Study on mechanical properties and material distribution of sandwich plaques molded by co‐injection

In the sandwich injection molding process (co‐injection), two different polymer melts are sequentially injected into a mold to form a part with a skin/core structure. Sandwich molding can be used for recycling, improving barrier and electrical properties, or producing parts with tailored mechanical properties. In this study the evaluation of flexural modulus and impact strength of co‐injected plaques have been investigated. Virgin and short glass fiber reinforced (10 and 40%) polypropylene were used in six different combinations of sandwiched layers. The skin and core thicknesses were measured by optical microscopy and used to calculate the theoretical flexural modulus, which was compared to the experimentally measured modulus. Fiber orientation states were also observed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) at some specific locations and their effect on mechanical properties discussed. The experimental results indicate that an important improvement in transverse modulus, near the gate, is obtained when the virgin polypropylene (PP) is used as a skin and 40% short glass fiber polypropylene (PP40) as core. When both skin and core are made of PP40, the flexural moduli are slightly higher than conventionally injected PP40. POLYM. COMPOS. 26:265–275, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

微注射成型PP/ABS共混物相形态

采用传统注射成型和微注射成型制备了聚丙烯/丙烯腈丁二烯苯乙烯共聚物（PP/ABS）共混物的2种尺寸的矩形样条,并对其相形态和力学性能进行了研究。结果表明,2种样条的相形态差异很大,传统注射成型样条皮层分散相变形较大,且在ABS含量达到50 %(质量分数,下同)时,仍为分散相形态;而芯层分散相呈球形,在ABS含量为40 %时呈共连续结构;微注射成型由于剪切速率较高,冷却速率较快,样条皮层和芯层相形态没有太大的差异,分散相变形均较大,在ABS含量为50 %时呈现共连续结构,即相反转区域向ABS含量较高的方向移动;随着ABS含量的增加,2种样条的拉伸强度逐渐降低。     

Determination of different morphological structures in PC/ABS open spiral injection moldings

The internal structure of injection molded polymer blends are complex and greatly affect the mechanical properties. In this work, the microstructure development was observed for a Polycarbonate (PC)/Acrylonitrile‐Butadiene‐Styrene (ABS) blend (60/40 wt% blend ratio) that was injection molded using an open spiral mold. The ABS‐rich phase was chemically etched out, leaving behind cavities of different shapes and sizes. With increasing depth, different morphological structures were observed due to the variation of temperature and shear profiles. The changes in morphology can be abrupt, especially at the regions closest to the external surface of the specimen, while a more gradual transition was observed with increasing specimen depth. Thus, a methodology is developed to segregate these structures into different and distinctive layers (skin, shear, intermediate, and core layers) corresponding to the state of shear flow, cavity pressure and distance from the gate. The thickness of these layers and the characteristics of the cavities (i.e. shapes and sizes) are believed to have a direct impact on the final mechanical properties of the moldings. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Fire hazard evaluation of thermoplastics based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method

Combustibility performance of 14 compositions including five main thermoplastics (polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC)) was tested by cone calorimeter. The fire growth index, total heat release amount index, total smoke release amount index and toxicity product index were calculated, based on which an index system for evaluating fire hazard was set up. All factors in this index system had been analyzed by the analytic hierarchy process, and the specific weight for each factor had been determined. Then fire hazard of thermoplastics was evaluated considering integrated fire hazard index. The results show that fire hazards of HIPS‐phosphate fire retardant (PFR), PVC‐non‐flame retardant, ABS‐brominated flame retardant (BFR) and PC/ABS‐PFR are higher than PC‐BFR and PP‐non‐halogenated flame retardant. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Morphology of gas‐assisted and conventional injection molded polycarbonate/polyethylene blend

The skin‐core structure of the gas‐assisted and conventional injection molded polycarbonate (PC)/polyethylene (PE) blend was investigated. The results indicated that both the size and the shape of the dispersed PC phase depended not only on the nature of PC/PE blend and molding parameters, but also on its location in the parts. Although the gas‐assisted injection molding (GAIM) parts and conventional injection molding (CIM) part have the similar skin‐core structure, the morphology evolution of PC phase in the GAIM moldings and the CIM moldings showed completely different characteristics. In the section perpendicular to the melt flow direction, the morphology of the GAIM moldings included five layers, skin intermediate layer, subskin, core layer, core intermediate layer as well as gas channel intermediate layer, according to the degree of deformation. PC phase changed severely in the core layer of GAIM moldings, as well as in the subskin of CIM moldings. In GAIM parts, PC phase in the core layer of the nongate end changed far more intensely and aligned much orderly than that in the gate end. The morphology of PC phase in the GAIM part molded with higher gas pressure changed more severe than that in the GAIM part molded with lower gas pressure. In a word, PC phase showed more obvious fibrillation in the GAIM moldings than that in the CIM moldings. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3069–3077, 2006     

水辅助注塑聚丙烯制品的晶体结构研究

通过偏光显微镜(PLM)观察了水辅助注塑(WAIM)聚丙烯(PP)制品靠近注水喷嘴和远离注水喷嘴两个位置的晶体结构,发现WAIM制品沿壁厚方向都可以分为表层、中芯层和水道层,并且发现两个位置水道层和中芯层的晶体结构比较相似,表层晶体结构出现了较大的差异;靠近注水喷嘴位置表层晶体结构出现明显的取向现象,而在远离注水喷嘴位置没有出现。在晶体结构分析的基础上,初步探讨了水辅助注塑制品晶体结构的形成机理。结果表明:水的穿透对于熔体内部剪切的增加和取向结晶的形成有明显的促进作用。     

Detecting crystallization structure evolution of polypropylene injection‐molded bar induced by nucleating agent

The crystallization structures of Polypropylene (PP) injection‐molded bars nucleated by nucleating agent were detected from the skin layer to the core zone, layer by layer. α‐phase nucleating agent 1,3:2,4‐bis (3,4‐dimethylbenzylidene) sorbitol (DMDBS, Millad 3988), β‐phase nucleating agent aryl amides compounds (TMB‐5), and their compounds were introduced into PP matrix, respectively. The relative content of β‐phase PP in the different zones of an injection‐molded bar was characterized and calculated by Wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that, whether in pure PP or in nucleated PP, both β‐phase PP and α‐phase PP grow in the skin layer of the injection‐molded bar. However, in the intermediate layers and the core zone, the crystallization structures of PP are dependent on the used nucleating agent. β‐phase is the main crystallization structure of TMB‐5 (0.1 and 0.2 wt%) nucleated PP, and α‐phase in DMDBS (0.1 and 0.2 wt%) nucleated PP. Compounding nucleating agents with 0.1 wt% DMDBS and 0.1 wt% TMB‐5 induces PP crystallization almost in β‐phase; however, PP nucleated by 0.2 wt% DMDBS and 0.2 wt% TMB‐5 crystallizes exclusively in α‐phase. The crystallization mechanism of PP nucleated by compounding nucleating agents was further studied in this work. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

水辅助注塑PP/EVA共混物的相形态

通过扫描电镜(SEM)观察了水辅助注塑聚丙烯(PP)/乙烯-醋酸乙烯共聚物(EVA)共混物制品近浇口和远浇口处外表层、芯层和内表层的相形态.结果表明,分散相主要以层状分布在基体中,在两个观察位置外表层和内表层的层状分散相厚度比芯层的大,远浇口处外表层和内表层的分散相厚度比近浇口处对应层的大.从温度场和剪切场两个方面分析了分散相的形变过程.     

Mechanical properties and morphology of LCP/ABS blends compatibilized with a styrene–maleic anhydride copolymer

A co‐polyester liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) was melt blended with an acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer (ABS). LCP fibrils are formed and a distinct skin/core morphology is observed in the injection moulded samples. At higher LCP concentration (50 wt%), phase inversion occurs, where the dispersed LCP phase becomes a co‐continuous phase. While the tensile strength and Young's modulus remain unchanged with increasing LCP content up to 30 wt% LCP, a significant enhancement of the modulus at 50 wt% LCP is observed due to the formation of co‐continuous morphology. The blend modulus is lower than the values predicted by the rule of mixtures, suggesting a poor interface between the LCP droplets and ABS matrix. A copolymer of styrene and maleic anhydride (SMA) was added in the LCP/ABS blends during melt blending. It is observed that SMA has a compatibilizing effect on the blend system and an optimum SMA content exists for mechanical properties enhancement. SMA improves the interfacial adhesion, whereas excess of SMA reduces the LCP fibrillation. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of the etching and chrome plating on the ABS,PVC, and PVC/ABS blends surface

As replacement for acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS), which is commonly used in the manufacture of chrome parts, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and PVC/ABS blend parts were produced by injection process, etched in sulfochromic solution in different concentrations, immersion time, and temperature, and they were subsequently chrome‐plated by conventional method. After etching, the sample surfaces were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), roughness, and contact angle, and compared with the ABS surface. The metal deposition was assessed by visual inspection and adhesion test. The roughness influenced the adhesion of the metal layer directly. The chemical etching increased the surface wettability. To achieve a good metal layer adhesion, higher temperatures, immersion time, and etching solution concentration were necessary. A concentration of 350 g/L chromic acid and 400 g/L sulfuric acid, a 70 °C temperature and a 15 min immersion time resulted in good adhesion in PVC and PVC/ABS blends. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44571.     

Mechanical and morphological properties for sandwich composites of wood/PVC and glass fiber/PVC layers

This work manufactured sandwich composites from glass fiber/poly(vinyl chloride) (GF/PVC) and wood/PVC layers, and their mechanical and morphological properties of the composites in three GF orientation angles were assessed. The effects of K value (or viscosity index) of PVC and Dioctyl phthalate (DOP) loading were of our interests. The GF/PVC was used as core layer whereas wood/PVC was the cover layers. The experimental results indicated that PVC with low K value was recommended for the GF/PVC core layer for fabrication of GF/WPVC sandwich composites. The improvement of PVC diffusion at the interface between the GF and the PVC core layer was obtained when using PVC with K value of 58. This was because it could prevent de‐lamination between composite layers which would lead to higher mechanical properties of the sandwich composites, except for the tensile modulus. The sandwich composites with 0° GF orientation possessed relatively much higher mechanical properties as compared with those with 45° and 90° GF orientations, especially for the impact strength. Low mechanical properties of the sandwich composites with 45° and 90° GF orientation angles could be overcome by incorporation of DOP plasticizer into the GF/PVC core layer with the recommended DOP loadings of 5–10 parts per hundred by weight of PVC components. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

试样缺口对悬臂梁缺口冲击强度测试结果的影响研究

选择聚碳酸酯（PC）、均聚聚丙烯（PP）、聚氯乙烯（PVC）和聚丙烯腈-丁二烯-苯乙烯树脂（ABS）四种原材料作为研究对象,对比研究试样缺口差异对悬臂梁缺口冲击强度测试结果的影响。结果表明,PC材料的注塑试样和机铣试样的冲击强度均值相同,但是前者的波动明显高于后者;而对于均聚PP,注塑试样的冲击强度明显高于机铣试样;另外相比于PVC,缺口加工方式、缺口加工速度以及缺口剩余宽度对ABS材料的冲击强度结果影响不大。     

Study of the effect of processing conditions on the co‐injection of PBS/PBAT and PTT/PBT blends for parts with increased bio‐content

This work studies the effect of processing parameters on mechanical properties and material distribution of co‐injected polymer blends within a complex mold shape. A partially bio‐sourced blend of poly(butylene terephthalate) and poly(trimethylene terephthalate) PTT/PBT was used for the core, with a tough biodegradable blend of poly (butylene succinate) and poly (butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) PBS/PBAT for the skin. A ½ factorial design of experiments is used to identify significant processing parameters from skin and core melt temperatures, injection speed and pressure, and mold temperature. Interactions between the processing effects are considered, and the resulting statistical data produced accurate linear models indicating that the co‐injection of the two blends can be controlled. Impact strength of the normally brittle PTT/PBT blend is shown to increase significantly with co‐injection and variations in core to skin volume ratios to have a determining role in the overall impact strength. Scanning electron microscope images were taken of co‐injected tensile samples with the PBS/PBAT skin dissolved displaying variations of mechanical interlocking occurring between the two blends. © 2014 The Authors Journal of Applied Polymer Science Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41278.     

Toughness,dynamic mechanical property,and morphology of polyvinylchloride/acrylonitrile‐styrene‐butyl acrylate blends

Acrylonitrile‐styrene‐butyl acrylate (ASA) graft copolymers with different acrylonitrile (AN) contents, the core‐shell ratio, and tert‐dodecyl mercaptan (TDDM) amounts were synthesized by seed emulsion polymerization. Polyvinylchloride (PVC)/ASA blends were prepared by melt blending ASA graft copolymers with PVC resin. Then the toughness, dynamic mechanical property, and morphology of the PVC/ASA blends were investigated. The results indicated that the impact strength of the PVC/ASA blends increased and then decreased with the increase of the AN content in poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymer, and increased with the increase of the core‐shell ratio of ASA. It was shown that brittle‐ductile transition of PVC/ASA blends was dependent on poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) rubber content in blends and independent of AN content in SAN copolymer. The introduction of TDDM made the toughness of PVC/ASA blends poor. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) curves exhibited that PVC and SAN copolymers were immiscible over the entire AN composition range. From scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was found that the dispersion of ASA in PVC/ASA blends was dependent on the AN content in SAN copolymer and TDDM amounts. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:43–50, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Multi‐analytical approach for the morphological,molecular, and mechanical characterization after photo‐oxidation of polymers used in artworks

For a proper preservation of plastics objects, it is essential to study the degradation processes involved in both exposed and hidden areas of the polymeric materials. In fact, surface properties can differ significantly from the bulk and can have a strong effect on the artistic perception and the correct conservation strategy. In this work, a multi‐analytical investigation, including spectroscopic techniques, optical, and electronic microscopic observations and mechanical tests, was carried out to deeply investigate changes in the physic‐chemical and mechanical surface properties of selected polymers used in design objects and contemporary artworks. Accelerated photo‐oxidative ageing was performed on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene, and linear low density polyethylene. Overall, the analyzed materials have shown different behaviors following photo‐oxidation. The molecular and microscopic analyses highlighted the formation of different products of oxidation due to the dissimilar patterns of ageing leading to surface cracking and strong yellowing of the specimen, mainly for ABS, PVC, and PP. Moreover, mechanical properties, such as the variation of hardness and elastic modulus, were investigated at different depth scales (from 100 down to 1 µm) by using different techniques such as microscratch, micro‐, and nanoindentation. The selected polymers showed different mechanical behavior at different depth scales. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46194.     

Weld‐line characteristics of polycarbonate/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene blends. I. Effect of the processing temperature

The effects of the processing temperature on the morphology and mechanical properties at the weld line of 60/40 (w/w) polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) copolymer blends were investigated. The influences of the incorporation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a compatibilizer and an increase in the viscosity of the dispersed ABS domain phase were also studied. The ABS domain was well dispersed in the region below the V notch, and a coarse morphology in the core region was observed. When tensile stress was applied perpendicularly to the weld line, the fracture propagated along the weak region behind the weld part; there, the domain phase coalescence was significant because of the poor compatibility between PC and styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN). Phase coalescence became severe, and so the mechanical strength of the welded specimen decreased with an increasing injection‐molding temperature. The domain morphology became stable and the mechanical strength increased as the viscosity of the domain phase increased or some SAN was replaced with PMMA. That the morphology was well distributed behind the weld line and the mechanical properties of PC/ABS/PMMA blends were improved was attributed to the compatibilizing effect of PMMA. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 689–699, 2005     

Microstructure in injection molded samples of liquid crystalline poly(P-hydroxy-benzoic acid-Co-ethylene terephthalate)

The microstructure of injection molded bars (2.9 and 5.8 mm thick) of thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(p-hydroxy-benzoic acid-co-ethylene terephthalate) has been studied by SEM on samples etched with n-propylamine, SEM fractography, DSC, IR, ESCA, WAXS and polarized microscopy. The 2.9 mm bar consists of three different layers: a highly oriented surface skin, an oriented intermediate layer and a non-oriented core. The 5.8 mm bar has a more complex microstructure and is composed of five different layers: a highly oriented surface skin, an oriented layer just beneath, a non-oriented layer, another oriented layer and a non-oriented core. The thicknesses of the different layers vary, significantly, with distance from the mold gate. The thickness of the core increases, significantly, with increasing distance from the mold gate at the expense of the oriented layers. The structure within the different morphological layers is not perfectly uniform. Tensile testing demonstrated the mechanical anisotropy of the surface material (a ratio of almost 20 between the longitudinal and transverse moduli) and the isotropy of the central core material.     

Morphology,mechanical performance,and nanoindentation behavior of injection molded PC/ABS‐MWCNT nanocomposites

In this work, nanocomposites of polycarbonate/acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (PC/ABS) with various loads of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are investigated. Material is previously formed by masterbatch dilution approach and further processed by injection molding at various velocities. Microscopic characterization of nanocomposites morphology reveals stronger dependence of MWCNT dispersion on processing parameters at higher nanofiller load. Dispersion of carbon nanotubes at various distances from the injection gate is studied by Raman spectroscopy showing lower deviation at elevated injection velocity. Nanoindentation results that are in agreement with uniaxial tensile testing show a slight decrease of nanocomposites' mechanical performance at 3.0 wt % MWCNT in samples injected at reduced velocity. This is explained by the increase of agglomeration behavior at these conditions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42014.     

Mechanical properties and morphology of PP/ABS blends compatibilized with PP‐g‐2‐HEMA

Polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene blends of different composition were prepared using a single‐screw extruder. The binary blend of PP/ABS was observed to be incompatible and shows poor mechanical properties. PP‐g‐2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2‐HEMA) was used as a compatibilizer for the PP/ABS blends. The ternary compatibilized blends of PP/ABS/PP‐g‐2‐HEMA showed improvement in the mechanical properties. Electron micrographs of these blends showed a homogeneous and finer distribution of the dispersed phase. The mechanical performance increased particularly in the PP‐rich blend. The 2.5‐phr (part per hundred of resin) compatibilizer was observed to bring improvement to the properties. The suitability of various existing theoretical models for the predication of the tensile moduli of these blends was examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 72–78, 2003     

Mathematical modeling for the mechanical properties of poly(vinylchloride) ternary composites

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is one of the major thermoplastics and many scientific and technological efforts have been performed by the incorporation of different additives. The main purpose of this work is the design, fabrication, and experimentally characterization of PVC ternary composites. Acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) core‐shell rubber particles and nano‐CaCO₃ particles were employed to modify hard PVC simultaneously. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and mechanical test were used to evaluate the properties of the composites. Mathematical models for the mechanical properties of PVC ternary composites were investigated by using a method combining design of experiments (DOE), Kriging surrogate model, and data analysis to investigate the various weight ratios addition of nano‐CaCO₃ and ABS on the mechanical properties of compounded PVC and predict mechanical properties associated to the studied composites. Benefiting from the proposed strategy, more reliable results and accurate predictions of mechanical properties of the nanocomposites can be extracted from Kriging surrogate model. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:1109–1117, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers