Effects of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution on creep properties of polypropylene homopolymer

The molecular weights of the industrial-grade isotactic polypropylene (i-PP) homopolymers samples were determined by the melt-state rheological method and effects of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution on solid and melt state creep properties were investigated in detail. The melt-state creep test results showed that the creep resistance of the samples increased by M_w due to the increased chain entanglements, while variations in the polydispersity index (PDI) values did not cause a considerable change in the creep strain values. Moreover, the solid-state creep test results showed that creep strain values increased by M_w and PDI due to the decreasing amount of crystalline structure in the polymer. The results also showed that the amount of crystalline segment was more effective than chain entanglements that were caused by long polymer chains on the creep resistance of the polymers. Modeling the solid-state viscoelastic structure of the samples by the Burger model revealed that the weight of the viscous strain in the total creep strain increased with M_w and PDI, which meant that the differences in the creep strain values of the samples would be more pronounced at extended periods of time.     

Effect of molecular weight and branch content on the creep behavior of oriented polyethylene

Creep studies were carried out on a range of homopolymers and copolymers of polyethylene with well‐defined molecular weight and branch content. The creep data were analyzed in terms of two thermally activated processes acting in parallel and the effects of molecular weight and branch content are discussed. It is shown that increasing either the number‐average molecular weight or the weight‐average molecular weight gives improved creep behavior at all stress levels. The introduction of butyl branches leads to lower creep at low‐stress levels but can give rise to higher creep at high stress. Plots of the equilibrium log₁₀(strain rate) versus stress at fixed draw ratio (strain) can be used to define sections through a unique true stress/true strain/strain rate surface for each material. These creep results have an additional value in terms of the link between slow crack propagation (SCG) in polyethylene and fibril creep, confirming the proposal made elsewhere that SCG can be quantified in terms of creep to failure across the true stress/true strain/strain rate surface. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, J Appl Polym Sci 89: 1663–1670, 2003     

低聚壳聚糖的复合酶法制备研究

通过对黏均分子量、酶活力、水解率和还原糖浓度的测定,研究了由商业α-淀粉酶、纤维素酶和果胶酶1∶1∶1(m/m/m)组成的复合酶降解壳聚糖的最佳工艺条件,结果表明:复合酶在酶底物比为1∶5(m/m)、pH 5.3、温度56℃的条件下,酶解2 h可得到分子量为1 000～4 000的低聚壳聚糖,且通过傅里叶红外光谱分析酶解后的产物结构无明显变化。     

Morphology of regenerated silk fibroin: Effects of freezing temperature,alcohol addition,and molecular weight

Regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) was prepared by dissolving in a CaCl₂/ethanol/H₂O solvent system, freezing, and lyophilization. The effect of freezing temperature, alcohol addition, and molecular weight on the morphological and conformational changes were investigated through scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. However, the addition of a small amount of methanol induced the morphological change of RSF to a fine‐particle aggregate, which resulted from the formation of a β‐sheet crystalline structure. The lower the freezing temperature was, the more the formation of aggregates was favored, and the finer powder aggregates were formed. As the amount of added hydrophilic alcohol such as methanol and ethanol increased in the silk fibroin solution, a spherical powder form was changed to fine aggregates with the enhancement of thermal stability and crystallinity. On the other hand, RSFs prepared with a hydrophobic alcohol such as 1‐butanol or 1‐octanol showed a lump‐like or sheet‐like shape of morphology without any changes in conformational transition. It is concluded that the molecular weight of the silk fibroin and the type and amount of alcohol were determining factors in the morphological features of RSF, especially the size and shape of fibroin particles. A uniform ultrafine powder of RSF with a spherical form (～ 1 μm) can be obtained when the molecular weight and the alcohol addition to the silk fibroin solution are controlled. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 3008–3021, 2001     

Synergistic effects of crosslinking and chitosan molecular weight on the microstructure,molecular mobility,thermal and sorption properties of porous chitosan/gelatin/hyaluronic acid scaffolds

In this study, synergistic effects of crosslinking and chitosan molecular weight on the microstructure, molecular mobility, thermal, and sorption properties of porous chitosan/gelatin/hyaluronic acid hybrid foams are reported. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has been utilized to confirm the covalent attachment of hyaluronic acid to gelatin and chitosan, and covalent chemical crosslinking between gelatin and chitosan. Detailed image analysis of scanning electron microscopy images of the porous scaffold hydrids reveal that the pore size of the materials formulated using either low‐ or high‐molecular‐weight chitosan increases significantly upon crosslinking using ethyl(dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/N‐Hydroxysuccinimide. These microstructural changes are even more pronounced for the crosslinked hybrid scaffolds formulated using low‐molecular‐weight chitosan, highlighting a synergistic effect between crosslinking and the use of low‐molecular‐weight chitosan. Results obtained using differential scanning calorimetry demonstrate a significant reduction in molecular mobility reduction in molecular mobility for crosslinked scaffolds formed using high‐molecular‐weight chitosan compared to non‐crosslinked hybrids and crosslinked hybrids formulated using low‐molecular‐weight chitosan. Correspondingly, dynamic vapor sorption evidenced significantly lower water vapor sorption for crosslinked scaffolds formulated using high‐molecular‐weight chitosan. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44772.     

壳聚糖相对分子质量的测定方法

讨论了利用HPLC、特性黏度、动态黏度3种方法的关联来推导测定壳聚糖相对分子质量的简便方法。对6种壳聚糖样品,采用HPLC凝胶系统测定相对分子质量,利用乌氏黏度计一点法测定特性黏度,得出MHS方程为[η] = 3.72 × 10^－5M_w^1.37。同时还建立了10 mg/mL壳聚糖溶液降解过程中相对分子质量和动态黏度之间的关系。     

Effect of immobilized neutral protease on the preparation and physicochemical properties of low molecular weight chitosan and chito‐oligomers

Neutral protease was immobilized on glutaraldehyde‐pretreated N‐succinyl chitosan hydrogel beads and the biocatalyst obtained was used for the preparation of low molecular weight chitosan and chito‐oligomers with molecular weight of 1.9–23.5 kDa from commercial chitosan. Factors affecting the chitinolytic hydrolysis were described. The degradation was monitored by gel permeation chromatography. The structure of degraded chitosan was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction and liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Immobilized neutral protease showed optimal depolymerization at pH 5.7 and 50°C. The degree of deacetylation of the hydrolysates did not change compared to that of the initial chitosan. The decrease of molecular weight led to transformation of crystal structure but the chemical structures of residues were not modified. The degree of polymerization of chito‐oligomers was mainly from 3 to 8. The method allows cyclic procedures of immobilized enzyme and N‐succinyl chitosan support utilization, and is suitable for a large‐scale production of the low molecular weight chitosan and chito‐oligomers free of protein admixtures. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:4185–4193, 2006     

Effect of degree of deacetylation on solubility of low‐molecular‐weight chitosan produced via enzymatic breakdown of chitosan

Chitosan has emerged as a unique biomaterial, possessing scope in diverse applications in the biomedical, food and chemical industries. However, its high molecular weight is a concern when handling the polymer. Various techniques have been explored for depolymerization of this polymer, wherein enzymes have emerged as the most economic method having minimum degrading effect on the polymer and resulting in formation of side products. Chitosan can be depolymerized using a broad range of enzymes. In this study, various enzymes like α‐amylase, papain, pepsin and bromelain were employed to depolymerize chitosan and convert it into its lower molecular weight counterpart. Further, attempts were made to elucidate the process of depolymerization of chitosan, primarily by determining the change in its viscosity and hence its molecular weight. The process of depolymerization was optimized using a one‐factor‐at‐a‐time approach. The molecular weight of the resultant chitosan was estimated using gel permeation chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. These studies revealed a considerable decrease in molecular weights of chitosan depolymerized by pepsin, papain, bromelain and α‐amylase, resulting in recovery of the low‐molecular‐weight chitosan of 76.09 ± 5, 74.18 ± 5, 55.75 ± 5 and 49.18 ± 5%, respectively. Maximum yield and depolymerization were obtained using pepsin and papain due to their enzymatic recognition pattern, which was also validated using studies involving molecular dynamics. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Stabilization of epidermal growth factor on thermal and proteolytic degradation by conjugating with low molecular weight chitosan

Epidermal growth factor (EGF, 5900 Da) has been reported to have the high efficiency of wound repair. However, the half‐life of EGF in the body is too short to exert the biological activity effectively when applied in free forms. Conjugation of the low molecular weight chitosan (LMC) to EGF was carried out to enhance its stability. EGF was conjugated with LMC activated by water‐soluble carbodiimide. The formation of EGF–LMC was quantitatively measured by indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In a study of the thermal and the proteolytic stability of free EGF and EGF–LMC, EGF covalently attached to LMC was found to be more stable than free EGF in thermal and proteolytic stabilities. In animal experiments of which free EGF (control), EGF–LMC (test) and LMC (carrier) diluted in viscous carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solution (vesicle) were applied to the incisional wounds in rats, the EGF–LMC conjugates are considered to be potent wound healing agent with mitogenicity and wound‐healing property. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5072–5082, 2006     

Effects of the molecular weight and the degree of deacetylation of chitosan oligosaccharides on antitumor activity

Effects of the degree of deacetylation (DDA) and the molecular mass of chitosan oligosaccharides (CTS-OS), obtained from the enzymatic hydrolysis of high molecular weight chitosan (HMWC), on antitumor activity was explored. The DDA and molecular weights of CTS-OS were determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis. The CTS-OS were found to be a mixture of mainly dimers (18.8%), trimers (24.8%), tetramers (24.9%), pentamers (17.7%), hexamers (7.1%), heptamers (3.3%), and octamers (3.4%). The CTS-OS were further fractionated by gel-filtration chromatography into two major fractions: (1) COS, consisting of glucosamine (GlcN)(n), n = 3-5 with DDA 100%; and (2) HOS, consisting of (GlcN)(5) as the minimum residues and varying number of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)(n), n = 1-2 with DDA about 87.5% in random order. The cytotoxicities, expressed as the concentration needed for 50% cell death (CC(50)), of CTS-OS, COS, and HOS against PC3 (prostate cancer cell), A549 (lung cancer cell), and HepG2 (hepatoma cell), were determined to be 25 μg·mL(-1), 25 μg·mL(-1), and 50 μg·mL(-1), respectively. The HMWC was approximately 50% less effective than both CTS-OS and COS. These results demonstrate that the molecular weight and DDA of chitosan oligosaccharides are important factors for suppressing cancer cell growth.     

Encapsulation of salicylic acid in acylated low molecular weight chitosan for sustained release topical application

Acylated low molecular weight chitosan was used to encapsulate salicylic acid (SA) for sustained release in topical delivery. Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared from the depolymerization of commercial chitosan and further acylated with short alkyl chains. The successful acylation of butyryl chitosan [low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC)‐B] were proved by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ¹H‐NMR. Successful encapsulation of SA was observed by the shift of amide I band from 1648 cm^?1 in LMWC‐B to 1641–1633 cm^?1 in SA‐loaded LMWC‐B in FTIR analysis, which further confirmed with the size increment from dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy analyses by comparing its unencapsulated LMWC‐B. SA release from LMWC‐B studied by Franz diffusion experiment followed Korsmeyer–Peppas model where the release component n value (0.502) indicated diffusion and polymer swelling were involved in release mechanism. The slow release study of SA showed the acylated chitosan exhibited sustained release property toward SA. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45273.     

聚丙烯熔体流动指数与分子量及其分布的关系

研究了聚丙烯(PP)的熔体流动指数(MI)与聚合物不同分子量之间的关联性,对于分子量分布较窄的PP,数均分子量(Mn)、重均分子量(Mw)和粘均分子量(Mv)均能较好的关联;反之,MI与Mn关联性下降,而MI与Mn和Mv的关联性仍很好,尤其是MI与Mv的关联性受分子量分布的影响很小;MI与Z均分子量的关联性很差。同时．确定了MI与各种分子量之间的关联式,该式用于本体PP工艺反应器内氢气浓度的计算和MI的预测,与实验测量结果吻合良好。     

Creep and recovery behaviour of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene in the region of small uniaxial deformations

The creep and recovery behaviour of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been studied in the region of small uniaxial deformations. At deformations as small as 5 × 10^?4 the stress-strain behaviour is non-rectilinear and the recovery cannot be described by a theory of fading memory. A new one-dimensional constitutive relation is presented which describes quantitatively the multistep creep and recovery behaviour of this material in the case where the specimens are not mechanically preconditioned. The multistep in strain-stress relaxation behaviour of the UHMWPE has also been investigated for the case in which the second step in strain is approximately half the magnitude of the first step. Calculations of the strain necessary to give the observed stress in a two-step stress-relaxation experiment have been made assuming that the stress-relaxation experiment can be represented by a series of multistep creep experiments where in each step the stress is adjusted so as to maintain a constant deformation. The agreement between the experimental values and the calculated values are very good. The proposed equation, which describes plasto-viscoelastic behaviour, appears to be able to describe quantitatively the creep and recovery behaviour of a wide range of semicrystalline polymers.     

黏均分子质量为1万左右的壳聚糖制备的研究

本文着重讨论了通过过氧化氧氧化法降解制备黏均分子质量在1万左右的壳聚糖。本实验采用了正交实验设计，探讨了制备条件对产物脱乙酰度、特性黏度、水溶性等的影响。最佳制备条件为：H2O2的质量分数为4％，CH3COOH的质量分数3．5％，壳聚糖的质量分数2％，时间4h，温度50℃。最佳制备条件得到的壳聚糖脱乙酰度为88．53％，黏均分子质量为9048。实验结果基本苻合预期的要求。     

Effect of time/temperature treatment parameters on depolymerization of chitosan

Depolymerization of the biopolymer chitosan by an autoclaving process at 121°C and 15 psi was investigated using various treatments. Acetic acid was found to be the most effective solvent in decreasing chitosan viscosity among the six organic acids tested. The rate of viscosity decrease increased with increasing chitosan concentration. The viscosity of 1% chitosan in 1% acetic acid decreased rapidly to 91% of the initial viscosity following the initial 15 min of autoclaving. This decreased gradually to 93% and 94% in 30 and 60 min, respectively, without being adversely affected by the chitosan solution volume. The degree of deacetylation was comparable before and after autoclaving for 60 min. Chitosan at three molecular weights (M_r = 1597, 1110, and 789 kDa) decreased in molecular weight by 46%–51% in the 15‐min treatment, 55%–60% in the 30‐min treatment, and 60%–62% in the 60‐min treatment. The addition of 0.1%–1.0% (v/v) concentrations of hydrogen peroxide to the chitosan solution autoclaved for 15 min decreased viscosity by 94%–98% and molecular weight by 69%–83%. This process is a simple, timesaving, homogeneous depolymerization procedure, and it is possible to prepare partially hydrolyzed chitosan with specified molecular weights by regulating the time of treatment. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 1890–1894, 2003     

Syntheses of novel chitosan derivative with excellent solubility,anticoagulation, and antibacterial property by chemical modification

The soluble and antibacterial chitosan derivative was prepared on the basis of the regioselective chemical modification. The N‐(2‐phthaloylation) chitosan was obtained via the reaction of chitosan with phthalic anhydride in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) at 130°C, and O‐(3,6‐hydroxyethyl) chitosan was produced using chlorohydrins as grafting agent and hydrazine hydrate as reductant. The structure of hydroxyethyl chitosan (HC) was characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) respectively. The solubility, anticoagulation, and antibacterial property were assessed separately. The result shows that amine I of chitosan is replaced and the amide II disappears during chemical modification, and the functional groups of C6‐OH and ‐NH2 are also reacted. The water‐solubility of the novel chitosan derivative was enhanced relatively; it could even slightly soluble in methanol. The results of platelet adhesion and the activated partial thromboplastin times (APTTs) indicate that grafting hydroxyethyl could improve anticoagulation of chitosan. The antibacterial activity of HC against Enterococcus and E. coli had been much better owing to enhancing the degree of protonation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Polymer molecular weight,zero shear viscosity,steady state compliance and binary blending law

Viscoelastic properties of binary blends of polystyrenes with a narrow distribution of low and high molecular weights (M₂ > M₁ > M_c) were examined. By combining the theoretical work of Montfort et al., Kurata, and Schausberger, a binary blending law was developed and was used to calculate the zero shear viscosity and steady state compliance of the blend of two monodisperse polymers. The blending law was also used to calculate the molecular weight distribution of a polydisperse polymer. The calculated results were compared with those obtained from viscoelastic ] and GPC measurements, with good agreement.     

Molecular weight effect on antimicrobial activity of chitosan treated cotton fabrics

The effect of the molecular weight of chitosan on antimicrobial activity was investigated using three chitosans of different molecular weights [1800 (water soluble), 100,000, and 210,000] and similar degrees of deacetylation (86–89%). Cotton fabrics were treated with chitosan by the pad–dry–cure method. The molecular weight dependence of the antimicrobial activity of chitosan was more pronounced at a low treatment concentration. Chitosans with molecular weight of 100,000 and 210,000 effectively inhibited Staphylococcus aureus at a 0.5% treatment concentration. Chitosan with a molecular weight of 1800 was effective against S. aureus at a 1.0% treatment concentration. Escherichia coli was effectively inhibited by chitosan with a molecular weight of 210,000 at a 0.3% treatment concentration and by chitosans with a molecular weight of 1800 and 100,000 at a 1.0% treatment concentration. Proteus vulgaris was effectively inhibited by chitosans with molecular weight of 100,000 and 210,000 at a 0.3% treatment concentration and by chitosan with a molecular weight of 1800 at a 0.5% treatment concentration. None of the chitosans significantly inhibited Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa below a 1.0% treatment concentration. Chitosans with high molecular weights were more effective in inhibiting bacterial growth than chitosans with low molecular weights. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 2495–2501, 2001     

基于聚合物分子量分布的乙烯淤浆聚合工艺优化

分子量及分布是聚合物生产过程中极其重要的质量指标,但目前的技术水平并不能实现分子量及其分布的实时测量,基于反应机理的动态建模是实现其软测量的重要方法。以乙烯淤浆聚合工艺为研究对象,基于聚合机理,分别以聚合物的平均分子量和分子量分布为目标,以循环气中氢气乙烯比为决定变量,采用稳态优化方法求取聚合物生产的工艺条件。结果表明:以平均分子量为优化目标所得的结果与分析值的偏差较大,虽然聚合物的平均分子量符合要求,但聚合物的分子量分布曲线与所需产品的分子量分布曲线之间的最大误差可达0.092;而以分子量分布曲线为目标所得的最大误差只有0.069。因此,以分子量分布曲线作为目标的优化方法明显比常规的以平均分子量为目标的优化方法优越。     

The effect of reaction time and temperature during heterogenous alkali deacetylation on degree of deacetylation and molecular weight of resulting chitosan

The objective of the study is to elucidate the effect of reaction time and temperature during heterogenous alkali reaction on degree of deacetylation (DD) and molecular weight (MW) of the resulting chitosans, and to establish the reaction conditions to obtain desired DD and MW chitosan products. Chitin was extracted from red shrimp process waste. DDs and MWs were determined by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and static light scattering, respectively. The results are as follow: The DD and MW of chitin obtained were 31.9% and 5637 kDa, respectively. The DD of the resulting chitosan increased along with reaction time and/or reaction temperature. The DDs of the resulting chitosan that were obtained from 140°C were higher than those reacted at 99°C. The highest DD of the resulting chitosans after alkali deacetylation at 99 and 140°C were 92.2 and 95.1%, respectively. The DDs of chitosans increased fast at the beginning of reaction process then slowed over time. The reaction rate and rate constant of the deacetylation reaction decreased with increasing DD of the reactant. The MWs of chitosans decreased along with the deacetylation time. MW of those chitosans reacted at 140°C are smaller than those at 99°C. The rate of chitosan degradation was above 43.6%/h in the initial stage, then decreased to about 20%/h. The degradation rate constants raised substantially in the late stage. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 2917–2923, 2003