Dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites based on linear low-density polyethylene/styrene-butadiene rubber/nanoclay/bitumen: morphology and rheological behavior

Dynamically crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites were synthesized as modifier for the bitumen binder-based asphalts. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), with the ratio of 80/20, bitumen, and organically modified clay (OC) were all melt mixed in the presence of the sulfur curing system. The proposed mixing was carried out in an internal mixer at 160 °C with a rotor speed of 120 rpm. To enhance the molecular interactions between the polymer phases and the clay silicate layers, maleic anhydride-grafted LLDPE (PE-g-MA) with the maleiation degree of 50% was also incorporated into the mixture. Observation of the composite samples, using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealed the matrix dispersed type of morphology for all dynamically vulcanized samples. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examinations evidenced the exfoliation of the clay silicate layers with good dispersion. Rheomechanical spectrometry (RMS) was performed on the prepared nanocomposites. All dynamically vulcanized nanocomposites comprising 2.5% of OC exhibited shear-thinning behavior and non-terminal characteristics with a low frequency range. These indicate the formation of three-dimensional physical networks by the clay nanolayers throughout the LLDPE matrix. The presence of the bitumen in the composition of the prepared nanocomposites improved the flowability of the samples. This is a promising feature of the prepared nanocomposites to be used as an elastic and resistant modifier in the composition of the bitumen-based asphalts.

     

Improved gas transport properties of polyurethane–urea membranes through incorporating a cadmium-based metal organic framework

The increasing need for more efficient separation processes has motivated the development of polymer membranes that can provide fast and selective transport. In this work, cadmium-based metal–organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles and a polyurethane–urea (PUU) elastomer were synthesized. New mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) were then fabricated from the nanoparticles and the PUU. SEM images verified that embedding the nanoparticles changes the morphology of the PUU and the nanoparticles disperse well in the PUU due to satisfactory compatibility of the polymer and nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the dispersion of the nanoparticles in the soft segment of the PUU. With increased temperature, gas permeabilities of the MMMs improved but their sieving ability deteriorated. An MMM incorporating 2.5 wt % of the MOF showed a CO₂ permeability of ~140 barrer and a CO₂/N₂ selectivity of ~30, which are 89 and 38% higher than those of the pristine membrane. Gas permeation tests showed that the higher CO₂/N₂ selectivity of the MMMs was due to improved solubility selectivity and the higher CO₂ permeability was a result of improved CO₂ diffusivity and solubility coefficients. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 137, 48704.