Effect of clay modification on the morphology and the mechanical/physical properties of ABS/PMMA blends

The effect of three types of organoclays on the morphology and mechanical properties of lower critical solution temperature‐type poly(acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (ABS/PMMA) blends was investigated. Polymers were melt‐compounded with 2 and 4 wt % of clays using a twin‐screw extruder. X‐ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the intercalation of the nanoclay in the hybrid nanocomposite was more affected by the polarity of the organoclay. Although the morphology of the blends varied by PMMA content, scanning electron microscopy showed smaller PMMA domains for the hybrid systems containing clay particles. Although good dispersion of the nanoclay through the ABS matrix and at the blend interface led to enhancement of tensile strength, the increment of the stiffness was more noticeable for nanocomposites including less polar organoclay. Well‐dispersed clay platelets increased the glass transition temperature. In addition, nanoscratching analysis illustrated an improvement in scratch resistance of ABS because of the presence of PMMA and organoclay. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

PMMA/PEG共混物形态和热性质的研究

在聚乙二醇存在的情况下,自由基聚合得到的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯/聚乙二醇(PMMA/PEG)共混物,是一种半结晶聚合物;有相分离发生,一部分PEG晶体依然保持其晶体的特征,另一部分PEG晶体转变成非晶态,与PMMA网络复合,形成完全均一的非晶相。     

Precipitation of PMMA/PCL blends using supercritical carbon dioxide

Solutions of a poly(methyl methacrylate)–poly(ε‐Caprolactone) (PMMA/PCL) polymer blend in dichloromethane (DCM) and mixtures of the same polymer blend and cholesterol in DCM were sprayed into supercritical carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide was contacted with 0.23–1 wt % polymer solutions and with 0.3–1 wt % polymer plus 0.1–0.6 wt % cholesterol solutions in a continuous mode of operation. Pressure and temperature were constant for almost all of the experiments, 11 MPa and 314 K, respectively. Fibrous networks composed of many smaller microfibrils were obtained by spraying the different solutions through a conical nozzle into concurrently flowing supercritical carbon dioxide. This morphology suggests such an important degree of agglomeration that primary particles are no longer discernible. Processing the polymers with CO₂ leads to the removal of contaminants as the precipitate was free of monomer and initiator. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2422–2426, 2004     

PP/EHDPET共混体系熔体粘度对相转变的影响

以聚丙烯 (PP) /易水解聚酯 (EH DPET)共混体系为研究对象 ,测试了共混组分在不同加工温度与不同剪切速率下的熔体粘度。结果表明 ,加工温度与剪切速率的改变均会导致 PP与 EHDPET熔体粘度比的变化 ,进而影响到两组分的海 -岛结构构成。选择较高的加工温度及较低的剪切速率 ,可以使共混物 PP在高组成比时成为分散相。     

Effect of matrix composition on the fracture behavior of rubber-modified PMMA/PVC blends

Summary PB-g-MMA core-shell impact modifiers were synthesized by seed emulsion polymerization and impact-modified PMMA/PVC blends were prepared by melt blending PMMA, PVC and PB-g-MMA at 160 °C. The PB-g-MMA particles were dispersed uniformly in the PMMA/PVC matrix. PMMA/PVC blends were prepared in the blend ratio from 100/0 to 0/100 and the rubber content was kept 16% in all the compositions. The effects of matrix composition on the mechanical properties and morphology of the blends were studied. It was found that when the matrix was a PMMA-rich system, the sample broke in a brittle mode and crazing of the matrix was the main mechanisms of deformation. When the matrix was a PVC-rich system, the sample broke in a ductile mode and the main deformation mechanisms were cavitation of the particle and shear yielding of the matrix. There existed a transition from crazing to shear yielding in the rubber-modified PMMA/PVC blend as the matrix composition varied.     

水辅助注塑PP/EVOH共混物制品的相形态与阻渗性能

选择3种不同黏度的聚丙烯(PP)与聚乙烯醇(EVOH)共混制备质量比为90/10的共混物,并采用水辅助注塑(WAIM)将这3种共混物成型为中空制品。从WAIM制品靠近浇口(1^#)和末端(2^#)两个位置取出样品,通过扫描电镜观察样品壁厚上3个位置的相形态,并测试所取样品的甲苯渗透率。借助WAIM中高压水作用下模腔内熔体的流场对样品中3个位置的相形态进行了分析。对WAIM的高黏度比共混物制品2^#样品,在外表层和内表层分散相呈粗纤维状,芯层主要呈液滴状,其阻渗性能与相应的WAIM PP样品比有适度提高(约2.4倍);对WAIM的2种低黏度比共混物制品2^#样品,外表层和内表层分散相呈细纤维状,芯层呈粗长纤维状,其阻渗性能与相应的WAIM PP样品比提高幅度较大(其中对黏度比最小的共混物达9.8倍)。1^#位置所取3种WAIM PP/EVOH样品中分散相纤维的平均直径比2^#位置的大,导致1^#位置所取样品的阻渗性能比2^#位置的低。     

The effects of processing parameters on the morphology of PLA/PEG melt electrospun fibers

Electrospinning of a polymer melt is an ideal technique to produce highly porous nanofibrous or microfibrous scaffolds appropriate for biomedical applications. In recent decades, melt electrospinning has been known as an eco‐friendly procedure as it eliminates the cytotoxic effects of the solvents used in solution electrospinning. In this work, the effects of spinning conditions such as temperature, applied voltage, nozzle to collector distance and collector type as well as polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration on the diameter of melt electrospun polylactic acid (PLA)/PEG fibers were studied. The thermal stability of PLA/PEG blends was monitored through TGA and rheometry. Morphological investigations were carried out via optical and scanning electron microscopy. Based on the results, blends were almost stable over the temperature range of melt electrospinning (170 ? 230 °C) and a short spinning time of 5 min. To obtain non‐woven meshes with uniform fiber morphologies, experimental parameters were optimized using ANOVA. While increasing the temperature, applied voltage and PEG content resulted in thinner fibers, PEG concentration was the most influential factor on the fiber diameter. In addition, a nozzle to collector distance of 10 cm was found to be the most suitable for preparing uniform non‐woven PLA/PEG meshes. At higher PEG concentrations, alterations in the collector distance did not affect the uniformity of fibers, although at lower distances vigorous bending instabilities due to polarity augmentation and viscosity reduction resulted in curly fibrous meshes. Finally, the finest and submicron scale fibers were obtained through melt electrospinning of PLA/PEG (70/30) blend collected on a metallic frame. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

Surface phase morphology and composition of the casting films of PVDF-PVP blend

Films of a binary polymer blend comprising of hydrophobic poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and hydrophilic poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) have been prepared by solution-casting. The dependence of surface structure and composition of the films on the PVP content in the blend was investigated by using atomic force microscope (AFM), XRD, XPS, SEM and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). It has been found that the interaction between the two homopolymers prevents PVDF from crystallization in the blend, the net result of which has a primary effect on the surface properties of the films. PVP has a greater concentration at the surface than in the bulk as long as PVDF crystallizes in the bulk during the film formation process, which leaves a thermodynamically non-equilibrium surface state. On the other hand, with an increase in the PVP content, the interaction between segmental PVDF and PVP in the beginning transforms the crystalline state of PVDF from α to γ phase, and finally results in the disappearance of crystalline PVDF phases. A meager crystallization of PVDF segments could still carry on at the surface of a film with a miscible (or an amorphous) bulk; this occurrence makes the surface more hydrophobic than its bulk phase.     

Morphological changes in nylon-6/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene reactive blend

The morphological changes of blends of nylon-6 and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) with reactive compatibilizer [poly(N-phenylmaleimide-styrene-maleic anhydride)] as a function of viscosity ratio of the components, concentration of compatibilizer, and the feed rate have been studied using an intermeshing corotating twin screw extruder. The occurrence of reaction between the amine end group of nylon-6 and maleic anhydride of compatibilizer during melt blending was identified by the solvent extraction and infrared spectroscopy study. It was found that the minimum dispersed phase size occurred at the viscosity ratio (p) = 0.75. Dispersed phase size was decreased significantly by the addition of compatibilizer and tended to equilibrate at about 15 wt % compatibilizer based on the amount of nylon-6. It was observed that the morphology was strongly dependent on the feed rate. The presence of maximum dispersed phase size was observed as a function of feed rate. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 1595–1604, 1997     

Effect of different salts on electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer solution

Electrospinning is a relatively simple method to produce submicron fibers from solutions of different polymers and polymer blends. If the solution is absolutely insulating, or the applied voltage is not high enough that electrostatic force cannot overcome the surface tension, then no fiber can be produced by electrospinning; however, if some salt is added in the solution, the problem can be overcome. The effect of different salts on electrospinning of polyacrlonitrile (PAN) polymer solution was investigated in this article. The various inorganic salts used in this work include LiCl, NaNO₃, NaCl, and CaCl₂.The results show that when the salts were added, respectively, into different concentrations of PAN solution, the order of conductant was LiCl > NaNO₃ > CaCl₂ > NaCl > no salt added. Viscosity and shearing strength of electrospinning solutions are slightly affected by the adding of salts and mainly affected by the changes in concentration of PAN electrospinning solutions. The diameter of nanofibers electrospun by solutions with different salts size down as follows: LiCl > NaNO₃ > CaCl₂ > NaCl. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3865–3870, 2007     

电子纺丝成形及纤维形态结构研究

电子纺丝是—种可能制备具有微细直径的纤维成形技术，本文介绍了电子纺丝技术的基本原理和电子纺丝成形工艺对纤维形态结构的影响以及电子纺纤维的应用前景等。     

Study on morphology of ternary polymer blends. II. Effect of composition

The composition effect on morphology of polypropylene/ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer/polyethylene (PP/EPDM/PE) and polypropylene/ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer/polystyrene (PP/EPDM/PS) ternary blends has been investigated. In all of the blends, polypropylene as the major phase was blended with two minor phases, that is, EPDM and PE or PS. From morphological studies using the SEM technique a core–shell morphology for PP/EPDM/PE and separated dispersed morphology for PP/EPDM/PS were observed. These results were found to be in agreement with the theoretical predictions. The composition of components affected only the size of dispersed phases and had no appreciable effect on the type of morphology. The size of each dispersed phase, whether it forms core or shell or disperses separately in matrix, can be related directly to its composition in the blend. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 1138–1146, 2001     

Effect of composition on the linear viscoelastic behavior and morphology of PMMA/PS and PMMA/PP blends

Here, the effect of concentration on the morphology and dynamic behavior of polymethylmethacrylate/polystyrene (PMMA/PS), for PS with two different molecular weight, and polymethylmethacrylate/polypropylene (PMMA/PP) blends was studied. The blends concentrations ranged from 5% to 30% of the dispersed phase (PS or PP). The dynamic data were analyzed to study the possibility of inferring the interfacial tension between the components of the blend from their rheological behavior using Palierne [Palierne JF. Rheol Acta 1990;29:204-14] [1] and Bousmina [Bousmina M. Acta 1999;38:73-83] [2] emulsion models. The relaxation spectrum of the blends was also studied. The dynamic behavior of 85/15 PS/PMMA blend were studied as a function of temperature. It was possible to fit both Palierne and Bousmina's emulsion models to the dynamic data of PMMA/PS blends, to obtain the interfacial tension of the blend. This was not the case for PMMA/PP. The relaxation spectrum of both blends was used to obtain the interfacial tension between the components of the blends. The values of interfacial tension calculated were shown to decrease when the concentration of the blends increased. It was shown using morphological analysis that this phenomenon can be attributed to the coalescence of the dispersed phase during dynamic measurements that occurs for large dispersed phase concentration. When the ‘coalesced’ morphology is taken into account in the calculations the interfacial tension inferred from rheological measurement did not depend on the concentration of the blend used. The values of interfacial tension found analyzing the dynamic behavior of one of the PMMA/PS blend were shown to decrease with temperature.     

Properties of chlorinated polyethylene waxes/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends: dependence of surface composition on wax chlorine content and blend composition

Chlorinated polyethylene wax/poly(methyl methacrylate) (CPE/PMMA) blends have been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, static secondary-ion mass spectroscopy and contact angle measurements, and the surface composition has been observed to depend on the chlorine content in the wax and on the blend composition. Dielectric thermal analysis and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis measurements have been used to probe the phase structure of the blends and identify the glass transition temperature. These systems exhibit a complex phase behaviour with a microheterogeneous morphology. The waxes can be divided into two groups, according to their chlorination level: Cl ≤ 48 wt% and Cl> 48 wt%. The extent of specific interactions in the systems, determined using nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopies, explains the differences in behaviour. A degree of chlorination>48 wt% is shown to be necessary for the CPE wax to form a sufficient number of hydrogen bonds to maximize compatibility with PMMA.     

CA/PAN/DMAc溶液相转变过程的研究

通过二醋酸纤维素（CA）溶液、以丙烯腈为主体二元共聚物（PA）溶液及两者共混溶液凝胶化过程的显微摄影、高聚物／溶剂／沉淀剂的三元相图以及共混体系的玻璃化转变温度的考查，揭示了CA／PAN／DMAC溶液的相转变特性以及影响其混膜结构和性能的内在因素。结果表明，CA和PAN在DMAC溶液中具有相互渗透、相互扩散作用；在沉起剂的作用下，以不同的速度发生相转变，共混膜断面依共混比及温度的改变呈现不对称指状结构和网络结构；共混膜的水通量和平均孔径大于纯组份。     

