Process–structure–property relationship in ternary short‐glass‐fiber/elastomer/polypropylene composites

Short‐glass‐fiber (SGF)‐reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites toughened with a styrene/ethylene butylene/styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymer were injection molded after extrusion. Furthermore, a maleic anhydride (MA)‐grafted SEBS copolymer (SEBS‐g‐MA) was used as an impact modifier and compatibilizer. The effects of the processing conditions and compatibilizer on the microstructure and tensile and impact performance of the hybrid composites were investigated. In the route 1 fabrication process, SGF, PP, and SEBS were blended in an extruder twice, and this was followed by injection molding. In route 2, or the sequential blending process, the elastomer and PP were mixed thoroughly before the addition of SGF. In other words, either PP and SEBS or PP and SEBS‐g‐MA pellets were premixed in an extruder. The produced pellets were then blended with SGF in the extruder, and this was followed by injection molding. The SGF/SEBS‐g‐MA/PP hybrid fabricated by the route 2 process exhibited the highest modulus, yield stress, tensile stress at break, Izod impact energy, and Charpy drop weight impact strength among the composites investigated. This was due to the formation of a homogeneous SEBS elastomeric interlayer at the SGF and matrix interface of the SGF/SEBS‐g‐MA/PP hybrid. This SEBS rubbery layer enhanced the interfacial bonding between SGF and the matrix of the SGF/SEBS‐g‐MA/PP hybrid. The correlations between the processing, microstructure, and properties of the hybrids were investigated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1384–1392, 2003     

Synthesis and photoluminescent properties of poly(aryl ether)s containing alternate emitting and electron‐transporting moieties

A new diphenylbutadiene‐containing bisphenol was successfully synthesized from benzylideneaniline and 4‐propenylanisole via an anil synthetic method. A series of copoly(arylene ether)s consisting of an alternate isolated blue chromophore (diphenylbutadiene) and an electron‐transporting moiety (1,3,4‐oxadiazole) was synthesized and characterized. High molecular weight copoly(arylene ether)s with an inherent viscosity of >0.5 dL/g were prepared by the nucleophilic displacement reaction of oxadiazole‐activated bis‐fluorocompounds with bisphenols. Introduction of ether linkages into the copolymers led to an enhanced solubility in organic solvents such as N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NMP). The resulting copolymers can be cast into tough and transparent films. The copolymers were amorphous in structure with high glass transition temperatures ranging from 182.29 to 194.50°C. They also exhibited good thermal stability with the maximum decomposition temperatures higher than 500°C in nitrogen. The absorption peaks of these copolymers in thin films varied from 375 to 391 nm, while the photoluminescent peaks varied from 410 to 433 nm. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 1645–1651, 2003     

Reinforcement of polypropylene using sisal fibers grafted with poly(methyl methacrylate)

Sisal fiber (SF) surface modification was carried out by grafting with methyl methacrylate (MMA) using cerium and ammonium nitrate as initiator. The effects of reaction time, monomer, and initiator concentration on the grafting parameters were systematically investigated. The results showed that MMA was successfully grafted onto the sisal fiber surface. The PMMA‐grafted sisal fibers were melt blended with polypropylene (PP) and then injection molded. The PP/SF composites were characterized by means of thermal analysis, mechanical testing, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and SEM examination. PMMA grafted onto the surface of SF enhanced the intermolecular interaction between the reinforcing SF and PP matrix, improved the dispersion of SF in the PP matrix, and promoted the formation of β‐crystalline PP. These enhanced the thermal stability and mechanical properties of PP/SF composites. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1055–1064, 2003     

Effect of talc/MMA in situ polymerization on mechanical properties of PVC‐matrix composites

In this study, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)‐coated talc was produced by the in situ polymerization of methyl methacrylate on the talc surface. The polymerization reaction was performed by both batch and semicontinuous emulsion processes. The polymerization kinetics, particle size and distribution, grafting efficiency, and coated‐talc morphology were systematically investigated. It was found that the talc particles have no effect on the polymerization of PMMA. The PMMA produced was found to cover the talc surface well. However, only a small amount can be grafted onto the talc. The size distribution of talc particles treated by semicontinuous emulsion polymerization is more uniform than by batch polymerization. The treated talc was subsequently used as filler in a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix, and mechanical properties of the PMMA‐coated‐talc/PVC composites were studied. Morphological structure of PVC‐matrix composites revealed that the PMMA coating on talc improved the dispersion of talc in the PVC matrix and enhanced the interfacial adhesion between the talc and PVC. The mechanical properties of the composites, especially the impact strength, were found to be improved. There appears to be a critical covering thickness of PMMA on the talc surface for optimum toughening. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 2105–2112, 2001     

Effects of carbon nanofibers on the fracture,mechanical, and thermal properties of PP/SEBS‐g‐MA blends

Polypropylene/maleated (styrene‐ethylene‐butadiene‐styrene) (PP/SEBS‐g‐MA) blends reinforced with 0.2–2.5 wt% carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared by injection molding. The structure, thermal, mechanical, and fracture behaviors of PP/SEBS‐g‐MA blends and their nanocomposites were studied. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) results showed that the SEBS‐g‐MA and/or CNF additions do not induce a structural change of PP. Tensile measurements showed that the Young's modulus and tensile yield strength increase with the increasing filler content. Izod impact and essential work of fracture test results demonstrated that CNFs are beneficial to improve the impact strength and specific essential work of fracture of PP/SEBS‐g‐MA blends. Therefore, tough PP‐nanocomposites can be achieved by melt‐blending low fractions of CNFs and appropriate elastomer contents. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Creep and rupture properties of an austenitic Fe-30Mn-9Al-1C alloy

The creep deformation behavior and rupture properties of as-quenched austenitic Fe-30Mn-9Al-1C alloy have been studied at 923, 948, and 973 K under applied stresses ranging from 50 to 350 MPa. The creep curves of the alloy exhibited an extended tertiary stage prior to failure. The stress and temperature dependencies of the minimum creep rate indicated two regimes of creep deformation as well as a transition from creep to power-law breakdown. These two regimes of creep deformation were identified as a low-stress creep regime having an activation energy of 140 kJ/mol and a stress exponent of about 1, and a power-law creep regime having an activation energy of 350 kJ/mol and a stress exponent of about 6. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations of the deformed specimens revealed that a low density of dislocations, coarse dislocation networks, and profuse slip bands were developed in the low stress, power law, and power-law breakdown regimes, respectively. Optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of the ruptured specimens showed that creep cavitation shifted from round-type in the low-stress creep regime to wedge-type in the power-law breakdown regime. The observed creep and rupture characteristics of the alloy are interpreted in terms of creep mechanisms, which involve the Coble creep and dislocation climb creep.     

Creep behavior of TiBw/Ti In-situ composite fabricated by reactive hot pressing

The creep behavior of 15 vol pct TiBw/Ti composite and unreinforced Ti was investigated at 873 to 923 K. The 15 vol pct TiBw/Ti composite exhibited a stress exponent of 4.6 to 4.7 and an activation energy of 300 kJ/mol, which were close to those for the lattice diffusion of α-Ti. Finally, the creep resistance of the composite was about one order of magnitude higher than that of unreinforced Ti.     

Low-cycle fatigue behavior of in situ TiB2/Cu composite prepared by reactive hot pressing

Copper-based composite reinforced with in situ TiB₂ particulates was prepared through reactive hot pressing of Ti, B and Cu powders. The formation of in situ TiB₂ particulates was verified by the X-ray diffraction technique. Tensile test showed that fine TiB₂ particulates were very effective to increase the tensile and yield strengths of copper at the expense of tensile ductility. Strain-controlled low-cycle fatigue measurements demonstrated that the in situ TiB₂/Cu composite exhibited essentially stable cyclic stress response behavior under small total strain amplitudes of 0.1–0.3%. However, this composite exhibited slight cyclic hardening under strain amplitude of 0.4%. Such cyclic hardening was more pronounced at a total strain amplitude to 0.6% due to the formation of dislocation cells and networks. Finally, the fatigue life data of the in situ TiB₂/Cu composite can be described by the Coffin–Manson equation.     

Ultrastructural localization of adhalin in normal murine skeletal myofiber

The effects of steroid induction on antibiotic resistance against the fungal steroid fusidic acid (ramycin; 16-(acetyloxy)-3 alpha,11 alpha-dihydroxy-29-dammara-17(20), 24-dien-21-oic-acid) as well as on carbonyl reduction and degradation of the novel anti-insect agent NKI 42255 (2-(1-imidazolyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methyl-1-propanone) were studied in the Gram-negative soil bacterium Comamonas testosteroni strain ATCC 11996. Cells grown with testosterone as inducing agent showed a 5-6-fold elevation of antibiotic resistance against the fungal steroid fusidic acid. Furthermore, testosterone induction caused a faster uptake and different metabolism of the anti-insect agent NKI 42255 compared to control cultures, revealing carbonyl reduction of the substrate keto group as an initial degradation step in induced cells. It is concluded that the formerly described steroid inducible hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases/carbonyl reductases present in Comamonas testosteroni contribute to these altered phenotypes, thus establishing steroid-inducible catabolic pathways as important defense processes against natural and synthetic toxicants in certain bacteria, which are present in the intestinal microflora of mammalian species as well as in soil samples.     

Mediastinal parathyroid adenoma detected by 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile: report of a case

In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 14 patients requiring resection of tumors were divided in two groups: one group was anesthetized with nitrous oxide [67% N2O-33% O2 (vol/vol)] and the other with propofol. Two other groups of subjects were studied: a group of patients that was undergoing orthopedic procedures and was anesthetized with nitrous oxide [67% N2O-33% O2 (vol/vol)] and a control group (fasted for 10 hrs and no anesthesia). In patients requiring resection of tumors, the blood L-methionine concentration was significantly lower and the blood amino acid pattern was significantly affected after the administration of nitrous oxide (120-310 mins) compared with values after the induction of anesthesia and before surgery. The administration of propofol (120-240 mins) did not produce any of these changes. No patients required blood transfusion during surgery, and the patients had not previously been treated with cancer chemotherapeutic agents. The administration of nitrous oxide (60-150 mins) to patients undergoing orthopedic procedures did not affect blood L-methionine. It is concluded that the administration of nitrous oxide to cancer-bearing patients, but not to those undergoing orthopedic surgery, produced major changes in amino acid metabolism; therefore, consideration should be given to the avoidance of exposure of cancer patients to nitrous oxide.