Improved compatibility of PET/HDPE blend by using GMA grafted thermoplastic elastomer

ABSTRACT

Herein, graft-modified ethylene-1-octene copolymer (POE-g-GMA) and styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer (SBS-g-GMA) were found to be excellent reactive compatibilizers for immiscible poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blends via in-situ reaction compatibilization. With increase in compatibilizer amount, uniform phase morphology was observed in all the blends. Thus, exhibiting enhanced mechanical properties, especially, the notched Izod impact strength. In comparison with SBS-g-GMA, compatibilizer POE-g-GMA demonstrated greater impact on the compatibility. The addition of 15% POE-g-GMA produced blends with best mechanical properties. Besides, both POE-g-GMA and SBS-g-GMA enhanced the melt viscosity of PET/HDPE blends.     

New ways to improve the damping properties in high‐performance thermoplastic vulcanizates

The incorporation of viscoelastic materials represents an effective strategy to reduce the vibratory level of structural components. Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are a special type of viscoelastic material that combines the elastomeric properties of rubbers with the easy processing of thermoplastics. In the present work, we propose innovative ways to improve the damping properties of high‐performance TPVs by using rubbers with carboxylic functionalities. For that, TPVs from physical blends of carboxylated hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (XHNBR) and polyamide 6 (PA6) were prepared. The chain dynamics of different mixed crosslink systems containing peroxide, metal oxides and hindered phenolic antioxidants were investigated in order to find the most suitable strategy to design a high‐performance TPV system with upgraded damping properties. The results indicate that the damping performance of the TPV system can be tailored by controlling the type and magnitude of the bonding interactions between the mixed crosslink system and the XHNBR rubber phase. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential of TPV systems containing carboxylic rubbers as high‐performance damping materials. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thermoplastic and low dielectric constants polyimides based on BPADA-BAPP

ABSTRACT

The thermoplastic and low dielectric constants polyimides were introduced. The polyimides were prepared by pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) or 4,4?-(4,4?-Isopropylidenediphenoxy)diphthalic anhydride (BPADA) as anhydride monomer and 4,4?-oxydianiline (ODA) or 2,2-bis(4-(4-aminephenoxy)phenyl)propane (BAPP) as amine monomer. The polyimides were well characterized by FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic thermomechanical analysis, dielectric measurement, and tensile test. The dielectric constants were 2.32–2.95 compared with 3.10 of ODA-PMDA polyimide, while partly polyimides were thermoplastic. The results indicated anhydride monomers, containing lateral methyl groups, made polyimides become thermoplastic. The results of molecular simulations via Materials Studio also proved this conclusion.     

Well‐defined,environment‐friendly synthesis of polypeptides based on phosgene‐free transformation of amino acids into urethane derivatives and their applications

In this study, both naturally occurring and artificial amino acids were successfully transformed into the corresponding urethane derivatives using diphenyl carbonate. The urethanes thus prepared could be efficiently cyclized into amino acid N‐carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) without the requirement of phosgene. In addition, the presence of primary amines converted the urethane derivatives into NCAs and initiated the ring‐opening polymerization of the in situ formed NCAs, allowing for the well‐defined synthesis of polypeptides. These polypeptides contained initiating ends functionalized by an amine‐derived residue and propagating ends bearing the reactive amino group. By precise control of the structures of the polypeptides, various polypeptide conjugates such as block copolymers and graft copolymers were successfully synthesized as designed, and their applications in antifouling coatings against proteins, drug delivery systems and biosensors were demonstrated. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

3D打印连续纤维复合材料丝材的成形规律

针对3D打印连续纤维增强热塑性树脂复合材料,研究了热塑性树脂在螺杆挤出过程中的流动机理和在纤维界面的浸渍行为,揭示了螺杆转速和牵引速度对复合丝材成形直径和纤维含量的影响规律。提出使用实际浸渍时间和理论完全浸渍时间来共同表征树脂对纤维的浸渍程度,观察复合丝材断面的形貌可知,高浸渍程度的丝材内部空隙较少,树脂和纤维结合更紧密。进行3D打印成形测试,当丝材的浸渍程度从17.25%提高到40.02%,样件的拉伸强度可从132 MPa提高到160 MPa,提高约21%。对样件进行动态力学性能分析(DMA)测试,试验结果表明浸渍程度高的复合材料成形件具有高的存储模量和损耗模量,表明其纤维和基体间的界面结合程度得到了提高和改善。     

不同紫外波长对热塑性淀粉塑料表面的光交联改性研究

为有效提高热塑性淀粉塑料（TPS）的力学和耐水性能，本文提出用不同波长的紫外光照的方法来实现TPS表面的光交联改性。将光引发剂2,4,6?三甲基苯甲酰基二苯基氧化膦（TPO）的乙醇溶液涂覆于TPS表面后进行紫外光照射，研究了不同紫外光波长（254、308、365 nm）对TPS交联度、力学性能、动态力学性能、耐水性和吸湿性的影响。结果表明，与254 nm和365 nm紫外光照后的样品相比，308 nm光照后TPS样品的拉伸、弯曲和冲击强度最大，分别为4.1 MPa，2.7 MPa和96.8 kJ/m²;TPS中淀粉富集区的玻璃化转变温度（T_α）、甘油富集区的玻璃化转变温度（T_β）分别达最高为-37.48 ℃和50.32 ℃，表面接触角最大为75 °，吸水性能也得到显著改善，交联度结果证实此时形成了最佳的交联结构。     

Crystallization-Directed Anisotropic Electroactuation in Selectively Solvated Olefinic Thermoplastic Elastomers: A Thermal and (Electro)Mechanical Property Study

Dielectric elastomers (DEs), a class of soft electroactive polymers that change size upon exposure to an external electric field, constitute an increasingly important class of stimuli-responsive polymers due primarily to their large actuation strains, facile and low-cost fabrication, scalability, and mechanical robustness. Unless purposefully constrained, most DEs exhibit isotropic actuation wherein size changes are the same in all actuation directions. Previous studies of DEs containing oriented, stiff fibers have demonstrated, however, that anisotropic actuation along a designated direction is more electromechanically efficient since this design eliminates energy expended in nonessential directions. To identify an alternative, supramolecular-level route to anisotropic electroactuation, we investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of novel thermoplastic elastomer gels composed of a selectively solvated olefinic block copolymer that not only microphase-separates but also crystallizes upon cooling from the solution state. While these materials possess remarkable mechanical attributes (e.g., giant strains in excess of 4000%), their ability to be strain-conditioned enables huge anisotropic actuation levels, measured to be greater than 30 from the ratio of orthogonal actuation strains. This work establishes that crystallization-induced anisotropic actuation can be achieved with these DEs.     

Fire safety of thermoplastic polyurethane based on pyromellitic dianhydride

In this paper, pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) was firstly used as fire safety agent for thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). And, the fire safety improvement of PMDA in TPU was intensively investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), smoke density test (SDT), cone calorimeter test, and thermogravimetric/infrared spectroscopy, respectively. It has been found that PMDA could significantly improve the ignition level, and the LOI value increase to 28.5% when 8.0 wt% PMDA was incorporated into TPU; PMDA also could effectively suppress the smoke production and heat release during the combustion process. The peak heat release rate and total smoke release of the sample with 8.0 wt% PMDA were decreased by 68% and 22% compared with pure TPU in cone calorimeter test. The thermogravimetric/infrared spectroscopy results showed that PMDA could improve the thermal stability of TPU composites at high temperature and increased the release of CO₂, H₂O, and so on. All results confirmed that PMDA would have a good prospect in reducing the fire hazard of TPU.