Role of block copolymer on the coarsening of morphology in polymer blend: Effect of micelles

The reactive compatibilization of polystyrene/ethylene‐α‐octene copolymer (PS/POE) blend via Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction was investigated by rheology and electron microscope. It was found that the graft copolymer formed from interfacial reaction reduced the domain size and decreased the coarsening rate of morphology. The reduction of the interfacial tension is very limited according to the mean field theory even assuming that all block copolymer stays on the interface. With the help of self‐consistent field theory and rheological constitutive models, the distribution of graft copolymer was successfully estimated. It was found that large amount of copolymer had detached from the interfaces and formed micelles in the matrix. Both the block copolymer micelles in matrix and the block copolymers at the interface contribute to the suppression of coarsening in polymer blend, but play their roles at different stages of droplet coalescence. In droplet morphology, the micelles mainly hinder the approaching of droplets. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 285–295, 2015     

Effect of clay on immiscible morphology of poly(butylene terephthalate)/polyethylene blend nanocomposites

Polymer blend nanocomposites containing poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), polyethylene (PE), and organoclay were prepared by direct melt compounding. Their immiscible morphologies weree investigated using electronmicroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and parallel plate rheometry. The PE domain sizes were reduced when the polar PBT phase was continuous (PBT/PE = 60/40) because the clay tactoids effectively prevented the coalescence of the dispersed PE domains. However, when the PBT component presented domains dispersed in the rich PE matrix (PBT/PE = 40/60), the addition of clay (>2 wt %) changed the phase morphology into a novel cocontinuous one, which was further confirmed by rheological measurements. The existence of clay tactoids led to a sharp enhancement in the viscosity of the PBT phase, changing the viscosity ratio between the PBT and PE phases remarkably, which may have promoted the phase inversion. As a result, clay had significant effects on the morphology of the polymer blend. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3628–3633, 2006     

Dynamic rheological behavior and morphology near phase-separated region for a LCST-type of binary polymer blends

The dynamic rheological properties and morphology in the vicinity of phase-separated region for poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) blends with lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior were investigated. When temperature was above the phase separation temperature, i.e. cloud point (T_c) for some PMMA/SAN blends, the slope of plotting versus decreased at low frequencies (terminal region), indicating the appearance of phase-separation and existence of heterogeneous structure. We employed a model dealing with complex modulus of the two phases mixture proposed by Kopnistos et al. for describing the dynamic rheological behaviors of PMMA/SAN blends, according to the assumption that the interfacial tension between the matrix and the dispersed phase was independent of local shear and variation of interfacial area, and that the dispersed spherical droplets were nearly monodispersed. It is found that the predicted results were in qualitative agreement with the experimental data of this study. The ratio of interfacial tension α to the size of dispersed phase R, α/R, was obtained for 80/20 and 60/40 PMMA/SAN blends, and the two different morphology were also observed.     

Influence of the morphology on the fire behavior of a polycarbonate/poly(butylene terephthalate) blend

Polycarbonate/Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PC/PBT) blends are used in various industrial sectors, particularly in the cable industry. In this work, the fire behavior of PC/PBT blends was studied for the entire range of blend composition to investigate the relation between fire properties and blend morphology. The morphology of the binary blends used presents a phase inversion point for 25–30 wt % PBT. Various tests have been performed to characterize the fire behavior [limiting oxygen index (LOI), epiradiator test, cone calorimeter, and pyrolysis combustion flow calorimeter (PCFC)]. A change in fire behavior has been observed when the PBT content increases from 20 to 30 wt %, corresponding to the phase inversion, from a continuous rich-PC phase to a continuous rich-PBT phase. Consequently, it can be suggested that the control of the morphology of binary polymer blends is crucial to improve their fire properties. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Compatibilized iPP/aPS blends: The effect of the viscosity ratio of the components on the blends morphology

More than 25 PP/PS/SEP blends, where PP is isotactic polypropylene, PS is atactic polystyrene, and SEP is poly(styrene‐block‐ethylene‐co‐propylene), were prepared. The main objective of this study was to investigate the influence of PP/PS viscosity ratio, λ_TM, on the blends' morphology. It was shown that λ_TM strongly influenced not only the overall morphology of the blends, but also the morphology of SEP, which exhibited as many as five different types of structure when blended with PP and/or PS. SEP was found an efficient compatibilizer of PP/PS blends as it decreased the average particle size in all studied systems. An interesting “by‐product” of this work was the discovery of a brand‐new type of polymer morphology, which was called morel structure. The characteristic feature of the morel structure was PS matrix compartmentalized by SEP. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2236–2249, 2006