Concept of secondary heterogeneous structure of long-chain branched polyethylene

The mechanism of formation of surface roughness and extrusion swelling of the extrudate and the steady-shear viscous flow behavior in the region of high shear rate for branched polymers were investigated using two low-density polyethylenes and their sheared samples. These two polyethylenes varied in their degree of branching, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution but were similar in their melt flow index. The effect of molecular parameters, especially long-chain branching, on viscoelastic properties in the molten state was also considered. Samples of various degree of shearing level were prepared by passing them repeatedly through an extruder. Results of intrinsic viscometry, gel permeation chromatography, and infrared spectroscopy of the original and the sheared samples indicate that no appreciable variation between them takes place in the molecular parameters during the process of extrusion shearing. Both surface roughness and extrusion swelling of the extrudate diminish with increase in the extent of shear. The extrusion shearing affects the surface roughness and extrusion swelling of the extrudate as well as the capillary entrance effect more markedly for the highly branched polymers with considerably higher molecular weight than for the less branched species with bell-type molecular weight distribution. These results demonstrate that heterogeneity becomes more conspicuous with the degree of long-chain branching level, and therefore the role of long-chain branching in the development of the heterogeneity is particularly important. It is suggested that the secondary heterogeneous structure arises through phase separation or from the heterogeneous formation of strongly entangled network at the branching point of the long-chain branching in the manufacturing process of the low-density polyethylene and that its presence causes the distinctive viscoelastic properties of long-chain branched polymer melts.     

Influence of shearing history on the rheological properties and processability of branched polymers. I

The influence of shearing history on the viscoelastic properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is investigated. Swelling of extrudates from a melt indexer is measured for monitoring the variation in viscoelasticity. Continuous shearing of molten LDPE reduces the swelling ratio. The reduction is not due to molecular degradation, as evidenced by constancy of intrinsic viscosity. The rate of the reduction in the swelling ratio depends on the shearing conditions and characteristics of LDPE, but the swelling ratio finally attain a steady value. The swelling ratio reduced by the continuous shearing is completely recovered by solvent or heat treatment. The ratio of the completely reduced swelling ratio to the completely recovered one is defined as a new index representing the viscoelastic variation, the processing index (PI), and the relationship between PI and the primary molecular parameters of LDPE is investigated. It is concluded that the variation in the viscoelastic properties becomes more remarkable with increase in the weight-average molecular weight. The cause of the viscoelastic variation is also discussed from the rheological and thermodynamic points of view.     

Reversible melt flow rate increase of branched acetal polymers

Continued shearing of molten long-chain branched acetal polymers raises their melt flow rates manyfold. The increase is not due to molecular degradation, as evidenced by constancy of inherent viscosity, and by the ability to reverse the increase by dissolving and reprecipitating the polymer. Shearing was found to have only a relatively small effect upon the melt viscosity but a very large effect upon the entrance correction for capillary flow. It is suggested that crystallization of branched polymers from solution creates an exceptionally strong entanglement network, and that the observed rheological changes reflect the disruption by shear of this network.     

Influence of shearing history on the rheological properties and processability of branched polymers. IV. Capillary flow and die swell of low-density polyethylene

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) melts show anomalous rheological behavior; their viscoelastic properties vary with their shearing histories although their molecular structural parameters do not change. Capillary flow and die swell behavior were dependent not only on the experimental conditions such as temperature or shear stress but also on the processing index (PI), which was introduced in a preceding article in order to quantify the anomalous rheological behavior of LDPE melts. In addition, it was found that the flow activation energy at constant shear stress also varied with the shearing histories. The experimental findings are discussed in terms of the rheological flow units of LDPE melts.     

Crystalline and viscoelastic properties of branched polyethylenes synthesized using bidentate nickel (II) catalyst

In this work, five branched polyethylenes with different branching units were synthesized using bidentate nickel (II) catalyst containing -diimine ligands. For comparison, one linear polyethylene was also prepared using tridentate iron (II) catalyst containing -diimine ligand. The crystalline structure of the polyethylenes was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and polarized optical microscope. The crystalline properties were also measured by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Viscoelastic properties of the polyethylenes were investigated using rheometric dynamic analyzer. The DSC and XRD results showed that highly branched polyethylenes exhibit no melting points and no predominating crystalline forms, while the linear polyethylene exhibits clear orthorhombic (110) and (200) reflections on XRD pattern and a clear melting point at 118 °C. The viscoelastic properties of the branched polyethylenes were very complicated due to the combined effect of the molecular weight difference and the degree of chain branching as well as the branching structure.     

A rheological evaluation of linear and branched controlled-rheology polypropylenes

Commodity linear and branched polypropylene resins have been modified by means of peroxide initiated chemical degradation in a reactive extrusion process. Data collected from molar mass and linear viscoelastic property measurements have been used to evaluate the L“crossover modulus” and “modulus separation” rheological polydispersity measures and a theoretical justification is provided for the modulus separation index. In the past, these empirical methods have been used successfully to relate molar mass characteristics to rheological properties. Results obtained in this study confirm the validity of the modulus separation index for linear polymers and suggest that it should be used carefully in the analysis of data from branched polymers. Linear viscoelastic data are used to estimate the terminal relaxation time spectra of both the linear and branched materials and a new correlation between modulus separation and relaxation time polydispersity is given.     

Influence of long-chain branching on linear viscoelastic flow properties and dielectric relaxation of polycarbonates

The dynamic viscoelastic property, creep and creep recovery behavior, and dielectric relaxation of long-chain branched Bisphenol A polycarbonates were measured in parallel plate rheometer and dielectric analyzer. The linear polycarbonate (PC-L) as reference and three branched polycarbonates (PC-Bs) have similar molecular weights and molecular weight distributions, while the PC-Bs have different branching degrees, below 0.7 branch points/chain and above twice of M_c. The long-chain branched polycarbonates exhibit higher zero-shear viscosities, more significant shear shinning, higher flow activation energies, and much longer relaxation times. It was also found that long-chain branches increase the elasticity of melt characterized by the steady-state recoverable compliance and the storage modulus. The ‘dissident’ rheological behavior of long-chain branching exhibiting mainly in addition polymers such as polyolefin, is confirmed in condensation polymers. These behaviors resulted from additional molecular entanglements of long-chain branches can be understood qualitatively in terms of the tube model for topological constraints. The dielectric α-relaxation of linear polycarbonate and branched polycarbonates has been fitted with Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann-Hesse (VFTH) equation and the shape of relaxation time curves is also analyzed. The long-chain branched polycarbonates present longer relaxation times, but divergent α-relaxation temperatures, because the latter is dominated by the free volume.     

A technique to infer structural information for low level long chain branched polyethylenes

A technique is proposed to relate the weight average molecular weight of linear chains, M_wBL, in low level long chain branched polyethylenes to their linear viscoelastic data. The new method is based on a previously reported empirical technique [Macromolecules 33 (2000) 7481] and was developed through the use of basic molecular theories. The new technique was applied to model systems whose linear viscoelastic properties were simulated using the molecular model of Milner et al. [Macromolecules 31 (1998) 9345] and to long chain branched metallocene polyethylenes. It is applicable to branched polyethylenes with low levels of long chain branching. In the case of a branched metallocene polyethylene, the structural parameter, M_wBL, inferred from the rheological data together with the GPC data such as M_w or M_n of the sample describes all aspects of the structure of the polymer. In the case of highly branched polymers, a possible modification of the technique is also proposed.     

Rheological and thermal properties of blends of a long-chain branched polypropylene and different linear polypropylenes

Blends of a long-chain branched polypropylene (LCB-PP) and four linear polypropylenes (L-PP) having different molecular weights were prepared using a twin screw extruder. The linear viscoelastic properties suggested the immiscibility of the high molecular weight L-PP based blends, and the miscibility of the low molecular weight L-PP based blends. In addition, the Palierne emulsion model showed good predictions of the linear viscoelastic properties for both miscible and immiscible PP blends. However, as expected, the low-frequency results showed a clear effect of the interfacial tension on the elastic modulus of the blends for the high molecular weight L-PP based blends. A successful application of time-temperature superposition (TTS) was found for the blends and neat components. Uniaxial elongational properties were obtained using a SER unit mounted on an ARES rheometer. A significant strain hardening was observed for the neat LCB-PP as well as for all the blends. The influence of adding LCB-PP on the crystallinity, crystallization temperature, melting point, and rate of crystallization were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that the melting point and degree of crystallinity of the blends first increased by adding up to 20 wt% of the branched component but decreased by further addition. Adding a small amount of LCB-PP caused significant increase of the crystallization temperature while no dramatic changes were observed for blends containing 10 wt% LCB-PP and more. Furthermore, the crystalline morphology during and after crystallization of the various samples was monitored using polarized optical microscopy (POM). Compared to the neat linear polymers, finer and numerous spherulites were observed for the blends and LCB-PP. Dynamic mechanical (DMA) data of the blends and pure components were also analyzed and positive deviations from the Fox equation for the glass transition temperature, T_g, were observed for the blends.     

Thermorheology as a method to analyze long-chain branched polyethylenes

This paper presents correlations between polyethylenes of different compositions and branching architectures and their viscoelastic behavior in dependence on the temperature and demonstrates how effectively rheological experiments can be used for analytical purposes. Long-chain branched polyethylenes are known to be thermorheologically complex. But the thermorheological complexity of long-chain branched linear low-density metallocene polyethylenes (LCB-mLLDPE) differs from that of low-density polyethylenes (LDPE) in the way that the activation energy of LDPE becomes constant by a temperature-dependent modification of the moduli whereas a constant activation energy cannot be obtained for LCB-mLLDPE. These findings are explained by the assumption that the LCB-mLLDPE investigated consist of at least two species with distinctly different activation energies. This interpretation is supported by the thermorheological analysis of a blend of known parts of an LDPE and a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). A thermorheological complexity was found similar to that of the LCB-mLLDPE which reflects the different activation energies of the two components. Results of that kind make it possible to get information on the composition of LCB-mLLDPE not available from common analytical methods.     

Gel permeation chromatography on branched polymers

In gel permeation chromatography on long-chain branched polymers, calibration with linear samples leads to incorrect results. There are, however, several ways in which the data can be treated correctly. All of them call for the use of extra experimental information, such as viscosity or light scattering data of the whole polymer or the GPC eluent. The Drott—Mendelson method, using [η] of the whole polymer and GPC data, has been employed for analysing three low density polyethylene samples. The potentialities of viscometry and light-scattering measurements in the GPC effluent have also been examined. From [η], M_w and GPC data the long-chain branching index g′ can be derived in three ways, although it should be stated that the average g′-values so found for polydisperse samples are different.     

支化结构对树枝状聚合物溶液剪切前后流变性能的影响

采用吴茵混调器模拟聚合物在其配制、输送、注入中的机械剪切作用,研究了不同支化程度对剪切前后的驱油用树枝状聚合物溶液的流变性能的影响。首先制备了3种不同支化程度的树枝状聚合物,研究了剪切前后的树枝状聚合物的分子链粒径分布和分子量大小,然后研究了不同因素对树枝状聚合物流变性能的影响并考察了树枝状聚合物溶液的黏弹性能,最后结合环境扫描电镜分析支化结构对剪切前后树枝状聚合物溶液的流变性能的影响。结果表明：支化程度高的树枝状聚合物具有更大的流体力学半径和分子量,受环境影响较小;树枝状聚合物溶液呈现假塑性流体特征,支化程度越高,剪切前后的聚合物溶液幂律指数n越小、稠度系数K越大;支化程度高的树枝状聚合物溶液支链间越容易发生缠结,形成致密、多层的空间网状结构,致使剪切前后的聚合物溶液的流变性能越好。     

Isostearic and other branched acids

Raw materials selection and method of synthesis determine the type of branching in a commercial branched fatty acid. The type of branching plus the isomer distribution, the normal chain/branched chain ratio, the chain length distribution, and the purity of the acid determine the physical properties of commercial branched acids. The latter four characteristics are affected by postsynthesis processing of the crude branched acids using such standard manufacturing or finishing techniques as distillation, solvent separation, hydrogenation, and bleaching. The generally lower titers or pour points of branched acids and their derivatives combined with their different (relative ton-chain materials) solubilities and their generally good heat and oxidative stabilities make them useful in applications in such diverse areas as soaps, cosmetics, lubricants, plastics, and coatings among others. The physical and usage properties which branched acids effect inproducts in such areas are often very different from the physical and usage properties which straight chain acids (which are also used in the same areas) effect. Thus, the use of branched acids gives an increased range of formulation possibilities and greater flexibility to product developers and formulators.     

Influence of shearing history on polymer properties. III

As a continuation of the investigation of the effects of shearing history on the subsequent properties of polypropylene, the changes of crystalline structure induced by differences in shearing history were examined. It was found that even extremely high shear in a capillary does not increase the crystal orientation in the extrudate. Such orientation is increased by either extremely high rates of extension of the molten extrudate or by slight plastic deformation occurring in the solidified extrudate as a result of imposed stress. The size of crystallites was found to decrease with increasing shear rate experienced by the polymer prior to the crystallization process. A possible explanation for these changes in polymer properties related to shearing history is proposed as an extension of the cluster flow theory of Busse. This explanation takes into account the size of the ball-like clusters, their internal structure, as well as the type, number, and length of the intercluster connections. The changes induced in a polymer by shearing are of technologic importance in connection with both melt flow characteristics and solid-state properties subsequently developed.     

Characterization of branched polymers by size exclusion chromatography coupled with multiangle light scattering detector. I. Size exclusion chromatography elution behavior of branched polymers

The elution behavior of branched macromolecules during their separation by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) was studied. The elution behavior of branched polymers was investigated using samples of randomly branched polystyrene and star branched poly(benzyl methacrylate) of different levels of branching by means of a SEC chromatograph coupled with a multiangle light scattering detector. Abnormal SEC elution behavior was found to be typical for highly branched polymers. After a normal elution at small elution volumes the molar mass and root mean square radius of the eluting molecules increased with increasing elution volume. Several SEC experiments were carried out to find explanation for this effect and SEC separation was compared with the separation by thermal field flow fractionation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 1588–1594, 2001     

Impact of processing history on rheological properties for branched polypropylene

The impact of applied processing history and the post-processing annealing procedure on the rheological properties of long-chain branched polypropylene (B-PP) have been studied intensively as compared with conventional linear polypropylene (L-PP) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) produced by autoclave process. It was found that drawdown force, as a measure of melt elasticity for B-PP, is greatly depressed even by the short-time processing in an internal batch mixer, whereas the rheological properties of L-PP are unchanged by the processing history. Considering that the drawdown force is recovered to the original value during the post-processing annealing, the phenomenon is ascribed to the conformation change related to the branch structure, i.e. the alignment of long branches to a backbone chain, which is known as ‘shear modification’. Further, it is demonstrated that the depression of the drawdown force for B-PP is more significant than that for LDPE. Moreover, it is also clarified that B-PP needs a longer post-processing annealing time to recover the drawdown force than LDPE. The difference in the recovery curves during the annealing suggests that B-PP has less relatively ‘short’ long branches.     

Effect of molecular structure in branched polyethylene on adhesion properties with polypropylene

Adhesion properties between branched polyethylene (PE) and isotactic polypropylene (PP) were studied by a peel test and scanning electron microscopy. In this study, two types of branched PEs were used; one is a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and the other is a high pressure low density polyethylene (LDPE). The adhesive strength of the LLDPE/PP is much higher than that of LDPE/PP. Furthermore, the formation of PE influxes between PP spherulites has a small effect on the adhesion. The dynamic viscoelastic measurements for the binary blends composed of branched PE and PP were also carried out to estimate the interfacial tension by using a rheological emulsion model proposed by Palierne. The interfacial tension is 1.0 mN for LLDPE/PP and 2.1 mN for LDPE/PP, suggesting that the interfacial thickness of LLDPE/PP is about twice that of LDPE/PP. The adhesive strength between branched PE and PP will be determined by the interfacial thickness, which represents the entanglements between two polymers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 70: 457–463, 1998     

More insight into tandem ROMP and ADMET polymerization for yielding reactive long-chain highly branched polymers and their transformation to functional polymer nanoparticles

Tandem chain transfer ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP-CT) and acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization were carried out in a controlled one-pot procedure, and behaved noticeable differences in polymerization of monomers by different ruthenium catalysts, whereas there indeed had been two distinctly polymerization stages. In the first one, ROMP-CT of functional monomers was conducted in the presence of a symmetrical multi-olefin as chain transfer agent within various reaction time scales, yielding linear telechelic polymers. Next, ADMET polymerization of telechelic polymers was performed and generated a series of reactive long-chain highly branched polymers (LCHBPs) with acrylate and/or azobenzene groups having molecular weights of 8.5–47.9 kDa under varied conditions. LCHBPs were fully characterized by several techniques, and interestingly, UV–vis analysis displayed the specific peak at 278 nm, which offered a new evidence for the existence of internal acrylate structure on the LCHBP backbone, and supported the highly branched architecture of polymers. LCHBP containing a number of pendent acrylate groups was readily converted, by thiol-Michael addition click reaction, to novel thiol-functionalized intra-molecular crosslinked unimolecular polymer nanoparticles with diameter of 40–60 nm, which provided a facile method for post-functionalization of branched polymers.     

Effect of the thermal history of polymers on their dynamic mechanical properties

A torsion pendulum was used to compare quenched and annealed specimens of representative polymers with respect to their dynamic mechanical properties. Among amorphous polymers, the effects of thermal history appear to be both moderate and similar for different polymers. For some crystalline polymers, the effects of thermal history are again moderate. However, the effects are very great in one of the crystalline polymers selected, presumably because it is easily supercooled below its melting point.     

Viscoelastic properties of a 60 mol% para-hydroxybenzoic acid/40 mol% poly(ethylene terephthalate) liquid crystalline copolyester. II: Effect of shear history

Temperature sweeps of dynamic viscoelastic properties have shown that phydroxybenzoic acid (PHB)-based liquid crystalline polyesters, specifically in this case those copolymerized with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), can be subjected to considerable supercooling if initial heating curves are compared to subsequent cooling curves, indicating that this type of material can be in quite different states even at the same temperature, depending on thermal history. Utilizing this supercooling behavior, viscoelastic properties of a 60 mol% PHB/40 mol% PET material produced by Unitika were monitored before and, particularly, after large-scale shear deformation to determine how potential structure changes induced by the shear are reflected in viscoelastic properties immediately, and with time. According to dynamic viscoelastic temperature sweep data four quite different initial states were employed including conditions with, as well as largely free of, crystallites. However, in all cases, post-shear monitoring showed decreased G′ and G″ values with almost no evidence of return towards initial values within approximately 25 min. These results, in addition to furthering somewhat the fundamental understanding of the flow and relaxation properties of liquid crystalline polymers, may be useful in polymer processing, where large-scale shear deformations employed in forming processes appear to be capable of changing considerably the subsequent behavior of such materials.