The linear tearing properties of biaxially oriented PA6/MXD6 blending films

The main purpose of this work was to investigate the linear tearing properties of PA6/MXD6 films prepared by simultaneous biaxial stretching. The compatibility between PA6 and MXD6 and the thermal properties of the PA6/MXD6 composites were also investigated. The results showed that the tearing deviation of the blending films decreased from 100 to 3.8% when the MXD6 blend ratio increased from 0 to 25%, but the deviation increased when the MXD6 blend ratio continue to increase. It means that the PA6/MXD6 films with addition of 25 wt% MXD6 exhibited the best linear tearing properties. The differential scanning calorimetry results revealed that the addition of MXD6 reduced the melting temperature from 227.5 to 224.8°C and crystallization temperature of PA6 from 179.3 to 175°C due to the benzene ring structure of MXD6. The dynamic mechanical analysis results indicated that MXD6 exhibits favorable compatibility with PA6. In addition, it was found that the barrier properties of the biaxially oriented PA6/MXD6 films were extremely improved with the increase of MXD6 content.     

Effects of the biaxial orientation on the mechanical and optical properties and shrinkage of polyamide 6-66–montmorillonite–nanosilica nanocomposite films

Polyamide 6–66 (PA6-66)–montmorillonite (MMT)–nanosilica (NS) nanocomposite films were fabricated through a cast film process and then biaxially stretched on a laboratory stretcher. Uniaxial or biaxial stretching induced the elongated conformation of MMT and NS. The b axis of the α crystals and the amorphous phase were revealed to align along the machine direction (MD) after stretching, with the uniaxial orientation playing a more significant role. Furthermore, the crystallinity of PA6-66 stretching increased with the stretching ratio. Uniaxial stretching gave rise to a significantly enhanced tensile strength along the MD, whereas it slightly decreased the mechanical properties along the transverse direction (TD). In contrast, the films subjected to biaxial stretching exhibited more balanced mechanical properties. Uniaxial and biaxial stretching led to decreased transmittance and increased haze in the PA6-66–MMT–NS films; this could have been due to the elongated nanostructure of the two nanofillers, which inhibited the transmission and facilitated the scattering of visible light. The thermal shrinkage of the films increased with increasing stretching ratio, and the biaxially oriented films presented nearly equal shrinkage in the MD and TD. The addition of nanofillers decreased the shrinkage attributed to the mobility inhibition of the polymer chains during heating. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47504.     

Microstructural Analyses of Biaxially Oriented Polylactide/Modified Thermoplastic Starch Film with Drastic Improvement in Toughness

This study presents microstructural regularization of biaxially oriented polylactide blended with a silane‐modified thermoplastic starch (BO‐PLA/mTPS) film, traced by X‐ray diffraction and scattering, and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. Interfacial adhesion improvement of mTPS favors PLA crystallization, and produces a large δ‐crystal (100–150 nm) with isotropic orientation when combining with BO stretching. High draw ratio (5 × 5), and BO stretching rate (75 mm s^?1) lead to tight packing of PLA lamellae in both BO‐PLA/TPS and BO‐PLA/mTPS films, resulting in drastic toughness improvement (i.e., fivefold increases of Young's modulus and tensile strength, and threefold increase of elongation, as compared to those of the films without the BO process) with significantly decreased water absorption. However, the effect of reactive compatibility by mTPS on mechanical and water barrier properties is hindered by the BO process in which the V_H‐type patterns of TPS and mTPS are unclearly present, overlapped with (203) diffraction plane of PLA crystal, especially applying fast stretching.     

Oxygen barrier properties of polyketone/EVOH blend films and their resistance to moisture

Polyketone (PK) has excellent chemical and mechanical properties, but its use in food packaging is limited due to its oxygen barrier properties being insufficient for high-barrier film applications. To improve its oxygen barrier properties, PK has been blended with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), which is one of the highest oxygen barrier polymers in use today. The oxygen barrier properties under both dry and humid conditions, as well as the mechanical properties of PK/EVOH blend films were investigated in this study. These novel PK/EVOH blend films exhibited unusually low oxygen permeability values from 0.3 to 0.16 cc 20 μm m⁻² day⁻¹ atm⁻¹ with increasing EVOH content from 30 to 70 wt%, which are even lower than those of the ideal laminar model that expresses the theoretical minimum permeability values attainable for blended barrier films. These high oxygen barrier properties of PK/EVOH blend films can conceivably be attributed to the combination of two dominant effects: a tortuous diffusion path through the EVOH domains in the PK matrix and hydrogen bonding interactions between PK and EVOH. Furthermore, in high-humidity environments with retorting, the PK/EVOH blend films exhibited superior resistance to moisture over EVOH. Immediately after the retorting test, the oxygen permeability of the high-barrier PK/EVOH blend films with an EVOH content of 30–40 wt% increased by less than 3× the pre-retorting value, as opposed to 74× for EVOH. In addition, PK/EVOH blend films displayed superior stretching characteristics, with a breaking strain of over 300%, which are valuable for flexible packaging applications.     

Development of orientation and mechanical properties of extrusion cast polyamide 11 films in biaxial stretching process

The development of orientation of extrusion cast polyamide 11 films in the biaxial stretching process was studied with birefringence and wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) pole figures. White‐Spruiell biaxial orientation factors of the crystalline phase were calculated with the pole figure data. Both biaxially stretched films were developed. Planarity of hydrogen bonding planes with respect to the film surface was observed from WAXD pole figures. Mechanical properties of the films were studied. Tensile strength and elongation at break were successfully correlated with the out‐of‐plane birefringences.     

干燥温度对纳米氧化石墨烯/PHBH复合膜结构及性能的影响

通过溶液浇铸法制备得到纳米氧化石墨烯（GO）/聚羟基丁酸-羟基己酸酯（PHBH）复合膜,利用SEM、XRD、DSC、拉伸测试、阻隔测试及透明度测试等检测手段,研究了不同干燥温度对复合膜结构及性能的影响,优化了制备工艺。结果表明：随着干燥温度的升高,GO在PHBH中的分散性以及复合膜的结晶度、断裂伸长率和阻隔性先增加后减小,而拉伸强度及透光率则随温度的增加而增加。当干燥温度为45℃→55℃梯度升温时,GO在PHBH中均匀分散,且复合膜的断面光滑,有良好的结晶度、热稳定性、力学及阻隔性能,其拉伸强度、断裂伸长率可分别达到20.11MPa、17.47%,且透氧系数及水蒸气透过系数分别为48cm³/(m²·d)、13.33g/(cm²·d),综合性能优于其他干燥温度下的复合膜。     

Effect of uniaxial stretching on thermal,oxygen barrier,and mechanical properties of polyamide 6 and poly(m‐xylene adipamide) nanocomposite films

In this study, the effect of uniaxial stretching on the thermal, oxygen barrier and mechanical properties of aliphatic polyamide 6 (PA6) and aromatic Poly(m‐xylene adipamide) (MXD6) nylon films as well as their in‐situ polymerized nanocomposites with 4 wt% clay were studied. Cast films were prepared by extrusion process and rapidly cooled using an air knife. The precursor films were uniaxially stretched at 110°C with draw ratios varying from 1.5 to 5. DSC results showed that the cold crystallization temperature (T_cc) of the uniaxially stretched MXD6 and MXD6/clay films drastically shifted to the lower temperatures when draw ratio increased. The aromatic nylon films had lower oxygen permeability than those of the aliphatic films, due to more rigidity and chain packing. However, the oxygen permeability of the stretched films increased with draw ratio (DR) up to a critical value for each sample, while further stretching resulted in a reduction in the oxygen permeation. This phenomenon was related to the changes in free volume upon uniaxial stretching. The ability of different geometrical models to describe the experimental relative permeability data was investigated. The Bharadwaj model that took into account clay orientation was the most successful one to predict the oxygen barrier characteristics of the stretched nanocomposites at high draw ratios. The Young's modulus and tensile strength of the aliphatic and aromatic nylons increased with uniaxial deformation, while the flexibility and elongation at break of the former decreased with increasing DR. A larger increase in the Young's modulus of the uniaxially stretched nanocomposite films compared with the neat samples was observed and could be related to the improvement in the clay orientation as well as a better alignment of the crystalline phase due to incorporating the clay platelets in the polymer matrix. In contrast, the flexibility of the stretched MXD6 improved remarkably (ca., 25 times) compared with the precursor film (DR = 1) when the draw ratio increased to 1.5. This could be related to the effect of hot stretching on the enhancement of polymer chains relaxation and mobility at low draw ratios. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1113–1127, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Oxygen barrier properties of biaxially oriented polypropylene/polyvinyl alcohol blend films

The biaxially oriented PP/PVA blend film was prepared and had the higher oxygen barrier property by about 130 times than that of a biaxially oriented PP film. When the viscosity ratio (η_d(PVA)/η_m(PP)) decreased, the dispersed PVA phase was developed into platelets during stretching process. Oxygen permeability was dependent on the number and size of PVA platelet. However, the Oxygen permeability was not sensitively changed in above 25 wt% of PVA. To obtain excellent barrier property, the optimum amount of plasticizer and initiator was required. A pasticizer was related to the size and degree of crystallization of PVA platelet. An initiator played the role of a compatibilizer. The oxygen barrier was enhanced with increasing the viscosity of PP and draw ratio. The higher viscosity of PP was advantageous for preventing the delamination of a blend film, and the moisture vapor permeability was not affected with the laminar structure. As a result, the biaxially oriented PP/PVA blend film had the potential of substituting for the PVDC coated BOPP film.     

Performance of reprocessed multilayer LDPE/nylon-6 film

Multilayer LDPE/nylon-6 films with an overall content of 71 wt% LDPE, 24 wt% nylon-6, and 5 wt% PE-based tie-layer adhesive were reprocessed under both minimal and extensive mixing conditions. Thermal and mechanical properties, oxygen and water vapor permeability, and morphology of the reprocessed samples were determined. The modulus and yield stress of the reprocessed films fell between those of the pure homopolymers, whereas percent elongation at break and energy-to-break for all reprocessed films were less than those of the homopolymers. In minimally reprocessed film, layering of LDPE (low-density polyethylene) and nylon-6 was retained, whereas in extensively mixed samples, nylon-6 domains were spherical and ranged from 0.2 to 7 μm. Minimally reprocessed film exhibited good O₂ and H₂O vapor barrier properties, whereas extensively-mixed samples had poor barrier properties. Properties of well-mixed blends prepared both with and without adhesive showed that 5 wt% adhesive did not compatibilize the LDPE and nylon-6 components.     

Morphological, Thermal, Barrier and Mechanical Properties of LDPE/EVOH Blends in Extruded Blown Films

We have investigated the morphological, thermal, barrier, and mechanical properties of low-density polyethylene/ethylene–vinyl alcohol blend (LDPE/EVOH; 85/15 wt%) in highly and biaxially oriented blown films. Maleic anhydride-grafted linear low-density polyethylene (LDPE-g-MAH) in various concentrations (from 0 to 10 phr) was used as the compatibilizer for the immiscible system. Thermal analysis of the blend films shows that their melting temperatures, crystallization temperatures, and heats of fusion stay almost constant upon varying the amount of compatibilizer. The addition of the compatibilizer did not adversely affect the inherent properties of the blends, especially their barrier properties, through constraint effects of the grafted EVOH (EVOH-g-LD). The heat of fusion of EVOH obtained during the first heating is much higher than that of the second as a result of stress-induced crystallization during the blown film process. Oxygen permeation measurements show that the oxygen barrier properties of both highly and biaxially oriented blown films decrease upon increasing the amount of compatibilizer, although morphological analysis showed that the blends exhibit better laminar dispersion of the EVOH phase in the LDPE matrix when LDPE-g-MAH is added. The increase in oxygen permeability results from the presence of microvoids at the interface between the two phases during the process. Mechanical measurements showed that there exists an optimal amount of LDPE-g-MAH for maximizing both the tensile and tear properties in both the machine and transverse directions.     

Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/poly(ethylene glycol‐co‐1,3/1,4‐cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate)/clay nanocomposites: Effects of biaxial stretching

In this study, we fabricated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/clay, PET/poly(ethylene glycol‐co‐1,3/1,4‐cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) (PETG), and PET/PETG/clay nanocomposite plates and biaxially stretched them into films by using a biaxial film stretching machine. The tensile properties, cold crystallization behavior, optical properties, and gas and water vapor barrier properties of the resulting films were estimated. The biaxial stretching process improved the dispersion of clay platelets in both the PETG and PET/PETG matrices, increased the aspect ratio of the platelets, and made the platelets more oriented. Thus, the tensile, optical, and gas‐barrier properties of the composite films were greatly enhanced. Moreover, strain‐induced crystallization occurred in the PET/PETG blend and in the amorphous PETG matrix. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42207.     

蛭石/PBAT复合薄膜的制备与性能

使用蛭石（VMT）作为填料,以可生物降解的聚对苯二甲酸-己二酸丁二醇酯（PBAT）作为基体,采用熔融-吹塑法制备出蛭石/聚对苯二甲酸-己二酸丁二醇酯（VMT/PBAT）复合薄膜,并通过添加聚苯乙烯马来酸酐共聚物（SMA）作为相容剂制备了VMT/PBAT/SMA复合薄膜。对纯PBAT薄膜、VMT/PBAT和VMT/PBAT/SMA复合薄膜的热性能、流变性能、水蒸汽阻隔性能、断面微观结构和力学性能进行了测试。结果表明,相比纯PBAT薄膜,蛭石的填充使VMT/PBAT复合薄膜的热稳定性降低,相容剂SMA的添加增强了VMT/PBAT/SMA复合薄膜的热稳定性;蛭石的添加使复合薄膜的结晶度降低了约2%。水蒸汽透过量测试表明,两种复合薄膜水蒸汽阻隔性能符合国家标准;VMT的添加使VMT/PBAT复合薄膜的拉伸强度和断裂伸长率降低,而添加相容剂SMA使VMT/PBAT/SMA复合薄膜的拉伸强度和断裂伸长率相比VMT/PBAT复合薄膜提高约10 %。     

How the biaxially stretching mode influence dielectric and energy storage properties of polypropylene films

The most important polymer film used in commercial capacitors is biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), which could be produced by sequentially or simultaneously biaxial orientation after the melt-extrusion. In order to disclose the influence of the stretching technique on the properties of films, the BOPP films with varied thickness were fabricated by sequential and simultaneous orientation, respectively. Compared to the sequentially biaxially stretched films, the crystal grains in the simultaneously biaxially stretched films are more isotropically dispersed. As temperature increases, all the BOPP films exhibit similar dielectric constant, and the simultaneous films have much lower dielectric loss thanks to the finer blended crystalline and amorphous phases. When the film thickness is smaller than 5 μm, the breakdown field strength, energy density and discharging time of the simultaneous films can be increased by at least 10% comparing to the sequential ones, which is very important for reducing the volume of the film capacitors. All the results suggest the simultaneously biaxial orientation mode shows significant advantages in producing thin BOPP films with better mechanical and electrical properties.     

Barrier property and morphology of polypropylene/polyamide blend film

The barrier property of polypropylene (PP)/polyamide (PA) blend film produced by the extrusion casting film process was studied by investigating the effects of rheological properties of each components, compatibilizer content, screw rpm, and the absorbed moisture, and by performing morphological analysis and permeability modeling. The oxygen barrier property of blend film with ellipsoidal structure of PA dispersed phase was significantly improved by a factor of 5.4 with the addition of only 20 wt% PA, when compatibilizer was added by the content of 7 phr and the PP matrix resin and process condition was selected to induce lower viscosity ratio less than unity. Using Fricke’s model with the value of 19.6 of aspect ratio of the ellipsoid, the permeabilities of blend films as a function of PA content could be predicted and exhibited a good agreement with the experimental results. The absorbed moisture had a significant influence on the barrier property of the PP/PA blend system, suggesting that the hygroscopic PA resin should be incorporated with the high water barrier PP resin by the amount below about 20 wt% to minimize the deterioration of the barrier property in the humid atmosphere.     

Characterization of crystallinity,orientation, and mechanical properties in biaxially stretched poly(p-phenylene sulfide) films

In this paper, we describe the preparation and structural characterization of biaxially oriented poly(p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS) films. These films were prepared in a biaxial stretching machine at various stretching temperatures, rates, and stretching ratios. Selected samples were constrained annealed at elevated temperatures. The state of orientation was determined by wide angle X-ray diffraction (pole figure determination) and birefringence measurements. The results are expressed in terms of the biaxial orientation functions (?,?). Mechanical properties (tensile modulus, tensile strength, and elongation to break) were obtained as a function of processing conditions and direction in the plane of the films.     

长烷基链对水性聚氨酯在非极性基材上附着力的影响

以聚己二酸新戊二醇酯（PNA）、二聚酸聚酯多元醇（BY3026）、异佛尔酮二异氰酸酯（IPDI）为主要原料制备了一系列侧链含长链烷基的水性聚氨酯（WPU）乳液并制成胶膜。通过FTIR、DSC表征了胶膜的结构和热性能，测试了乳液粒径及胶膜的力学性能、吸水率、接触角以及其在双向拉伸聚丙烯薄膜（BOPP）上的附着力。结果表明，当m(BY3026)∶m(PNA)从0∶1增加到3∶5,WPU乳液粒径增大，胶膜的耐水性增强，表面能先减小后增大，拉伸强度和断裂伸长率从52.6 MPa和2607.2%分别降低至38.7 MPa和1911.2%。当m(BY3026)∶m(PNA)=2∶5时，制备的WPU胶膜表面能为35.43mJ/m2,WPU乳液在BOPP薄膜上的T-剥离强度为2.98 N/25 mm。     

Preparation and characterization of biaxially oriented polypropylene film with high molecular orientation in the machine direction by sequential biaxial stretching

Novel approach of applying the ternary polymer blend of long‐chain branched polypropylene (LCB‐PP), conventional polypropylene (PP), and hydrogenated polydicyclopentadiene (hDCPD) has been employed to tensilize biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film in the machine direction (MD) by successive sequential biaxial stretching method. It is found that the addition of LCB‐PP improves the MD stretchability of the BOPP film of PP/hDCPD blend. Depending on the content of LCB‐PP, LCB‐PP/PP/hDCPD ternary blend could be biaxially stretched up to the MD stretching ratio (MDX) of 12 without film breakage whereas that of PP (conventional BOPP film) resulted in the MDX up to 6. This excellent MD stretchability enabled to tensilize the BOPP film in the MD, where Young's modulus in the MD could be increased up to 4.9 GPa, twice higher than that of conventional BOPP film. The orientation of total molecular chains and that of crystalline molecular chains were evaluated by in‐plane distribution of refractive indices and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, respectively. The results are discussed from the viewpoint of deformation behavior during stretching process. Moreover, the resultant film had a dimensional stability substantially equivalent to that of conventional one, in spite of the higher stretching ratio, and an improved moisture barrier property. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Uniaxial and biaxial orientation development and mechanical properties of polystyrene films

Uniaxially and biaxially oriented polystyrene films were prepared in a biaxial stretching machine. The state of orientation was determined by birefringence measurements and represented in terms of a set of biaxial orientation factors ?. The data are plotted on an isosceles triangular diagram whose coordinates represent the orientation factors ?, ?. Tensile force–elongation curves were obtained on the films in the machine stretching direction (MSD) and at various angles to the MSD in the plane of the film. The isotropic film is brittle, while uniaxial films yield in the machine direction but are brittle in the transverse direction. The biaxially oriented films exhibit ductile yielding in all directions in the plane of the film.     

Structure development in biaxially stretched polystyrene film: Part I. Property-orientation correlation

A study of orientation development in polystyrene film by biaxial stretching is described. Stretch ratios up to 7.2 × 7.2 were used. Mechanical properties of polystyrene films were correlated with the level of molecular orientation developed by uniaxial or biaxial stretching. Sensitivity of the mechanical properties to change due to development of orientation varied as follows: Yield strength < Young's modulus < Tensile strength < Elongation to break. Brittle to ductile transition phenomena were observed at certain orientation values in the orientation triangle diagram. The transition occurs when f × f ～ 0.0025 for biaxially oriented and f ～ 0.015 in the machine direction for uniaxially oriented films. SEM photomicrographs show that the fracture surfaces of ductile failures exhibit many fibrils while brittle failures exhibit no fibrils.     

Improved strength and toughness of polyketone composites using extremely small amount of polyamide 6 grafted graphene oxides

Polyketone (PK) composites were prepared by a solution casting method using 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol as a solvent and polyamide 6 grafted graphene oxides (PA 6-GOs) as filler materials. PA 6-GOs were obtained by in situ polymerization of ε-caprolactam using GOs having different amounts of oxygen functional groups. The PK composites containing only an extremely small amount of the PA 6-GOs (0.01 wt%) showed much improved mechanical properties compared to PK. This could be ascribed to the homogeneous dispersion of the graphene-based filler materials in the polymer and specific interactions such as dipole–dipole interactions and/or the hydrogen bonds between the fillers and the polymer matrix. For example, when 0.01 wt% of PA 6-GO having less oxygen functional groups was used as a filler for the composite, the tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and elongation at break of the composite increased by 35%, 26%, and 76%, respectively. When 0.01 wt% of PA 6-GO having larger content of oxygen functional groups and PA 6 was used, Young’s modulus decreased, while the tensile strength increased by 37%, and the elongation at break increased tremendously by 100 times, indicating that very tough polymeric materials could be prepared using a very small amount of the graphene-based fillers.