Scanning electron microscopy studies on tensile failure of thermoplastic elastomers from polypropylene-natural rubber blends

The tensile properties of thermoplastic polypropylene [pp]-natural rubber [NR]blends have been evaluated with special reference to the effect of blend ratios and dynamic cross-linking of the elastomer phase. The effects of silica filler and silane coupling agent on the tensile properties of the 30:70 PP:NR blend have also been studied. Analysis of the stress-strain curves and scanning electron microscopic examination of the tensile fracture surfaces of the blends have been used to correlate the test results on tensile properties.     

聚氨酯-聚乳酸共混物的制备及性能

通过熔融共混挤出法制备不同质量比的热塑性聚氨酯-聚乳酸(TPU-PLA)共混物,采用SEM、DSC、TG、微卡软化点温度测定仪和熔融流动速率仪对共混物的表面形态结构、热学、高温加工等性能进行研究。结果表明:TPU-PLA共混物表面光滑且呈现出脆性断裂形貌特征,共混体系两种高聚物呈"海岛"分布;TPU-PLA共混体系中PLA与单独PLA相比,玻璃化转变温度Tg由69.60℃(Original PLA)变为57.58℃(PLA70)、53.29℃(PLA50)和55.64℃(PLA30),TPU均匀分散于PLA基体中且相界面分明,这都说明TPU-PLA共混体系为部分相容体系;TPU-PLA共混物的热失重起始分解温度范围为180~200℃,最快分解温度范围为310~350℃,热稳定性良好;TPU含量占共混物10%~30%时,共混物高温的临界变形温度相对单一体系有所提高;随TPU含量的继续增加,共混物熔融指数呈现先增大后减小的变化趋势,其中PLA与TPU质量比为4∶6的TPU-PLA共混物熔融指数达到最大,为1 406g·(10min)-1。     

Mechanical and swelling properties of thermoplastic elastomer blends

The mechanical behavior, microhardness and abrasion resistance of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) vulcanizate loaded with 40 phr fast extrusion furnace (FEF) carbon black nanopowder and different concentrations of suspension polymerization polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were studied. The measured parameters (i.e., the Young’s modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break) varied with the concentration of PVC. Both the elastic modulus and the tensile strength increased with increasing PVC loadings while the elongation at brake recorded a linear decrease. The hardness degree and the abraded mass increased as the concentration of PVC increased. The classical theory of rubber elasticity was used to calculate the rubbery modulus, the number of effective chains per unit volume and the average molecular weight. Swelling measurements were done on the mentioned samples. Addition of PVC was found to decrease the maximum degree of swelling, the penetration rate and the average diffusion coefficient. Swelling was found to slightly affect the degree of hardness and elastic modulus.     

Blends of biodegradable polyesters by reactive blending: preparation, characterisation and properties

Blends of poly--caproIactone (PCL) and poly--hydroxybutyrate (PHB) were prepared by mixing the two polymers in the presence of dicumylperoxide (DCPO) in solution of chlorobenzene. Similarly blends were obtained by mixing the two polymers with no peroxide added. The blends were prepared in a break of composition, from 85% wt PHB/15% wt PCL to 15% wt PHB/85% wt PCL, respectively. Also pure polymers were reacted with DCPO in the same way of the blends. Thermal (DSC), spectroscopic, mechanical (tensile tests) and morphological SEM)analyses were performed on the blends and on the pure polymers. Significant differences were found in the chemical-physical characteristics of the blends with and without peroxide.     

可生物降解淀粉/PCL共混物性能研究

本文研究了土豆淀粉与聚己内酯(PCL)共混型可完全生物降解材料的性能,结果表明:改性淀粉共混体系的力学性能比未改性者有显著提高。吸水性试验表明,共混体系的吸水率随PCL用量的增加而降低,偶联剂改性共混物的吸水率也有所下降。土埋生物降解试验表明,共混体系有着良好的生物降解性能。同时还考察其在活性污泥中的降解性。红外光谱测试显示,共混体系具有较好相容性和降解性能。     

热塑性聚氨酯/聚乙烯醇共混材料制备及性能

通过溶液共混的办法,制备了热塑性聚氨酯(TPU)/聚乙烯醇(PVA)共混材料。通过FI-IR、DMTA初步考查了两相的相互作用;同时对共混材料的水溶胀性能进行了表征。结果表明, TPU/PVA两相存在氢键作用,具有一定的相容性;共混材料吸水率随着PVA的加入而逐渐增大,两相配比为7:3时,共混材料力学性能最佳。     

Strength of thermoplastic elastomers from rubber-polyolefin blends

The strength of different thermoplastic elastomers of varying compositions and interactions has been examined over a wide range of rates and temperatures and for a wide variety of test configurations. Fracture energy was calculated from various test specimens and found to be similar, and independent of the test configuration. Fracture energy values lie between 0.8 and 120kJm_–2. The behaviour could be compared with that of rubbers. However, for a trouser-tear test piece, the fracture energy increases with increasing thickness of the torn path in the very small thickness region, as for the fracture of polyethylene. The fracture surface morphology of various composites indicates different mechanisms of crack propagation. The tensile rupture data over a wide range of rates and temperatures could be represented by a single parabolic curve — the failure envelope. The maximum elongation at break and tensile strength of the composites are related to the modulus.     

Thermal and tensile properties of HTPB-based PU with PVC blends

Blends of HTPB (hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene)-based polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membranes with various relative weight percentages were prepared by solution process. Different equivalent ratios of HTPB, 4,4′-dicyclohexyl methane diiscyanate (H₁₂MDI), and 1,4-butane diol were used to synthesize PU solution by two-stage process. The intermolecular bonding between N-H, CO groups of PU and C-Cl group of PVC was determined via FTIR analysis by the relative absorbance of the two N-H groups and was correlated to thermal/mechanical properties. Larger part of PVC has been found to disperse in the hard domain of PU resulting in the shift in IR frequency. Thermal property, tensile strength and intermolecular bonding of membranes were function of the contents of PVC and PU's hard segment. One-year aged butadiene-containing PUs and blends still exhibit higher tensile strength than that of as-prepared ones. Hence, it is promising to replace the plasticizer, such as DOP, in PVC by these HTPB-based PU for the prevention of PVC migration as well as the enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties of blends.     

具有高界面压应力的高分子共混物Ⅰ.制备和拉伸性能

考察了高界面压应力对不相容聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(PET)/聚乙烯(PE)和聚碳酸酯(PC)/PE共混物拉伸性能的影响.高界面压应力是共混物低温成型(PE的成型温度)时,分散相与基体从加工温度冷却到室温过程中基体的收缩比分散相粒子大产生的.尽管PET/PE和PC/PE共混物极不相容,但拉伸强度和模量随着PET和PC含量增加而增加.PET与PC含量相同时,PC/PE的拉伸强度和模量高于PET/PE的.采用Takayanangi方程计算共混物的拉伸模量时,具有高界面压应力的PC/PE共混物的拉伸强度高于界面有良好粘结的共混物的理论值,表明在不添加增容剂时,可通过控制加工条件改善共混物界面相互作用,提高共混材料的性能.     

可全生物降解PLA/PBAT/PHBV共混材料的结构与性能

为了得到刚性与韧性平衡的聚乳酸（PLA）基可生物降解共混材料,通过熔融共混挤出法制备了不同质量比的PLA/己二酸-对苯二甲酸-丁二酯共聚物（PBAT）/聚（3-羟基丁酸-co-羟基戊酸共聚酯（PHBV）可全生物降解共混材料,采用SEM、TG、DSC、毛细管流变仪和万能材料试验机对PLA/PBAT/PHBV共混材料的形态结构、热性能、流变性能和力学性能进行了研究。结果表明:PLA/PBAT/PHBV共混材料的热失重起始分解温度相对纯PHBV提高了45 ℃,热稳定性提高;共混体系中各组分的玻璃化转变温度与单一体系相比几乎无变化,PLA/PBAT/PHBV共混体系为完全不相容体系,同时PBAT和PHBV的加入阻碍了PLA的冷结晶;PLA/PBAT/PHBV 共混体系的共混形态呈“海-岛”分布,PBAT和PHBV均匀地分散于PLA基体中,相界面分明;随着PBAT含量增加,PLA/PBAT/PHBV共混材料熔体的流动性增加,温度变化对黏度的影响变大;PLA/PBAT/PHBV质量比为70/20/10的共混材料可在保留纯PLA 60%拉伸应力的同时,拉伸应变提高到纯PLA的2.6倍,韧性得到改善。所得结论表明PLA/PBAT/PHBV质量比为70/20/10的共混材料的综合力学性能较纯PLA好。      

Concurrent manual-order-picking warehouse design: a simulation-based design of experiments approach

The design of manual-order-picking warehouses is a combination of interdependent decisions with enormous possible varieties in design components. The strong interrelationship between these components, in addition to the dynamic and interconnected stochastic nature of the problem; necessitate the utilisation of a simultaneous simulation-based approach. This study proposes a concurrent simulation-based design of experiments approach for the design of manual-order-picking warehouses. The proposed approach can investigate all possible warehousing design combinations with their stochastic nature and interactions; hence, widening the search for performance improvement. The examined design components include warehouse throughput, size, layout, operational policies and manpower/carts. Furthermore, the presented approach captures the probabilistic nature of all the key warehouse functions of receiving, unloading, put away, storage, preparation and picking and shipping; and evaluates the performance of the studied designs using the cycle time for a stock keeping unit in the warehouse. Statistical analysis of the simulation results showed several interesting findings; horizontal layout was preferable over all other types of layouts and small size warehouses perform better than other large sizes. The study has also recommended using high throughput for traditional layout-small size warehouses.     

聚乳酸共混体系的拉伸性能、微观结构及结晶行为

研究了不同含量的丁二醇-己二酸-对苯二甲酸共聚酯(PBAT)与聚丁二酸丁二醇酯(PBS)增韧聚乳酸(PLA)的二元共混体系以及添加LAK粒子(硫酸盐)的三元共混体系拉伸性能、微观结构以及结晶行为,并利用Avrami方程对结晶过程进行了模拟。结果表明,PBAT与PBS的添加都不同程度地改善了PLA的断裂伸长率,在拉伸强度下降较小的前提下大幅度提高了其韧性;LAK粒子能进一步提高PLA-10%PBS二元体系的断裂伸长率;拉伸破坏试样断面的SEM照片表明,两种聚合物界面处以及PLA和粒子之间在外力作用下形成的空洞化是共混体系韧性提高的主要原因;PBAT与PBS的添加均促进了PLA的结晶,PBS还引起了PLA晶型的转变;LAK粒子能够起到成核剂的作用,进一步缩短了两种增韧剂体系的半结晶时间;添加LAK粒子的增韧体系的Avrami方程拟合曲线平行,其成核方式及生长过程相似。     

Optimizing the parameters of multilayered feedforward neural networks through Taguchi design of experiments

The size and training parameters of artificial neural networks have a critical effect on their performance. This paper presents the application of the Taguchi Design of Experiments (DoEs) off‐line quality control method in the optimization of the design parameters of a neural network. Being a ‘parallel’ approach, the method offers considerable benefits in time and accuracy when compared with the conventional serial approach of trial and error. The use of the Taguchi method ensures that the quality of the neural network is taken into account at the design stage. The interpretation of the experimental results is based on the statistical technique known as analysis of variance (ANOVA). The signal‐to‐noise ratio (S/N) is used in designing a robust neural network that is less sensitive to noise. The effect of design parameters and neural network behaviour are also revealed as a result. Although a Wood Veneer Inspection Neural Network (WVINN) is the particular application presented here, the design methodology can be applied to neural networks in general. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of a 3D aligned myocardial tissue construct from biodegradable polyesters

The heart does not regenerate new functional tissue when myocardium dies following coronary artery occlusion, or if it is defective. Ventricular restoration involves excising the infarct and replacing it with a cardiac patch to restore the heart to a more healthy condition. The goal of this study was to design and develop a clinically applicable myocardial patch to replace myocardial infarcts and improve long-term heart function. A basic design composed of 3D microfibrous mats that house mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was developed from human umbilical cord matrix (Wharton’s Jelly) cells aligned in parallel to each other mimicking the native myocardium. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), poly(L-D,L-lactic acid) (P(L-D,L)LA) and poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) were blended and electrospun into aligned fiber mats with fiber diameter ranging between 1.10 and 1.25 μm. The micron-sized parallel fibers of the polymer blend were effective in cell alignment and cells have penetrated deep within the mat through the fiber interstices, occupying the whole structure; 8–9 cell layers were obtained. Biodegradable macroporous tubings were introduced to serve as nutrient delivery route. It was possible to create a thick myocardial patch with structure similar to the native tissue and with a capability to grow.     

Electron beam modification of thermoplastic elastomeric blends made from polyolefins

Thermoplastic elastomeric films have been prepared from blends of ethylene vinylacetate copolymer (EVA) with low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) by electron beam modification in presence of radiation sensitizer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been used to evaluate the structural changes of these blends. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicates the morphological features of the blends. Significant improvements of mechanical, dynamic mechanical and set properties have been obtained by electron beam modification of the blends of EVA with LDPE and HDPE. However, in the case of EVA/PP, degradation of the PP phase has been observed. The effects of ditrimethylol propane tetraacrylate (DTMPTA) as radiation sensitizer have also been evaluated from the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties.     

Application of the Taguchi approach of the design of experiments for determination constructional and working parameters of the linear Venetian blind microdroplet filter

The aim of the investigations presented in the paper was to study the influence of constructional and working parameters of the linear Venetian blind electrostatic filter on its filtering efficiency and to determine optimal conditions for the filter exploitation. The flow of titanium vacuum-arc plasma, produced in DC discharge with superimposed high-current arc pulses, through the linear Venetian blind filters of different construction was investigated. The dependences of the filtering efficiency and the ion current intensity on the gas pressure, arc pulses frequency, distance and tilt angle of the filter blinds were determined. The plan of the experiment was developed using Taguchi method and the conditions, which guarantee maximal cleaning efficiency at maximal plasma transmission through the filter were determined for Ti. Based on the obtained results the initial construction of the filter was modified. The angular distribution of microdroplets generated from titanium cathode and reaching the substrate was investigated in two configurations - without and with the electrostatic filter.     

Thermal properties of thermoplastic starch/synthetic polymer blends with potential biomedical applicability

Previous studies shown that thermoplastic blends of corn starch with some biodegradable synthetic polymers (poly(-caprolactone), cellulose acetate, poly(lactic acid) and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer) have good potential to be used in a series of biomedical applications. In this work the thermal behavior of these structurally complex materials is investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the chemical interactions between the different components. The endothermic gelatinization process (or water evaporation) observed by DSC in starch is also observed in the blends. Special attention was paid to the structural relaxation that can occur in the blends with poly(lactic acid) at body temperature that may change the physical properties of the material during its application as a biomaterial. At least three degradation mechanisms were identified in the blends by means of using TGA, being assigned to the mass loss due to the plasticizer leaching, and to the degradation of the starch and the synthetic polymer fractions. The non-isothermal kinetics of the decomposition processes was analyzed using two different integral methods. The analysis included the calculation of the activation energy of the correspondent reactions.     

Optimization of field emission properties of carbon nanotubes by Taguchi method

It is the purpose of this study to evaluate the field emission property of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) prepared by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) method. Nickel layer of 5 nm in thickness on 20-nm thickness titanium nitride film was transformed into discrete islands after hydrogen plasma pretreatment. CNTs were then grown up on Ni-coated areas by MPCVD. Through the practice of Taguchi method, superior CNT films with very low emission onset electric field, about 0.7 V/μm (at J = 10 μA/cm²), are attained without post-deposition treatment. It is found that microwave power has the most important influence on the field emission characteristics of CNT films. The increase of methane flow ratio will downgrade the degree of graphitization of CNT and thus its field emission characteristics. Scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer analysis reveal that CNT growth by MPCVD is based on tip-growth mechanism. TEM micrographs validate the hollow, bamboo-like structure of the multi-walled CNTs.     

Effect of liquid additives on morphology and properties of thermoplastic elastomers prepared from phase-modified EPDM elastomer and isotactic polypropylene blends

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) were prepared from ternary blends of ethylene propylene diene poly methylene rubber (EPDM), isotactic polypropylene (PP), and low loadings (5–10 phr) of different types of interfacial phase modifiers (like maleated EPDM, styrene-ethylene-co-butylene-styrene block copolymer, and maleated PP). These showed much improved physico-mechanical properties compared to the binary blend of EPDM-PP. The effects of non-polar paraffin oil and polar di-octyl phthalate liquid additives (5–20 phr) were investigated in these phase-modified ternary and binary EPDM-PP blends. Only 5 phr of liquid additives provided synergistic improvement in physical properties (maximum stress, modulus, and elongation at break) and generated improved finer morphology of the ternary blends as revealed from scanning electron and atomic force microscopy studies. Enhanced physical properties and dynamic mechanical properties of these blends were explained with the help of better phase morphology and enhanced crystallinity of the blends.