Crystallization,morphology, structure and thermal behaviour of nylon-6/rubber blends

An experimental study was carried out in order to investigate the morphological, kinetic, structural and thermodynamic properties of nylon-6/rubber (namely ethylene-propylene copolymer (EPM) and ethylene-propylene copolymer functionalized by inserting along its backbone succinic anhydride groups (EPM-g-SA)) blends. The morphology and the overall kinetics of crystallization of the blends strongly depend on the type of copolymer added to nylon and on the blend composition. The EPM-g-SA acts as a nucleating agent for the Ny spherulites and at the same time causes a drastic depression of the overall kinetic rate constant. This decrease is related to the increase of the melt viscosity observed in Ny/EPM-g-SA blends. The crystalline lamella thickness of the Ny phase in the blends is lower than that of pure Ny crystallized at the same T_c suggesting that the presence in the melt of an elastomeric phase disturbs the growth of the Ny crystals. The rubber does not influence the thermal behaviour of the nylon. The results found lead to the conclusion that in the melt nylon-6 is incompatible with both EPM and EPM-g-SA copolymers.     

Effect of crystallization and interface formation mechanism on mechanical properties of film‐insert injection‐molded poly(propylene) (PP) film/PP substrate

A previous study has shown that the adhesion between the film and substrate of film‐insert injection‐molded poly(propylene) (PP) film/PP substrate was evident with the increases in barrel temperature and injection holding pressure. In this second part of the research work, the crystallinity at the interfacial region (i.e., region between the film and the injected substrate) was extensively studied using FTIR imaging, polarized light microscopy, and DSC in an attempt to determine the level of influence that crystallinity has on the interface and bulk mechanical properties. Consequently, a more thorough and clearer picture of the influence of the inserted film on the interfacial crystallinity and subsequently the substrate mechanical properties, such as peel strength and impact strength, has been revealed. The initial proposition that crystallinity could enhance film–substrate interfacial bonding has been confirmed, judging from the higher peel strength with increasing crystallinity at the interfacial region. Nevertheless, the change in crystallinity was not only confined to the interfacial region. With the film acting as heat‐transfer inhibitor between the injected resin and the mold wall, the total crystal structure of the substrate was substantially altered, which subsequently affected the bulk mechanical properties. The lower impact strength of film‐insert injection‐molded samples compared to that of samples without film inserts provided evidence of how the film could impart inferior properties to the substrate. The difference in cooling rate between the substrate and film might also cause other defects such as warpage and/or residual stress build‐up within the product. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 294–301, 2005     

Fabrication and optical characterization of poly(2,5‐di‐n‐butoxyphenylene) nanofibril arrays

Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane can be used as template for the synthesized nanostructures. In this article, we have prepared the AAO membrane by using electrooxidation of aluminum substrate in phosphoric acid, and fabricated poly(2,5‐di‐n‐butoxyphenylene) (BuO–PPP) nanofibril arrays by oxidative coupling polymerization of 1,4‐di‐n‐butoxybenzene (DBB) within the pores of the AAO template membrane. The detailed molecular structure of the polymer nanofibrils was characterized by using infrared and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and estimated to consist of almost equal fractions of 1,4‐ and 1,3‐ linkages. We have used transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atom force microscopy to confirm the morphologies and images of the AAO template membrane and the fabricated nanometer scale of BuO–PPP nanofibril arrays. The experimental results demonstrated that the pores of the AAO membrane were regular and uniform, and parallel each other, and the BuO–PPP chains in the narrowest template‐synthesized nanofibrils were oriented parallel to the porous axes of the AAO membrane and perpendicular to the surface of the aluminum substrate. The polymer chain orientation was partially responsible for the enhanced conductivity. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum of the BuO–PPP nanofibril arrays shown that the polymer contains a better extended π‐conjugation system along poly‐(p‐phenylene) backbone, which resulted in longer wavelength shift of the absorption band, the absorption maxima were located at 258 nm (E₁ absorption band) and 332 nm (E₂ absorption band), respectively. Photoluminescence spectrum of the BuO–PPP nanofibril arrays exhibited a blue emission. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 425–430, 2004     

Polysulphone and poly(phenylene sulphide) blends: 1. Thermal characterization and phase morphology

The phase behaviour and morphology of injection moulded specimens of polysulphone (PSF) and poly(phenylene sulphide) (PPS) blends were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (d.s.c.), dynamical mechanical thermal analysis (d.m.t.a.) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The blends are phase separated regardless of the blend composition as revealed by d.s.c., d.m.t.a. and TEM. Upon annealing at 160°C for 2 h, d.m.t.a. results indicate that the PPS phase remains in the amorphous state at compositions <10%. At compositions between 20 and 35%, the PPS appears to be dispersed in a mixed mode of amorphous and crystalline domains. Above 35% the PPS phase appears to become fully crystallized upon annealing of the blends. At 10% PPS, TEM results showed 35–200 nm size dispersion both in the as-moulded and in the annealed specimens. At 20% the PPS phase varied widely in size, from 35 nm to tens of micrometres but remained as an included phase. TEM also revealed a compound morphology of the included phase at a composition of 50 wt% of each component.     

Effect of sample size on solvent extraction for detecting cocontinuity in polymer blends

The effect of sample size on the results of solvent extraction measurements for detecting cocontinuity in polymer blends was investigated. Poly(ethylene oxide)/polystyrene (PEO/PS) blend samples of several thicknesses were analyzed by removing the PEO phase using water extraction. The experimental degree of continuity was shown to have a linear dependence on the reciprocal of sample thickness. A model is proposed to explain this dependence and to allow the bulk or true degree of continuity to be determined. Measurement of the bulk degree of continuity is useful for understanding properties of cocontinuous polymer blends such as electrical conductivity, impact strength, or tensile strength.     

Piezo- and pyroelectricity in polymer blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(methyl methacrylate)

Compatible polymer blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) can be used as suitable model systems for investigating the relationship between the physico-chemical structure of polymers and their piezo- and pyroelectric activity. The structure of PVDF/PMMA blends can be varied over a very wide range which can lead to a strong influence on the piezo- and pyroelectric activity and the corresponding coefficients d₃₁ and g₃. The values of d₃₁ and g₃ were found to vary over nearly five decades whereas the normalized coefficients $\text{d}{}_{31}\text{P}$ and $\text{g}{}_3\text{P}$ remain largely unaffected. This emphasizes the importance of the molecular processes causing the macroscopic polarization P during the poling procedure. For a given polarization P and a given temperature T the properties of the polymer matrix, however, are far less important for the values obtained for d₃₁ and g₃. The experimental results were compared with theoretical predictions based on models which were recently developed by Tashiro et al., Broadhurst et al. and by Mopsik et al.. Considering the appropriate scope of each model a good agreement between theory and experiment is observed and general contradictions have not been found.     

PP/纳米级CaCO_3复合材料的研究

研究了纳米级CaCO3填充粒状、粉状PP复合材料的力学性能,并用SEM观察纳米级碳酸钙在PP中的分散状态及用SALS分析了其结晶行为。结果表明,粉状PP更有利于纳米级碳酸钙在PP中的分散,并具有更好的加工性能、力学性能。同时纳米级碳酸钙改性PP的SALS图像变得弥散、模糊,PP球晶变得不完善,晶粒更小。     

不同线密度粘胶原丝及其碳纤维的结构性能对比

用Weibull分析处理 10mm长的 4种不同线密度粘胶原丝和相应碳纤维的单丝断裂强度 ,得到原丝线密度、强度分布和碳纤维强度的对应关系。采用透射电镜 (TEM )和小角X散射 (SAXS)分析粗旦原丝 ,发现孔洞较多 ,并存在大于 70nm的大孔洞。截面和表面照片也揭示出细旦原丝截面相对规整 ,表面较光滑 ,粗旦原丝则反之。结果表明 ,原丝线密度小 ,截面形状圆整 ,缺陷少 ,所制得的碳纤维强度高。     

Effects of laser heat treatment on the fracture morphologies of X80 pipeline steel welded joints by stress corrosion

The surfaces of X80 pipeline steel welded joints were processed with a CO2 laser, and the effects of laser heat treatment （LHT） on H2S stress corrosion in the National Association of Corrosion Engineers （NACE） solution were analyzed by a slow strain rate test. The fracture morphologies and chemical components of corrosive products before and after LHT were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, respectively, and the mechanism of LHT on stress corrosion cracking was discussed. Results showed that the fracture for welded joints was brittle in its original state, while it was transformed to a ductile fracture after LHT. The tendencies of hydrogen-induced corrosion were reduced, and the stress corrosion sensitivity index decreased from 35.2% to 25.3%, indicating that the stress corrosion resistance of X80 pipeline steel welded joints has been improved by LHT.