Enhancing compatibility between poly(lactic acid) and thermoplastic starch using admicellar polymerization

An alternative method to improve the compatibility between poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and cassava starch (CS) is proposed and investigated. Admicellar polymerization is used to modify the surface of CS with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in order to make it more hydrophobic and hence more compatible with PLA. The increased hydrophobicity of PMMA modified cassava starch (MS) is validated by contact angle measurement. Results from iodine test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirm the formation of PMMA film on MS surface. Mechanical properties of PLA‐CS and PLA‐MS blends are investigated to compare their compatibility. Noticeable improvements in blend tensile strength and elongation at break evidently show that MS is more hydrophobic as well as more compatible with PLA than CS. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43755.     

Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide–poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) copolymers as superabsorbents synthesized by gamma irradiation

Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide-co-poly(n-vinyl pyrrolidone) used as a superabsorbent was prepared from acrylamide monomers exposed to γ-rays to become polyacrylamide that was subsequently partially hydrolyzed and was then copolymerized with n-vinylpyrrolidone to obtain a terpolymeric superabsorbent with a water retention value of 1100 times its dried weight. The total dose and dose rate along with the appropriate degree of hydrolysis were investigated for percentage conversion in each polymerization and the extent of water absorption. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 68:191–203, 1998     

Radiation-induced admicellar polymerization of isoprene on silica: Effects of surfactant's chain length

This research compared radiation-induced admicellar polymerization with the traditional thermal process and studied the influence of the hydrocarbon chain length of different surfactants on film formation. Three types of surfactants were used in this study: dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB), tetradecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (TTAB) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). Isoprene was used as a monomer for the formation of thin film inside the surfactant bilayers, called admicelle, adsorbed on silica surface. The results showed that an optimum dose can lead to a better film formation on silica, compared with the thermal method. However, when the dose was over the optimum value, the formation of polyisoprene film was diminished. The formation of polyisoprene film was found to depend not only on the hydrocarbon chain length of the surfactant, but also on the density of adsorbed surfactant on silica surface.     

Effects of gamma irradiation with and without compatibilizer on the mechanical properties of polypropylene/wood flour composites

In this study, polypropylene/wood flour (Hevea brasiliensis) composites at 40 wt% filler content were prepared using a twin-screw extruder and an injection moulding machine. The effects of gamma irradiation with and without maleic anhydride graft polypropylene (PP-g-MA) compatibilizer (3% relative to the wood flour content) on the flexural properties, tensile properties, and creep behavior were investigated. The irradiation in nitrogen and air atmospheres was performed at various radiation doses (i.e. 5, 10, 20 and 30 kGy). The results revealed the improvement of mechanical properties and creep behavior was found in the presence of gamma irradiation at low radiation doses (5 and 10 kGy), while the composites irradiated at radiation doses over 10 kGy rendered the decrease of mechanical properties. Furthermore, at the same radiation dose, the composites irradiated in nitrogen atmosphere tended to provide significantly higher mechanical properties than the ones irradiated in air atmosphere. Interestingly, the great enhancement of creep resistance was observed, i.e. the tensile strains (6 h of static loading) of the irradiated composites (at 10 kGy) with and without compatibilizer were approximately 36% and 19% lower than that of the untreated composite, respectively. In addition, the Burger’s creep model is applied in order to determine the creep parameters of the composites.     

Molecular basis of fracture of latex blends of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate)

The molecular basis of fracture of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) homopolymers and their latex blends was investigated with a custom-built dental burr grinding instrument (DBGI). About a third of the chains were cut several times, the remainder not at all. The number of chain scissions in polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) was quantitatively interpreted by the microscopic parameters of craze fibrils and the energy balance between chain scission and chain disentanglement (chain pullout). The probability that a polymer strand in the craze fibrils is scissioned or disentangled was calculated from the fracture energy balance. In addition, the fracture energy of the latex blends of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) was studied. The large interface between the polystyrene and the poly(methyl methacrylate) did not lead to a small fracture energy, as initially expected. Rather, the latex blend of the two immiscible polymers primarily absorbs the fracture stress by strong co-continuous bulk phases.     

Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate‐graft‐chitosan nanoparticles as a biobased nanofiller for a poly(lactic acid) blend: Radiation‐induced grafting and performance studies

In this study, we aimed to modify chitosan (CS) as a novel compatible bio‐based nanofiller for improving the compatibility including the thermal and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The modification of CS with poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) was done by radiation‐induced graft copolymerization. The effects of the dose rate, irradiation dose, and PEGMA concentration on the degree of grating (DG) were investigated. The chemical structure, packing structure, thermal stability, particle morphology, and size of the PEGMA‐graft‐chitosan nanoparticles (PEGMA‐graft‐CSNPs) were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The compatibility of the PEGMA‐graft‐CSNP/PLA blends was also assessed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The PEGMA‐graft‐CSNPs exhibited a spherical shape with the DG and particle sizes in the ranges of 3–145% and 35–104 nm, respectively. The PEGMA‐graft‐CSNPs showed compatible with PLA because of the grafted PEGMA segment. A model case study of the PEGMA‐graft‐CSNP/PLA blend demonstrated the improvement not only the compatibility but also thermal stability flexibility, and ductility of PLA. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42522.