for laminated tin‐free steel. The structures and thermal properties of the copolyester were characterized by ¹H‐NMR, thermogravimetry analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and polarized optical microscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and polarized optical microscopy results show that the crystallization ability of the copolyester decreased obviously. Meanwhile, the peel strength, crystallinity, and water‐vapor permeability of the copolyester film were also measured at varied lamination temperatures. The result confirm that an improvement in the lamination temperature led to an increased ratio of amorphous PENIT to crystalline PENIT and decreased structural orientation, and the decrease in the structural orientation sped up the increase in the rate of water‐vapor permeability. On the basis of the purpose of reducing a detrimental effect on the corrosion resistance caused by water permeation, a reasonable lamination temperature was selected. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42308.     

High tensile strength fiber of poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐(R)‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate] processed by two‐step drawing with intermediate annealing

High tensile strength fibers of poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐(R)‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate] [P(3HB‐co‐3HH)], a type of microbial polyesters, were processed by one‐step and two‐step cold‐drawn method with intermediate annealing. Thermal degradation behaviors were characterized by differential scanning calorimeter and gel permeation chromatography measurements. Thermal analyses were revealed that molecular weights decreased drastically within melting time at a few minute. One‐step cold‐drawn fiber with drawing ratio of 10 showed tensile strength of 281 MPa, while tensile strength of as‐spun fiber was 78 MPa. When two‐step drawing was applied for P(3HB‐co‐3HH) fibers, the tensile strength was led to 420 MPa. Furthermore, the optimization of intermediate annealing condition leads to enhance the tensile strength at 552 MPa of P(3HB‐co‐3HH) fiber. Wide‐angel X‐ray diffraction measurements of these fibers suggest that the fibers with high tensile strength include much amount of the planer‐zigzag conformation (β‐form) as molecular conformation together with 2₁ helix conformation (α‐form). © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41258.     

Equal‐channel multiangular extrusion of semicrystalline polymers

Potentialities of a new simple shear‐based scheme of the solid‐phase extrusion of polymers, named the equal channel multiple angular extrusion (ECMAE), for modification of semicrystalline polymer structure have been investigated by the example of low‐ and high‐density polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE), polyamide‐6 (PA‐6), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The effects of velocity and extrusion temperature, plastic deformation intensity, and accumulated equivalent plastic strain value on properties of a number of crystallizing polymers have been studied. It has been shown that the highest strength characteristics are attained for the extrusion temperatures of (0.8–0.95) of the melting temperature and deformation velocity of (0.6–1.1) mm s^?1. For the ECMAE‐processed specimens, the density, the enthalpy, and the melting temperature have become higher. In the oriented structure of semicrystalline polymers formed by the ECMAE, the lamellae are oriented along the extrudate axis. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Polyoxymethylene orientation by equal‐channel multiple angular extrusion

The effect of conditions and routes of deformation in the course of equal‐channel multiple‐angular extrusion (ECMAE) on physical and mechanical properties of polyoxymethylene (POM) have been studied. As deformation routes, Route C (shear planes are parallel, and the simple shear direction of every deformation zone is changed through 180°) and Route E (shear planes are turned through ±45° around the extrusion axis and the normal to the axis, and simple shear direction is changed through 180° or ±90° with respect to the deformation zone) were selected. It has been shown that ECMAE provides the increase of modulus of elasticity E more than twice, tensile strength σ_T increases in four times. At the same time, strain at break ε_b is reduced by 1.5%. The value of the achieved effects depends on the accumulated deformation and the selected deformation route. The best set of physical and mechanical characteristics was observed in the case of Route E. According to SEM data, Route C results in partial pore healing and E provides total pore healing both in longitudinal and transversal direction. The observed effects are related to orientation order formation, increase of cristallinity degree and reduction of structure imperfection of extrudates. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Genipin‐cross‐linked chitosan‐based hydrogels: Reaction kinetics and structure‐related characteristics

