Structure–property relationship of modified polypropylene–polycaproamide fiber

The effect of the addition of polyamide on the structure and properties of polypropylene fiber has been studied. Although a good fiber is obtained with a composition containing only a very low concentration of polycaproamide in polypropylene, the increase in polyamide content decreases the drawing strength of the mixed polymer melt due to sudden lowering of melt viscosity and strength. The poor melt strength of the studied polymer mixture is attributed to increased heterogeneity induced in the system with increased concentration of polyamide. Use of an effective interphase modifier, maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene, however, was found to improve fiber properties of the studied polymer mixtures even with a very high concentration of polyamide as the dispersed phase. Thus, addition of a 1–4 wt % interphase modifier facilitates the formation of good fiber even with 30 wt % polycaproamide in the blend. This improvement is attributed to the improved dispersity of polyamide in the polypropylene matrix as well as improved phase compatibility due to the formation of a chemically modified polyamide during melt extrusion in the presence of maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene.     

Anisotropic thermal conductivity of polypropylene composites filled with carbon fibers and multiwall carbon nanotubes

Polypropylene‐based composites filled with carbon fibers and multiwall carbon nanotubes were produced by coagulation precipitation technique. Composite articles were produced by conventional injection molding technique. It was shown that the addition of carbon nanotubes (10% of total amount of carbon fibers) results in significantly increased anisotropic thermal conductivity of the composite due to formation of thermal conductive bridges between carbon fibers, which are oriented during molding. The addition of CNTs has a significant effect with more than a 50–70% increase of both the axial and transverse thermal conductivity of the composite. Produced composites were used for injection molding of polymeric radiators for LED lamps, showing sufficient heat dissipation efficiency allowing using them for industrial application in the field. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1951–1957, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineer     

Curing behavior and properties of epoxy nanocomposites with amine functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with reactive functional groups such as amines would affect not only properties but also curing behavior of an epoxy nanocomposite system comprising them. Therefore, in this study, an amine functionalization of multiwall CNTs (MWNTs) was carried out via treating pristine MWNTs (PMWNT) with 4‐aminobenzoic acid in polyphosphoric acid. The functionalization was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Epoxy nanocomposites comprising the PMWNT or functionalized MWNTs (FMWNT) were prepared and their curing behavior and properties were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to obtain experimental conversion data for curing kinetic analysis. The FMWNT accelerated the curing rate of the nanocomposite system. The functionalization induced strong interfacial bonding between the epoxy matrix and the MWNTs, and resulted in considerable improvements in the properties of the nanocomposites. The SEM image showed strong interfacial bonding between the epoxy matrix and the FMWNT. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Structure–property relationship of starch‐filled chain‐extended polyurethanes

Chain‐extended polyurethane (PU) elastomers were prepared using castor oil with 4,4′‐methylene bis (phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) as a crosslinker and 4,4′‐diamino diphenyl sulphone (DDS) as an aromatic diamine chain extender. A series of starch‐filled (from 5 to 25% wt/wt) diamines chain‐extended PUs have been prepared. The starch‐filled PU composites were characterized for physico‐mechanical properties viz, density, surface hardness, tensile strength, and percentage elongation at break. Thermal stability of PU/starch have been carried out by using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Thermal degradation process of PU/starch were found to proceed in three steps. TGA thermograms of PU/starch shows that all systems were stable upto 235°C, and maximum weight loss occur at temperature 558°C. The microcrystalline parameters such as crystal size (〈N〉) and lattice strain (g in %) of PU/starch have been established using wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) method. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 2945–2954, 2003     

Doubly functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes with enhanced solubility

Doubly functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been produced by oxidation in concentrated nitric acid and subsequent treatment with lauoroyl peroxide. MWCNTs containing both carboxyl and alkyl functional groups show enhanced solubility in a wide range of polar and nonpolar solvents and epoxy resin.     

Structure–property relationships of composite films

Coextruded multifilms of varying chemical composition and structure were studied by the dynamic mechanical technique. The films studied were two- and three-ply combinations of a polyimide (Kapton) and fluorinated ethylene–propylene copolymer (FEP) and four other two-ply polyethylene and modified polyethylene composites: low-density polyethylene (LDPE)–ionomer, rubber-modified high-density polyethylene (HDPE)–ionomer; ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer–LDPE, and EVA-modified HDPE–LDPE. The mechanical spectra of individual film components were also obtained at 110 Hz between ?120° and 120°C (220°C for the Kapton–FEP system). Mechanical relaxations were examined to determine the degree of interaction between adjacent films and correlate them with tensile and ultimate properties of the composite.     

Structure–property relationships of thermally bonded polypropylene nonwovens

The effect of fiber structure and morphology on the resultant mechanical and low load deformation properties of thermally bonded nonwoven polypropylene fabrics has been studied. Commercially available staple polypropylene fibers varying in linear density and draw ratio (Herculon and Marvess staple fibers) were used in this study. The orientation of these fibers was characterized by birefrigence measurements. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements were made to determine the heat of fusion and melting point of fibers. Experiments confirm that tensile strength and stiffness of the fabrics correlate with this fiber structure. Under the same bonding conditions fabrics made from fibers with low draw ratios show higher tensile strength and stiffness than do fibers with high draw ratios. The mechanical properties of fabrics were found to be greatly affected by the thermal bonding temperature. The tenacity and flexural rigidity of fabrics made from poorly oriented fibers show higher values than those made from highly oriented fibers. The shrinkage of the fabrics was observed to increase with increasing bonding temperature in both machine and cross machine directions. The changes in fabric thickness due to the thermal bonding are considerably lower for poorly oriented fibers.     

Structure–property relationship in polybutadiene–polyamide multiblock copolymers

Two kinds of aromatic–aliphatic polyamide oligomers were newly prepared by the reactant pairs of 3,4′-oxydianiline–adipic acid and 3,4′-oxydianiline–azelaic acid. These oligomers were then condensed separately with α, ω-polybutadienedicarboxylic acid giving two series of polybutadiene–polyamide multiblock copolymers. Properties of four series of polybutadiene–polyamide multiblock copolymers, whose polyamide blocks consisted of not only newly prepared polyamides but also previously synthesized aromatic polyamides derived from 4,4′-oxydianiline–isophthalic acid and 3,4′-oxydianiline–isophthalic acid, were investigated on the view point of structure-property relationship. A larger extent of the T_g depression of polybutadiene phase, and higher tensile strength and modulus were observed in the block copolymers having aromatic polyamides compared with those having aliphatic ones.     

Preparation and characterization of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate–chitosan functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes nanocomposites

Surface of chitosan (CS) functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was modified by using 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) monomers and the composites were synthesized under microwave irradiation. In this approach, multiwalled carbon nanotubes were functionalized with HEMA and CS in two steps. Firstly, CS was grafted onto the surface and side wall of carbon nanotubes by using microwave irradiation. At the second step, HEMA monomers were grafted onto the polymeric matrix surface. The modified surface of CS functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotube composites are confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, Transmission electron microscopic and scanning electron microscopic images show the morphological changes of the carbon nanotubes. Thermal gravimetric analysis shows content of HEMA–CS functionalized MWCNTs in the composites. Dispersibility of pristine MWCNTs was compared with dispersibility of resultant composites in aqueous phase as well. Results show that composites have higher dispersibility in aqueous phase. Considering the biomedical importance of HEMA monomers and CS polymer, in future, these materials are expected to be useful in the pharmaceutical industry as novel biomaterials composites with potential applications in drug delivery. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:495–500, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Structure–property relationships of medium‐density polypropylene foams

This paper is focused on the production and characterization of a collection of polypropylene (PP) foams with relative densities ranging from 0.3 to 0.6. Samples were foamed using the improved compression moulding method. The process allows controlling density and cellular structure independently as well as obtaining PP foams without fillers, crosslinking or using special PP grades. The influence of blowing agent content, density, cellular structure and foaming conditions on the mechanical response measured in compression, tensile, bending and Charpy impact tests was determined. Results show that density, open cell content and blowing agent concentration have a significant influence on the mechanical performance of medium‐density PP foams. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Structure–property relationships for liquid transport in modified polypropylene membranes

In view of the intensifying interest in the application of polymeric membranes in mixture separation processes, the permeation and permselective properties of polypropylene films toward several candidate organic liquids and vapors were investigated. Polymer films were subjected to solvent and thermal treatments, and the effects of these treatments on film morphology and transport properties were studied. Structure–property relationships for membrane permeation were then developed. Polypropylene films were found to be selective toward toluene, relative to isooctane, and p-xylene relative to o-xylene. Liquid flux rates were found to depend primarily upon the solubility of the permeants in the films and the absolute difference in the solubility parameters of the polymer–liquid pair provided a good basis for correlation of this effect. Considering liquids of closely similar solubility parameters, fluxes were found to be dependent upon the apparent molecular cross sections of the permeants. Films annealed in various organic solvents at temperatures of 60–100°C exhibited enhanced permeability, with up to fifteenfold increase relative to untreated membranes, but with reduced selectivity towards the permeants. A mechanism to account for these effects through consideration of the influence of treating solvent type on polymer morphology is proposed. It postulates the formation of more open or coarser spherulitic structures as a result of recrystallization in the presence of solvent during annealing. The enhanced flux rates in the treated films are attributed to the changes in the spherulite textures and to diminished intercrystalline tie chain constrainment within the spherulitic substructure.     

Improved fracture toughness of carbon fiber composite functionalized with multi walled carbon nanotubes

Woven carbon fiber (CF) laminae are functionalized in situ with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to test the hypothesis that growing CNTs on CF (i.e., carbon fiber bundles or tow) would enhance the properties of polymeric carbon composites, specifically epoxy–carbon composites that are used in aerospace applications. The CNT as-grown on the woven CF were shown to substantially improve the fracture toughness of the cured composite on the order of 50%. This was accompanied by no loss in structural stiffness of the final composite structure. In fact, the flexural modulus increased approximately 5%. The significant increase in the fracture toughness as tested under the ASTM D 5528 standard indicates that the damage tolerance of a composite structure would benefit from the CNT material applied in this way. Our approach has allowed for significantly larger samples to be uniformly functionalized with CNTs than is reported elsewhere in the open literature. In addition, this work demonstrated CNT functionalization on flexible substrates that remains flexible after functionalization, whereas most CNT growth substrates are rigid in order to withstand the high (>800 °C) growth temperatures often encountered in CNT synthesis.     

Structure‐property relationship of substituted pyrrolidine functionalized CNT epoxy nanocomposite

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based polymer nanocomposites hold the promise of delivering exceptional mechanical properties and multifunctional characteristics. However, the realization of exceptional properties of CNT based nanocomposites is dependent on CNT dispersion and CNT‐matrix adhesion. To this end, we modified MWCNTs by Prato reaction to yield aromatic (phenyl and 2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxyphenyl) substituted pyrrolidine functionalized CNTs (fCNT1 and fCNT2) and aliphatic (2‐ethylbutyl and n‐octyl) substituted pyrrolidine functionalized CNTs (fCNT3 and fCNT4). The functionalization of CNTs was established by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman Spectroscopy, and XPS techniques. Optical micrographs of fCNT epoxy mixture showed smaller aggregates compared to pristine CNT epoxy mixture. A comparison of the tensile results and onset decomposition temperature of fCNT/epoxy nanocomposite showed that aliphatic substituted pyrrolidine fCNT epoxy nanocomposites have higher onset decomposition temperature and higher tensile toughness than aromatic substituted pyrrolidine fCNT epoxy nanocomposites, which is consistent with the dispersion results of fCNTs in the epoxy matrix. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42284.     

Effect of strain on the properties of a styrene–butadiene rubber filled with multiwall carbon nanotubes

Multiwall carbon nanotubes were dispersed in a styrene–butadiene copolymer. The effect of nanotube concentration on the tensile characteristics of the composites was examined. Electrical properties carried out under uniaxial extension show an increase in resistivity upon gradual stretching. A second stretch performed after total release of the stress was shown to lead to a flat response in resistivity. Atomic force microscopy was used to examine orientational effects and changes in filler structure occurring upon application of an uniaxial deformation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Structure–tensile property relationship of knitted fabric composites

This paper reports some further studies on the tensile properties of plain weft knitted DuPont Kevlar fiber fabric reinforced epoxy matrix composites. One aim of this work is to investigate systematically the anisotropy of knitted fabric composites. Tensile tests were conducted at different off‐axial angles (0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°) with respect to the wale direction. Fracture modes corresponding to this off‐axial variation were clearly identified. The elastic modulus and tensile strength were found to be the highest in the wale direction (0°), but decreased gradually towards the course direction (90°). This anisotropic study was carried out on both single layered and multilayered (four layered) knitted fabric composites. Another aim is to study the effect of specimen width (or number of loops per specimen width) on the tensile properties. This study indicated an optimum number of loops per sample width required to obtain meaningful tensile test results. Further, edge effect on the tensile properties of the knitted fabric composites was also investigated in the paper. This was achieved through comparative studies on cut and uncut four layered specimens. In the cut specimens the continuity of the yarns is lost at the cut edges, which show a marginal variation in the properties compared with the uncut specimens where the yarns are continuous throughout the specimen. Finally, a study was also carried out to investigate the effect of loop size (or stitch density) on the tensile strength and stiffness of the single layered composites.     

Structure–property relationships in some composite systems. Deformation mechanism

In the present paper, we report the photoelastic behavior of composite elastomeric systems. The samples were obtained by vulcanizing mixtures of cis-polybutadiene and a polar monomer. The polar monomer used was methacrylic acid or magnesium methacrylate. The photoelastic analysis was carried out on samples with different monomer amount and in different swelling conditions. This kind of analysis gives informations about the deformation mechanism of these systems.     

Structure‐property relationship in polyaniline‐filled castor oil based chain extended polyurethanes

A series of polyaniline (Pani)‐filled chain extended polyurethanes (PUs) were prepared by condensation polymerization of castor oil with methylene diisocyanate (MDI) as crosslinker and diamino diphenyl sulfone (DDS) as chain extender. The effect of different amounts of Pani (varying from 5% to 25%) on the chain extended PUs has been reported. The Pani‐filled chain extended PU sheets were characterized by their physico‐mechanical properties such as density, tensile strength, percentage elongation at break and surface hardness. Electrical properties, such as volume and surface conductivity, also have been reported. These results are corroborated with microcrystalline parameters of PU/Pani estimated using wide angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS). Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:772–778, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

High thermal conductive m‐xylylenediamine functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes/epoxy resin composites

In this study, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) functionalized by m‐xylylenediamine is used as thermal conductive fillers to improve their dispersibility in epoxy resin and the thermal conductivity of the MWNTs/bisphenol‐A glycidol ether epoxy resin composites. Functionalization with amine groups of MWNTs is achieved after such steps as carboxylation, acylation and amidation. The thermal conductivity, impact strength, flexural strength, and fracture surfaces of MWNTs/epoxy composites are investigated with different MWNTs. The results show that m‐xylylenediamine is successfully grafted onto the surface of the MWNTs and the mass fraction of the organic molecules grafted onto MWNTs is about 20 wt %. The thermal conductivity of MWNTs/epoxy composites is further enhanced to 1.236 W/mK with 2 wt % m‐MWNTs. When the content of m‐MWNTs is 1.5 wt %, the impact strength and flexural strength of the composites are 25.85 KJ/m², 128.1 MPa, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results show that the fracture pattern of composites is changed from brittle fracture to ductile fracture. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41255.     

Structure–property relationship of polyimide fibers containing ether groups

The copolyimide (co‐PI) fibers with outstanding mechanical properties were prepared by a two‐step wet‐spinning method, derived from the design of combining 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) with the rigid 3,3′,4,4′‐biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA)/p‐phenylenediamine (p‐PDA) backbone. The mechanical properties of PI fibers were drastically improved with the optimum tensile strength of 2.53 GPa at a p‐PDA/ODA molar ratio of 5/5, which was approximately 3.7 times the tensile strength of BPDA/p‐PDA PI fibers. Two‐dimensional wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction indicated that the highly oriented structures were formed in the fibers. Two‐dimensional small‐angle X‐ray scattering revealed the existence of the needle‐shaped microvoids aligned parallel to the fiber axis, and the introduction of ODA led to the reduction in the size of the microvoids. As a result, the significantly improved mechanical properties of PI fibers were mainly attributed to the gradually formed homogeneous structures. The co‐PI fibers also exhibited excellent thermal stabilities of up to 563°C in nitrogen and 536°C in air for a 5% weight loss and glass transition temperatures above 279°C. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42474.     

Flexible polymer‐multiwall carbon nanotubes composite developed by in situ polymerization technique

Mechanically robust and flexible polymer‐multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) composites are developed by in situ polymerization technique, where MWCNT are embedded in nontoxic, bio‐compatible acryl amide‐based polymer matrix. The addition of glycerol in the composite imparts required flexibility and a further addition of poly (3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) shows significant improvements in tensile modulus, strength, and toughness compared to the polymer matrix. The composite is characterized by Scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy Attenuated total reflectance Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. At optimized conditions; the composite forms a heterojunction diode with n‐Silicon having an electronic rectification ratio of 2.11 at ±1 V and a further addition of conducting polymer PEDOT: PSS in the composite enhances the electronic current rectification to 13.63 at ±1 V, with the turn on voltage of the device at 0.35 V. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2860–2870, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers