Pure Polymers (pure + polymer)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Sulfonated poly(ether imide) and poly(ether sulfone) blends for direct methanol fuel cells.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008

Abstract This investigation examines characteristics of sulfonated polyether imides (SPEI) with various ion exchange capacity values (IEC) and completes previous work to enable its blends to be adopted as polyelectrolyte in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). Polyether imides (PEI) were sulfonated by using chlorosulfonic acid as the sulfonating agent and chloroform as the solvent. The structure of SPEI was observed by FTIR and 1H NMR. The sulfonate or sulfonic acid content of the polymers, expressed as a number per repeat unit of the polymer, was accurately determined by elemental analysis and conductometric titration. Physical properties such as solubility, intrinsic viscosities, thermal stability, and glass transition temperature (Tg) were studied for both PEI and SPEI. TGA-FTIR verified that sulfonic groups, attached to the aromatic ring in the PEI backbone, are split at 230,350°C, but the main-chain splitting temperature of SPEI is similar to that of pure polymer. The sulfonated samples exhibited good solubilities and increased glass transition temperatures (Tg values) as degree of sulfonation (DS) increased; two Tg values were detected when IEC was sufficiently high. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source]


Sorption and permeation behavior for CO2 in NH3 -plasma-treated and untreated polystyrene membranes

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007
Y.-S. Yang
Abstract In our preceding work, the simultaneous deviation from the conventional dual-mode sorption and mobility model was observed in a case of CO2 in polystyrene (PS) membrane (glass transition temperature of pure polymer = 95°C) at 60 and 70°C. The plasticization effect of sorbed CO2 on both the sorption and diffusion processes tends to be brought about in glassy polymer membranes near the glass transition temperature. The behavior was simulated based on the concept that only one population of sorbed gas molecules of plasticizing ability to the polymer should exist. In the present work, the sorption and permeation behavior for CO2 in NH3 -plasma-treated and untreated PS membranes at 40°C was investigated, where NH3 -plasma treatment was executed at plasma discharge powers of 40, 80, 120, and 160 W for an exposure time of 2 min. The sorption isotherm could be described by the sorption theory of Mi et al. (Macromolecules 1991, 24, 2361), where the glass transition temperature is depressed by a concentration of sorbed CO2 of plasticizing ability. NH3 -plasma treatment on PS membrane had little influence on the sorption behavior of CO2 at plasma discharge powers up to 160 W. The mean permeability coefficients were somewhat increased only at a discharge power of 160 W. At CO2 pressures below 0.9 MPa, the pressure dependencies of mean permeability coefficients for CO2 in both NH3 -plasma-treated and untreated PS membranes at 40°C could also be simulated on the basis of the concept that only one population of sorbed gas molecules of plasticizing ability should exist. At CO2 pressures above 0.9 MPa, however, a plasticization action of sorbed CO2 had much more influence on the diffusion process rather than on the sorption one, and such a combined concept underestimated the mean permeability coefficient. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1798,1805, 2007 [source]


In vitro biostability evaluation of polyurethane composites in acidic, basic, oxidative, and neutral solutions

JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008
SuPing Lyu
Abstract New and improved properties can often be achieved by compounding two or more different but compatible materials. But, can failure possibility also be increased by such a compounding strategy? In this article, we compared the in vitro biostability of composites with that of the pure polymer. We tested three model composites in oxidative, acidic, basic, and neutral solutions. We found that oxidation degradation was much more profound in the composites than in the corresponding pure polymer. This degradation seemed to be an intrinsic property of composite materials. We also observed the well documented interfacial debonding between filler and matrix and its effects on the mechanical reinforcement of the hydrated composites. The improvements in acid and base resistance were also observed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2008 [source]


Barrier and mechanical properties of injection molded montmorillonite/polyesteramide nanocomposites

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005
M. Krook
Properties of injection-molded biodegradable polyesteramide composites containing 5 and 13 wt% octadecylammonium-treated montmorillonite clay have been studied. Oxygen transmission rates and mechanical properties were measured. X-ray diffraction was used to assess the degree of intercalation of the clay layer stacks, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to assess the morphology and degree of layer delamination. A substantial reduction in oxygen permeability was observed when clay was added to the composites. The oxygen permeability of the 13 wt% clay sample was only 20% of that of the pure polymer. The in-plane stiffness and in-plane strength of the sheets were greatly improved without any embrittlement. These beneficial effects were probably due to the high degree of clay layer exfoliation and orientation observed by TEM. Heat shrinkage, toughness analysis, and cutting operations suggested that the polymer chains and the clay layers were oriented parallel to the plane of the sheet. TEM and X-ray showed that stacked layers were still present but that these were significantly intercalated. The clay-layer periodic spacing increased from 25 Å to approximately 35 Å during processing. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 45:135,141, 2005. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


Burning and dripping behaviors of polymers under the UL94 vertical burning test conditions

FIRE AND MATERIALS, Issue 4 2010
Yong Wang
Abstract An experimental setup was constructed to record the real-time mass data of eight pure polymers under the UL94 vertical burning test conditions. The experiments showed that the flame rises up to the clamp or the dripping occurs soon for the pure polymers. The mass burned before the flame reaching the clamp and the dripping occurrence only accounts for a small fraction of the original mass of the specimen, which differentiates the UL94 test from the cone calorimeter test. The mass loss rate of polymer specimens is in the magnitude order of 0.001,0.01,g/s. It was also found that the flame of thin specimens usually reaches the clamp sooner than that of thick specimens. Apart from the dripping behaviors found in large-scale fires, it is found that the diameter of the first drop for the tested polymers is in the range of 2.0,10.0,mm. The mass of the first drop increases with the first dripping time. The first dripping time and the mass of the first drop increase with the thickness of the specimen, especially for polymers of large-size dripping type. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Synthesis and structure of wholly aromatic liquid,crystalline polyesters containing meta- and ortholinkages

JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 8 2001
Chaobin He
Abstract Wholly aromatic main-chain rigid-chain polymers containing meta- and orthokink linkages were synthesized. The thermal property, liquid crystallinity, and crystalline structure were studied using DSC, polarized light microscopy, and wide-angle X-ray scattering. These polymers exhibited liquid crystallinity up to 50 mol % of meta- and orthokink linkages. The existence of liquid crystallinity in these polymers may be attributed to the adoption of cis conformation in kink units in these polymers because the energy penalty for doing so can be compensated by the formation of the liquid,crystalline phase. The crystallinity of the polymers was low, and the crystal structure was quite similar to that of the pure polymers (without kink units). This can be explained by that fact that the crystal region mainly consists of the nonkink units, and the kink units disrupt the crystallization of the polymers and form defects. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1242,1248, 2001 [source]


Influence of cylinder-on-plate or block-on-ring sliding configurations on friction and wear of pure and filled engineering polymers

LUBRICATION SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007
P. Samyn
Abstract Polyamides, polyesters and polyacetals are often used in line contacts under reciprocating or continuous sliding. These contacts are simulated on cylinder-on-plate (COP) or block-on-ring (BOR) tribotests. Comparative tests for pure, oil-filled and solid lubricated polymers at 100N and 0.3m/s are presented for relative material classification. Differences are discussed according to the sliding geometries. Thermal effects dominate friction and wear behaviour: the polymer glass transition temperature is exceeded in COP tests while the temperature is lower in BOR tests. Thick and brittle films are observed for pure polymers in BOR tests, promoting higher friction. The test configuration is mainly important for evaluation of internal lubricants. The efficiency of oil-lubricated polymers is not demonstrated in COP tests, while solid lubricants are not efficient in BOR tests. Deformation restricts the diffusion of oil lubricants in COP tests while solid lubricants are deposited on the polymer surface rather than being incorporated in the transfer film in BOR tests. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Bio-Based Nanocomposites from Corn Oil and Functionalized Organoclay Prepared by Cationic Polymerization

MACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS & ENGINEERING, Issue 7 2007
Yongshang Lu
Abstract A reactive organic montmorillonite clay (VMMT), modified with (4-vinylbenzyl) triethylammonium cations, has been prepared and used as a nanofiller to reinforce a corn-oil-based polymer resin. The polymer resin was prepared by the cationic polymerization of conjugated corn oil, styrene and divinylbenzene, using boron trifluoride diethyl etherate modified with Norway fish oil as the initiator. The results indicate that the VMMT is intercalated in the corn-oil-based polymer resins. When compared with the pure polymers, these novel nanocomposites reinforced with 2 to 3 wt.-% VMMT exhibit significant improvements in modulus, strength, strain and toughness. Furthermore, incorporating VMMT into the corn-oil-based polymer matrix also leads to improved thermal stability of the nanocomposites over the pure resins of up to 400,°C. [source]


Dielectric properties of polyethylene terephthalate/polyphenylene sulfide/barium titanate nanocomposite for application in electronic industry

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 8 2010
Monika Konieczna
Polymer/ceramic nanocomposites designed for application as electronic packaging were prepared using corotating twin-screw extruder. The dielectric properties of the composites made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyphenylene sulfide, and barium titanate were studied as a function of BaTiO3 fraction in the range between 0.75 and 1.5 wt%. Processing parameters were optimized in order to obtain the nanocomposites with appropriate dielectric properties like dielectric permittivity ,,, dielectric losses ,,, and their temperature stability in a wide frequency range. The measurements showed the increase of the dielectric permittivity value ,, in the composites in comparison to both pure polymers. The dielectric loss factor tg, of the composites was found to be much smaller than that of the pure PET. The weak influence of the ceramics on the temperature stability of the dielectric properties of the composites was stated. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:1613,1619, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


Effects of organoclay on morphology and properties of nanocomposites based on LDPE/PA-6 blends without and with SEBS- g -MA compatibilizer

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 6 2009
Sara Filippi
LDPE/PA-6 blends (75/25 wt/wt) were added with SEBS- g -MA (S) and/or an organoclay (20A) using different compounding sequences and the morphology and the properties of the blends or composites were investigated. An XRD study of the nanocomposites with pure polymers showed that 20A is intercalated by LDPE or PA-6 chains, whereas it is exfoliated by S if the clay concentration does not exceed 10 wt%. The SEM investigation showed that both S and 20A behave as efficient emulsifying agents for the LDPE/PA-6 blends. However, their effect on the mechanical properties was found to be opposite: S enhanced toughness but lowered the stiffness, whereas 20A improved the elastic modulus but impaired the impact properties. When used together, these additives failed to have synergistic effects and the blends mechanical properties could not be improved strongly. A possible interpretation for this behavior was suggested, considering that the anhydride groups of S can competitively interact with the amine end groups of PA-6 and with the surface of the silicate layer of 20A. Nevertheless, an optimization of the compounding procedure and the use of appropriate proportions of S and 20A allow the preparation of composites with excellent morphology and a satisfactory balance of stiffness and toughness. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


Enthalpy relaxation in bisphenol-A polycarbonate/poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007
Maurizio Penco
Bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends (PC/PMMA) were prepared by melt mixing with and without a trans-esterification catalyst (tetrabutylammoniun tetraphenylborate), which is able to promote inter-exchange reactions between PC and PMMA. Evidences of the ester,ester exchange reaction taking place were pointed out via Fourier Transform Infra-Red and size exclusion chromatography analyses. A series of enthalpy relaxation measurements were carried out for the pure polymers and for blends thereof. The data were analyzed on the basis of the Tool,Narayanaswamy,Moynihan/Kohlraush,Williams,Watts model. This model characterizes the structural relaxation in the glass transition region by means of four parameters: the apparent activation energy (,h*), the nonlinearity (x), the nonexponentiality (,), and the pre-exponential factor (,0). The apparent activation energy can be determined from the cooling rate dependence of the fictive temperature (Tf) measured using DSC. ,h* values of homogeneous blend and of the starting polymers were determined in this way, while an estimation of x, , and ,0 was proposed. Comparisons were made between a single glass transition temperature PC/PMMA blend and homopolymers data. The experimental values of ,h* suggest that the degree of cooperativity decreases on going from the starting polymers to the blend. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:218,224, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source]


Kinetic analysis of thermo-oxidative degradation of PEEK/thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer blends

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 2 2006
M. Naffakh
The thermal degradation behavior of blends of poly(aryl ether ether ketone), PEEK, with a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP), Vectra®, were investigated in an oxidative atmosphere, using thermogravimetric analysis under dynamic conditions. The theoretical weight loss curves of the blends were compared with the experimental curves in order to explain the effect of blending on the thermal stability of the pure polymers. The thermo-oxidative degradation of PEEK/Vectra® blends of different compositions takes place in various steps and the characteristic degradation temperatures and the kinetic parameters such as activation energy are strongly influenced by blending. Polymer blends based on this TLCP polymer had not been previously studied from kinetic viewpoint. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:129,138, 2006. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


Synthesis and characterization of polyaniline derivative and silver nanoparticle composites

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 10 2008
Gururaj M Neelgund
Abstract BACKGROUND: There has been a recent surge of interest in the synthesis and applications of electroactive polymers with incorporated metal nanoparticles. These hybrid systems are expected to display synergistic properties between the conjugated polymers and the metal nanoparticles, making them potential candidates for applications in sensors and electronic devices. RESULTS: Composites of polyaniline derivatives,polyaniline, poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) and poly(aniline-2,5-dimethoxyaniline),and silver nanoparticles were prepared through simultaneous polymerization of aniline derivative and reduction of AgNO3 in the presence of poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSS). We used AgNO3 as one of the initial components (1) to form the silver nanoparticles and (2) as an oxidizing agent for initiation of the polymerization reaction. UV-visible spectra of the synthesized nanocomposites reveal the synchronized formation of silver nanoparticles and polymer matrix. The morphology of the silver nanoparticles and degree of their dispersion in the nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry results indicate an enhancement of the thermal stability of the nanocomposites compared to the pure polymers. The electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites is in the range 10,4 to 10,2 S cm,1. CONCLUSION: A single-step process for the synthesis of silver nanoparticle,polyaniline derivative nanocomposites doped with PSS has been demonstrated. The approach in which silver nanoparticles are formed simultaneously during the polymerization process results in a good dispersion of the nanoparticles in the conductive polymer matrix. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source]