The main aim of this work is the synthesis and characterization of cross‐linked chitosan systems. Chitosan hydrogels can be prepared by physical or chemical cross‐linking of polymer chains. Chemical cross‐linking, leading to the creation of hydrogel networks possessing improved mechanical properties and chemical stability, can be achieved using either synthetic agents or natural‐based agents. In this work, the cross‐linker Genipin, a naturally derived compound, was selected because of the lower acute toxicity compared to many other commonly used synthetic cross‐linking reagents. In particular, the chemical stabilization of chitosan through genipin cross‐linking molecules was performed and characterized by calorimetric analyses (differential scanning calorimetry), swelling measurements in different pHs, and ionic strength. The reaction kinetics was carried out by means of rheological measurements, and both the activation energy (E_a) and the reaction order (m) were calculated. The hydrogel analyses were carried out at different concentrations of genipin (GN1 and GN2). The results were used to evaluate the possibility to use the chemical cross‐linked chitosan–genipin hydrogel for biomedical applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42256.     

Effects of nano‐tio2 on the performance of high‐amylose starch based antibacterial films

The purpose of this article is to investigate the effects of nano‐tianium dioxide (nano‐TiO₂) on the high‐amylose starch/polyvingl alcohol (PVA) blend films prepared by a solution casting method. The results show that at the concentration of 0.6% of nano‐TiO₂, the film demonstrated the best tensile strength at 9.53 MPa, and the elongation at break was noted as 49.50%. The optical transmittance of the film was decreased and the water resistance was improved with further increase of the concentration of nano‐TiO₂. Using the techniques of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the molecular and the crystal structures of the films were characterized. The results indicate that the miscibility and compatibility between high‐amylose starch and PVA were increased with the addition of nano‐TiO₂ into the films due to the formation of hydrogen and C? O? Ti bonds. The antimicrobial activities of the blend films were also explored. The results show that there were inhibitory zones around the circular film disc, which is attributable to the addition of nano‐TiO₂. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42339.     

Preparation of 2‐ethyl‐4‐methylimidazole derivatives as latent curing agents and their application in curing epoxy resin

Three kinds of 2‐ethyl‐4‐methylimidazole (EMI) derivatives (N‐acetyl EMI, N‐benzoyl EMI, and N‐benzenesulfonyl EMI) were synthesized through the reaction of EMI with acetyl chloride, benzoyl chloride, and benzenesulfonyl chloride, respectively. And the structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ¹H‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR) spectra. Furthermore, the synthesized EMI derivatives were applied in diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin (DGEBA) as latent curing agent. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used to analyze the curing behavior of DGEBA/EMI derivative systems, indicating DGEBA could be efficiently cured by the EMI derivatives at 110～160°C, and the corresponding curing activation energy ranged from 71 to 86 kJ/mol. Viscosity data proves that the storage life of DGEBA with N‐acetyl EMI (NAEMI), N‐benzoyl EMI (NBEMI), and N‐benzenesulfonyl EMI (NBSEMI) at room temperature was 38 d, 50 d, and 80 d, and that at 10°C was 90 d, 115 d, and 170 d, respectively. Besides, thermogravimetry (TG), izod impact strength (IIS), and tensile shear strength (TSS) were tested to characterize the thermal stability and mechanical properties of DGEBA cured by EMI derivatives. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42563.     

Polypropylene/silica micro‐ and nanocomposites modified with poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐butylene‐b‐styrene)

The effects of different silica loadings and elastomeric content on interfacial properties, morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene/silica 96/4 composites modified with 5, 10, 15, and 20 vol % of poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐butylene‐b‐styrene) SEBS added to total composite volume were investigated. Four silica fillers differing in size (nano‐ vs. micro‐) and in surface properties (untreated vs. treated) were chosen as fillers. Elastomer SEBS was added as impact modifier and compatibilizer at the same time. The morphology of ternary polymer composites revealed by light and scanning electron microscopies was compared with morphology predicted models based on interfacial properties. The results indicated that general morphology of composite systems was determined primarily by interfacial properties, whereas the spherulitic morphology of polypropylene matrix was a result of two competitive effects: nucleation effect of filler and solidification effect of elastomer. Tensile and impact strength properties were mainly influenced by combined competetive effects of stiff filler and tough SEBS elastomer. Spherulitic morphology of polypropylene matrix might affect some mechanical properties additionally. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41486.     

Mechanical and thermal properties of poly(butylene succinate)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) biodegradable blends

Biodegradable polymer blends of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) were prepared with different compositions. The mechanical properties of the blends were studied through tensile testing and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The dependence of the elastic modulus and strength data on the blend composition was modeled on the basis of the equivalent box model. The fitting parameters indicated complete immiscibility between PBS and PHBV and a moderate adhesion level between them. The immiscibility of the parent phases was also evidenced by scanning electron observation of the prepared blends. The thermal properties of the blends were studied through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The DSC results showed an enhancement of the crystallization behavior of PBS after it was blended with PHBV, whereas the thermal stability of PBS was reduced in the blends, as shown by the TGA thermograms. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42815.     

Synthesis and characterization of hydroxy‐terminated polyether‐polydimethylsiloxane‐polyether (PE‐PDMS‐PE) triblock oligomers and their use in the preparation of thermoplastic polyurethanes

A series of hydroxy‐terminated polyether‐polydimethylsiloxane‐polyether (α,ω‐dihydroxy‐(PE‐PDMS‐PE)) ABA triblock oligomers were synthesized from silanic fluids and methyl polyallyloxide polyethers. The reaction was a one‐step solventless hydrosilylation reaction with chloroplatinic acid (CPA) catalyst in the presence of heat. These ABA oligomers were characterized via ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, ²⁹Si‐NMR, FT‐IR, and GPC to demonstrate that they exhibit a 100% linear ABA structure with a siloxane Si? O chain in the center and polyether ethylene oxide (EO)/propylene oxide (PO) chains on the two sides terminated by hydroxy groups. The triblock oligomers were used to form thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) using two‐step solventless bulk polymerization. The investigation of triblock oligomers impact on TPUs mechanical properties, thermal performance, surface water repellency, and morphology performance were analyzed by Instron material tester, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water contact angles (WCA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). DSC and TGA indicated that PE‐PDMS‐PE modified TPUs had a clear lower T_g under ?120°C and the temperature of 50% weight loss was improved from 280 to 340°C. PE‐PDMS‐PE–modified TPU did not have the marked reduction on mechanical properties than pure polyether produced TPU. Tensile strength was maintained at 13 MPa and elongation was maintained at 300%. SEM and TEM were used to investigate the copolymers’ morphology performance and found that all PO PE‐PDMS‐PE had a pseudo‐three phase separation. WCA analysis confirmed that PE‐PDMS‐PE–modified TPU had significantly improved hydrophobic performance because the silicone structure linked into TPU copolymers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42521.     

Study on the poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co−4‐hydroxybutyrate)‐based composites toughened by synthesized polyester polyurethane elastomer

In this study, polycaprolactone(PCL)‐based polyurethane (PU) elastomer containing 45 wt % hard segment component was synthesized and characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and X‐ray diffraction. As a toughening agent, the as‐synthesized PU was incorporated into biodegradable poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate) [P(3,4)HB] by solution casting to prepare P(3,4)HB/PU composites. The microstructure and properties of P(3,4)HB/PU composites were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, tensile testing, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and activated sludge degradation testing. The results show that PU can disperse well in a P(3,4)HB matrix. The elongation at break of P(3,4)HB/PU composites is remarkably increased while the yield strength and elastic modulus are decreased with an increase in PU content. At the same time, it is found that the fracture characteristic of P(3,4)HB is obviously transformed from brittleness into ductility with a gradual increase in PU loading. Moreover, the thermal stability of P(3,4)HB/PU composites is significantly improved compared with that of pure P(3,4)HB. In addition, the biodegradation rate of P(3,4)HB/PU composites is evidently reduced with the increase of PU content in the activated sludge degradation testing. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42740.     

Influence of fly ash cenospheres on performance of coir fiber‐reinforced recycled high‐density polyethylene biocomposites

Recycled high‐density polyethylene (RHDPE)/coir fiber (CF)‐reinforced biocomposites were fabricated using melt blending technique in a twin‐screw extruder and the test specimens were prepared in an automatic injection molding machine. Variation in mechanical properties, crystallization behavior, water absorption, and thermal stability with the addition of fly ash cenospheres (FACS) in RHDPE/CF composites were investigated. It was observed that the tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness properties of RHDPE increase with an increase in fiber loading from 10 to 30 wt %. Composites prepared using 30 wt % CF and 1 wt % MA‐g‐HDPE exhibited optimum mechanical performance with an increase in tensile modulus to 217%, flexural strength to 30%, flexural modulus to 97%, and hardness to 27% when compared with the RHDPE matrix. Addition of FACS results in a significant increase in the flexural modulus and hardness of the RHDPE/CF composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis tests of the RHDPE/CF/FACS biocomposites in presence of MA‐g‐HDPE revealed an increase in storage (E′) and loss (E″) modulus with reduction in damping factor (tan δ), confirming a strong influence between the fiber/FACS and MA‐g‐HDPE in the RHDPE matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis thermograms also showed improved thermal properties in the composites when compared with RHDPE matrix. The main motivation of this study was to prepare a value added and low‐cost composite material with optimum properties from consumer and industrial wastes as matrix and filler. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42237.     

Ultraviolet resistance modification of poly(p‐phenylene‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole) and poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) fibers with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

Octa‐ammonium chloride salt of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) was synthesized by a hydrolysis reaction and introduced into poly(p‐phenylene‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole) (p‐POD) and poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) fibers by a finishing method to enhance the UV resistance. The effects of the POSS concentration, treatment temperature, and time on the tensile strength of the fibers were investigated. The surface morphology, mechanical properties, crystallinity, degree of orientation of fibers, and intrinsic viscosity of the polymer solution were characterized in detail. The results indicate that the tensile strength retention and intrinsic viscosity retention of the fibers treated with POSS were much higher than those of the untreated fibers after the same accelerated irradiation time; this demonstrated that this treatment method was feasible. We also found that the efficacy of the protection provided by POSS was more beneficial to p‐POD than PPTA because of the different structure. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42643.     

Enhanced toughness and strength of poly (d‐lactide) by stereocomplexation with 5‐arm poly (l‐lactide)

The enhancement of mechanical properties were achieved by solution blending of poly(d ‐lactide) (PDLA) and 5‐arm poly(l ‐lactide) (5‐arm PLLA). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) results indicated almost complete stereocomplex could be obtained when 5‐arm PLLA exceeded 30wt %. Tensile test results showed that the addition of 5‐arm PLLA in linear PDLA gave dramatically improvement both on tensile strength and elongation at break, which generally could not be increased simultaneously. Furthermore, this work transformed PDLA from brittle polymer into tough and flexible materials. The mechanism was proposed based on the TEM results: the stereocomplex crystallites formed during solvent evaporation on the blends were small enough (100–200 nm), which played the role of physical crosslinking points and increased the interaction strength between PDLA and 5‐arm PLLA molecules, giving the blends high tensile strength and elongation at break. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 132, 42857.     

Nucleation effects of sodium and ammonium salts of 2,2′‐methylene‐bis‐(4,6‐di‐t‐butylphenylene)phosphate in isotactic polypropylene

The nucleation ability of isotactic poly(propylene) (iPP) to ammonium 2,2′‐methylene‐bis‐(4,6‐di‐t‐butylphenylene) phosphate (An) was investigated in the present work comparing with sodium 2,2′‐methylene‐bis‐(4,6‐di‐t‐butylphenylene) phosphate (NA‐11). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed the crystalline morphology of both An and NA‐11 with planar surface characteristics. The observation of the fracture surface of nucleation iPP samples by SEM showed An particles were dispersed uniformly in polymer and had a better compatibility with iPP matrix than NA‐11 particles. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) showed that the melting temperature of An was 262°C significantly lower than that measured from NA‐11 group (above 400°C). Crystallization behaviors of iPP/NA‐11 and iPP/An were also investigated by DSC analysis, respectively. The results showed the crystallization peak temperature and the crystallinity of iPP/An were almost near to that of iPP/NA‐11. Furthermore, mechanical and optical properties of iPP were strongly improved in the presences of An and NA‐11. The flexural strength of iPP was elevated 34 and 35% and the haze value was reduced from 40.4 to 15.1 and 14.9% by the addition of 0.15 wt% NA‐11 and An, respectively. These results demonstrate that the nucleating agent of An described here is a good nucleating agent for the crystallization of iPP as well as NA‐11. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55: 22–28, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Crystallization and melting behavior of poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐δ‐valerolactone) and poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐L‐lactide) copolymers with novel chain microstructures

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) characterization of the statistical copolymers of this study showed that the poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐L‐lactide)s, with ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) molar contents ranging from 70 to 94% and ε‐CL average sequence length (l_CL) between 2.20–9.52, and the poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐δ‐valerolactone)s, with 60 to 85% of ε‐CL and l_CL between 2.65–6.08, present semi‐alternating (R→2) and random (R～1) distribution of sequences, respectively. These syntheses were carried out with the aim of reducing the crystallinity of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), needed to provide mechanical strength to the material but also responsible for its slow degradation rate. However, this was not achieved in the case of the ε‐caprolactone‐co‐δ‐valerolactone (ε‐CL‐co‐δ‐VAL). Non‐isothermal cooling treatments at different rates and isothermal crystallizations (at 5, 10, 21 and 37°C) were conducted by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and demonstrated that ε‐CL copolymers containing δ‐valerolactone (δ‐VAL) exhibited a larger crystallization capability than those of L‐lactide (L‐LA) and also arranged into crystalline structures over shorter times. The crystallization enthalpies of the ε‐CL‐co‐δ‐VAL copolymers during the cooling treatments and their heat of fusion (ΔH_m) at the different isothermal temperatures were very large (i.e. ΔH_c > 53 Jg^?1) and in some cases, unrelated to the copolymer composition. In some compositions, such as the 60 : 40, Wide Angle X‐ray Scattering (WAXS) proved that that these two lactones undergo isomorphism and co‐crystallize in a single cell. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42534.     

Effects of EPDM‐g‐MAH compatibilizer and internal mixer processing parameters on the properties of NR/EPDM blends: An analysis using response surface methodology

This study evaluates the effects of ethylene‐propylene‐diene‐monomer grafted maleic anhydride (EPDM‐g‐MAH) and internal mixer melt compounding processing parameters on the properties of natural rubber/ethylene‐propylene‐diene rubber (NR/EPDM) blends. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) of 2⁵ two‐level fractional factorial, we studied the effects of NR/EPDM ratio, mixing temperature, Banbury rotor speed, mixing period, and EPDM‐g‐MAH contents in NR/EPDM blends. The study found that the presence of EPDM‐g‐MAH in NR/EPDM blends had a predominant role as a compatibilizing agent, which affected the processability and properties of the final material. We also determined the model fitting with constant determination, R² of 99.60% for tensile strength (TS) response with a suggested combination of mixing process input parameters. The reproducibility of the proposed mixing strategy was then confirmed through model validation with a minor deviation at +2.303% and higher desirability of 0.960. This study is essential in providing a process design reference for NR/EPDM blends preparation by melt‐blending and the role of a compatibilizer from the systematic Design of Experiment (DOE) approach. The experimental findings were further supported with swelling and cross‐link density measurements, differential scanning calorimetry analysis, and observation of fracture morphology using a scanning electron microscope. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42199.     

Melting and crystallization behaviors,morphology, and mechanical properties of β‐polypropylene/polypropylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride/calcium sulfate whisker composites

The melting and crystallization behaviors, morphology, and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/surface‐treated calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) whisker (T‐CSW), β‐PP/T‐CSW, and β‐PP/polypropylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (PP‐g‐MAH)/T‐CSW composites had been investigated via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mechanical tests. We found that T‐CSW was an α‐nucleating agent and increased the crystallization temperatures of PP, but PP‐g‐MAH and high loadings of T‐CSW had weakly negative effects on the crystallization rates of PP. The T‐CSW restrained the formation of β‐spherulites, and the spherulitic size decreased in the composites. PP‐g‐MAH improved the compatibility and adhesion between T‐CSW and the matrix. The notched impact strength was improved, and the tensile strength was enhanced at low levels of T‐CSW, while the flexural modulus was weakened for β‐PP/T‐CSW and β‐PP/PP‐g‐MAH/T‐CSW composites versus PP/T‐CSW composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2121–2132, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers