Factors influencing the thermal oxidation of polyethylene

The thermal stability of polyethylene containing conventional antioxidants is adversely affected by contact with copper, by certain pigments, and by the addition of a few percent of polypropylene as a processing aid. Polyethylene inhibited with 0.1% of phenolic antioxidants has approximately the same oxidative stability when in contact with a copper surface as the unprotected polymer. A mechanism is suggested to account for the loss of stability in the presence of copper. Pigments vary in the extent to which they adversely affect the oxidative stability of polyethylene. Since several factors may combine to decrease the stability of protected polyethylene compositions, as determined by accelerated tests, it is essential that their contribution under service conditions be determined. The predicted life at temperatures encountered in service is determined by extrapolating accelerated test data to that constant temperature which is calculated to cause the same degree of degradation as would occur during the daily and seasonal temperature cycles encountered in use.     

热剪切对聚乙烯/胶粉共混物结构演变及性能的影响

研究了聚乙烯(PE)/胶粉(GTR)共混物中GTR在不同热剪切加工条件下结构形态的演变过程及其对共混物力学性能、流变性能和溶胀行为的影响。结果表明,PE/GTR共混物中GTR受到热剪切作用后,体系中会出现大量几微米的小颗粒,且几微米的小颗粒随温度的升高和加工时间的延长而增多,但即使在220℃下连续剪切25 min,仍有100μm以上的大颗粒存在。随着加工温度的升高和加工时间的延长,共混物的力学性能、流变性能略有下降;而溶胀比随温度的升高先减小后增大,随时间的延长则略有减小。     

Influence of thermal history on fusion curves of polyethylene

The effect of thermal history on the melting behavior of several linear polymer and copolymers of ethylene has been studied by using a Perkin-Elmer DSC-1 differential scanning calorimeter. Samples of film were heated above their melting point and then cooled at various rates in order to establish a known thermal history. During melting, homopolymers showed one peak and the copolymers two peaks in the DSC scan. The positions and relative sizes of the peaks were dependent on the prior cooling rate. It is suggested that two crystal types occur in the case of copolymers because of entanglements in the branched segments of the molecules. The position of the lower melting endotherm in blown films suggests that cooling rates of about 500°C./min. are achieved in this process.     

Adhesion properties of glow-discharge-plasma-treated polyethylene surface

A geometric method proposed by Kaelble and Moacanin for analyzing energetic characteristics of solid surfaces is discussed. It is shown that a number of characteristics can be presented in a visual geometric form. The method is applied to the analysis of adhesion in a three-component system. Results of the analysis, concerned with the problem of creation of biocompatible materials, support the Andrade hypothesis that materials with zero interfacial tension of their water–solid interface show maximum biocompatibility. Data are obtained on wetting of polyethylene by different liquids before and after glow discharge plasma treatment. The analysis of these data in terms of geometric method shows the plasma treatment increased the polar component of the polymer surface energy to change the surface adhesiveness toward probable enhancement of polymer biocompatibility. That is consistent with available data on glow-discharge-treatment enhancement of biocompatibility for a number of polymers. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Identification of volatile compounds resulting from the thermal oxidation of polyethylene

The migration of compounds from polymer-based packaging may impart undesirable odors to foods. We, therefore, undertook a study of the volatile compounds produced during the heating of polyethylene (PE) in the presence of excess O₂ at temperatures of 150–350°C and for heating times of 5–15 min. Eightyfour volatile compounds in the range of C₅—C₂₃ were identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The major products were aliphatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, and olefins. Changes in temperature and heating times affected the amount and type of compounds produced, with hexanal being found in the largest amount and 300°C resulting in the greatest quantity of volatile compounds. At 350°C, greater amounts and numbers of low-boiling and fewer high-boiling compounds were formed. Only small amounts of volatiles were produced at 150°C. Many of the compounds identified have been reported to have odor and/or toxicological significance. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Influence of carbon fiber surface treatments on the structure and properties of conductive carbon fiber/polyethylene films

Effects of carbon fiber (CF) surface modification on the crystalline structure and both electrical and mechanical properties of conductive CF/high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) films were studied. Three different types of surface‐treated CF, epoxy‐sized, unsized, and sized but thermally treated, were considered. It was found that the uniformity of the transcrystalline zone around CF and the overall crystallinity of the polyethylene matrix decreased when epoxy‐sized CF was used. Epoxy‐sized CF caused a significant reduction not only in electrical resistivity and temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) but also tensile strength and coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) of composite films compared with that of unsized or sized CF that was thermally treated. We observed the systematic changes of TCR and CLTE values in accordance with CF surface modification and CF content in composite films. It was concluded that thermal expansion of the polymer matrix is the main reason for the positive TCR of CF/HDPE films. As the most probable reasons for decreased resistivity and strength of the CF/HDPE films with epoxy‐sized CF, the diffusion of epoxy sizing agent into the polyethylene matrix and the formation of loosened semiconductive interphase structure in the film are considered. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2040–2048, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10500     

Effect of thermal aging on the electrical properties of crosslinked polyethylene

This article reports on the effect of thermal aging on the electrical properties of crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) used in high voltage cables. It was shown that thermal aging modifies the electrical properties of the polymer. The degradation is accelerated when the temperature is increased. This degradation is due to a thermooxidation, followed by a loss of antioxidant, and a change in color of the material. At 80 and 100°C, the antioxidant is practically efficacious during the aging, whereas at 120 and 140°C, it is consumed after 1500 and 1000 h, respectively, which results in an increase in the dielectric losses and a diminution in the volume resistivity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Electrical and thermal properties of polyethylene/silver nanoparticle composites

The concentration dependence of specific heat, electrical and thermal conductivities of nanocomposites based on high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) filled with silver nanoparticles have been investigated. The composites filled with high filler content show high electrical and thermal conductivities. The dielectric relaxation spectroscopy was used to investigate the electrical properties in the studied systems. The scaling law of electrical percolation was used for an exact estimation of the percolation threshold (P_c). A low electrical percolation threshold was found in the investigated composites. The rule of mixture was sufficient for the prediction of the specific heat dependence of HDPE–Ag nanocomposites as a function of the weight filler content. The basic models of the thermal conductivity have a tendency to underestimate the measured values for the low and high filler concentrations. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

填料表面处理对ABS/CaCO3复合材料性能的影响

在室温下,测定了CaCO3填充丙烯腈-丁二烯-苯乙烯三元共聚物(ABS)复合材料的力学性能。结果表明,随着CaCO3质量分数[W(CaCO3)]的增加,试样的拉伸弹性模量呈非线性提高,而拉伸强度和拉伸断裂能下降。当ω(CaCO3)小于10％时,试样的简支梁缺口冲击强度随着ω(CaCO3)的增加而迅速减小,而弯曲强度却增大,ω(CaCO3)达10％后两者均缓慢地减小。CaCO3的表面处理及其粒径大小对上述力学性能的影响不太明显。此外,测量了试样的维卡软化温度(TVC）,TVC随着ω(CaCO3)的增加而提高,这表明填充CaCO3粒子有利于改善ABS的耐热性能。     

Influence of thermal and mechanical histories on the viscoelastic behavior of drawn polyethylene

Storage and loss elasticity complex moduli E′ and E″ and temperatures at which the α relaxation takes place are studied with respect to thermal history, deformation speed, and molecular weight distribution of drawn linear polyethylene. Maximum values of E′ and E″ increase with draw ratio of the hot-drawn samples, and the α relaxation temperatures increase by around 10°C when the polyethylene filaments are annealed at 110°C. The activation energy of the process, considered as a single one because the symmetrical shape of the maxima, increases with draw ratio, and this increase is less pronounced when the filaments are annealed. Annealing of the filaments produces a decrease in their E′ values, but this decrease is almost negligible for filaments obtained from polyethylene with a broad molecular weight distribution. The final crystallinity of the filaments drawn at room temperature and subsequently annealed is higher for the filaments obtained at lower drawing speed.     

Impact of compression molding conditions on the thermal and mechanical properties of polyethylene

Compression molding is a current technique in polymer processing. Despite numerous studies, effect of molding pressure on physical properties has surprisingly not been fully investigated. In this study, the thermal and mechanical behavior of the compression‐molded polyethylene were thus explored to better grasp the relationship between processing parameters and ensuing properties. The effect of the molding temperature, pressure, cooling rate, and temperature profile on the tensile and flexural moduli as well as melting point of polyethylene was studied. We conclude that higher tensile and flexural moduli are obtained by increasing pressure and molding temperature, as well as decreasing the cooling rate. Our results were corroborated by X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Moreover, the use of a temperature gradient with different temperatures for the upper and bottom plates of the mold leads to asymmetric samples whose tensile and flexural moduli are improved. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46176.     

Some reasons for the origin of instability in thermal and thermo-mechanical properties of polyacrylonitrile fibres

Conclusions -- Industrial polyacrylonitrile fibres which have been prepared by the thiocyanate method are characterized by considerable instability in thermal and thermo-mechanical properties.-- Lack of constancy in such technological parameters as itaconic acid content of the polymer, temperature and concentration of the precipitation bath, and stretch ratio exert a considerable effect on the stability of thermal and thermo-mechanical properties.-- Stabilization of these investigated parameters will obviously make it possible to significantly reduce instability and mechanical properties of carbon fibres.VNIIPV. Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 3, pp. 25–26, May–June, 1991.     

Effect of surface treatment on the physicomechanical and thermal properties of high‐density polyethylene/olive husk flour composites

In this study, a particular interest was focused on the recovery of lignocellulosic waste of olive husk flour (OHF) by its incorporation as filler in manufacturing composite materials based on high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix with various filler contents (10, 20, and 30 wt %). The problem of incompatibility between the hydrophilic filler and the hydrophobic matrix was treated with two methods: the first method consists of using maleic anhydride‐grafted polyethylene (MAPE) as compatibilizer in HDPE/OHF composites. The second method, was focused on the chemical modification of OHF by vinyl‐triacetoxy‐silane (VTAS). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used to analyze both grafting and silanization reactions involved. Scanning electron microscopy was used to show the morphology of the flour surface. Furthermore, the physicomechanical and thermal characteristics of the various composite samples were investigated as a function of filler contents and treatment types. The results showed that the properties of the composite materials are positively affected by the silanization treatment of OHF and also by MAPE addition. However, better mechanical and thermal properties with less moisture absorption were obtained for the composite materials compatibilized with MAPE. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Influence of octyl substituted octakis(dimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane on the morphology and thermal and mechanical properties of low density polyethylene

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) was melt blended with octyl substituted octakis(dimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane (AS8) prepared in high yield by hydrosilylation of octene with octakis(hydrodimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane. Two procedures were used to incorporate AS8 into LDPE at nanolevel and their efficiency was investigated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry and mechanical characterization. A slight increase of crystallite mean dimensions was observed by XRD in both types of LDPE‐AS8 composites compared with neat LDPE. Better AS8 dispersion was observed by AFM in the composite prepared by the first procedure and the increase of both tensile strength and elongation at break in this composite confirmed the nanolevel dispersion and interface improvement in this case. AS8 influence in the final stages of polyethylene fracture was illustrated by AFM of elongated tensile specimens and a new mechanism of AS8 action was suggested. An interesting behavior consisting of simultaneous improvement of elastic modulus, strength and ductility was detected in the low range of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane concentration in LDPE (0.5 wt%). © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Phase structural analyses of polyethylene extrusion coatings on high‐density papers. II. Influence of paper surface properties on the polyethylene morphology

Paper samples of three different qualities were extrusion coated with low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and high‐density polyethylene (HDPE). The morphological phases of the polyethylene layers have been quantified by ¹³C solid‐state high‐resolution NMR. Shear forces in the process initiate the formation of the monoclinic crystallites. The surface tensions of the high‐density papers have influence on the degree of interaction between the two materials and how these shear forces work. The paper surface properties will thus have an influence on properties and the size of the monoclinic crystalline mass fraction of the polyethylene coating. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 226–234, 2004     

Modifying the structure and properties of polyethylene foams using thermal treatments

BACKGROUND: The physical properties of polymer foams depend on many factors: density, cellular structure, matrix polymer morphology, etc. Therefore, these properties can be adapted by appropriate control of the structure. However, this simple and attractive concept has some limitations because the cellular structure of foams cannot be fully controlled during manufacturing. Therefore, in order to make possible the control of properties, it is highly desirable to develop simple procedures, such as thermal treatments, to modify the cellular structure. In the work reported, low‐density polyethylene foams were thermally treated at temperatures below the melting temperature of the base polymer. The cellular structure, polymer base morphology and several thermal and mechanical properties were studied before and after the thermal treatments. RESULTS: It is shown that the anisotropy of the cellular structure is reduced by using adequate treatments. This modification of the structure influences physical properties that are sensitive to the cell shape, such as thermal expansion, elastic modulus and collapse stress. CONCLUSION: A simple procedure to allow further control of the structure and properties of polyethylene‐based foams has been presented. The use of adequate thermal treatments is able to modify the cellular structure and hence the physical properties of these materials. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry