Dispersion State (dispersion + state)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Effect of acrylic core,shell rubber particles on the particulate flow and toughening of PVC

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 4 2009
M. R. Moghbeli
Abstract Different types of acrylic core,shell rubber particles with a poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) core and a grafted poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shell were synthesized. The average size of acrylic core,shell latex particles ranged from 100 to 170 nm in diameter, having the core gel content in the range of 35,80%. The melt blending behavior of the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and the acrylic core,shell rubber materials having different average particle sizes and gel contents was investigated in a batch mixing process. Although the torque curves showed that the particulate flow of the PVC in the blends was dominant, some differences were observed when the size and gel content of the particles varied. This behavior can be attributed to differences in the plasticizing effect and dispersion state of various types of core,shell rubber particles, which can vary the gelatin process of the PVC in the mixing tool. On the other hand, the highest toughening efficiency was obtained using core,shell rubber particles with the smallest particle size (i.e., 100 nm). The results showed that increasing the gel content of the core,shell impact modifiers with the same particle size improved the particle dispersion state in the PVC matrix. The toughening efficiency decreased for the blends containing 100 and 170 nm rubber particles as the gel content increased. Nevertheless, unexpected behavior was observed for the blends containing 140 nm rubber particles. It was found that a high level of toughness could be achieved if the acrylic core,shell rubber particles as small as 100 nm had a lower gel content. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009 [source]


Isothermal crystallization kinetics and melting behaviors of nanocomposites of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) filled with nano-CaCO3

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007
Mingtao Run
Abstract The isothermal crystallization and subsequent melting behavior of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) composites filled with nano-CaCO3 were investigated at designated temperatures with differential scanning calorimetry. The Avrami equation was used to fit the isothermal crystallization. The Avrami exponents were determined to be 2,3 for the neat PTT and PTT/CaCO3 composites. The particles of nano-CaCO3, acting as nucleating agents in the composites, accelerated the crystallization rate, with the half-time of crystallization decreasing or the growth rate constant (involving both nucleation and growth rate parameters) increasing. The crystallization activation energy calculated from the Arrhenius formula was reduced as the nano-CaCO3 content increased from 0 to 2%, and this suggested that nano-CaCO3 made the molecular chains of PTT easier to crystallize during the isothermal crystallization process. Subsequent melting scans of the isothermally crystallized composites exhibited triple or double melting endotherms: the greater the content was of nano-CaCO3, the lower the temperature was of the melting peak. The degree of crystallization deduced from the melt enthalpy of composites with the proper concentration of nano-CaCO3 was higher than that of pure PTT, but it was lower when the nano-CaCO3 concentration was more than 2%. The transmission electron microscopy pictures suggested that the dispersion state of nano-CaCO3 particles in the polymer matrix was even when its concentration was no more than 2%, whereas some agglomeration occurred when its concentration was 4%. Polarized microscopy pictures showed that much smaller or less perfect crystals formed in the composites because of the interaction between the molecular chains and nano-CaCO3 particles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007 [source]


Effect of dispersion state of organoclay on cellular foam structure and mechanical properties of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer/ethylene-1-butenecopolymer/organoclay nanocomposite foams

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007
Keun-Wan Park
Abstract In this study, our goal is to obtain lower density of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)/ethylene-1-butene copolymer (EtBC) foams without sacrificing mechanical properties. For this purpose EVA/EtBC/organoclay (Cloisite 15A, Closite 30B) nanocomposite foams were prepared. To investigate the effect of compatibilizer on the dispersion state of organoclay in cellular foam structure and mechanical properties of the EVA/EtBC/organoclay foams composites were prepared with and without maleic anhydride grafted EtBC (EtBC-g-MAH). The dispersion of organoclay in EVA/EtBC/organocaly foams was investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The EVA/EtBC nanocomposite foamswith the compatibilzer, especially EVA/EtBC/Cloisite 15A/EtBC-g-MAH foams displayed more uniform dispersion of organoclay than EVA/EtBC nanocomposite foams without the compatibilzer. As a result, EVA/EtBC/Cloisite 15A/EtBC-g-MAH foams have the smallest average cell size and highest 100% tensile modulus followed by EVA/EtBC/Cloisite 30B/EtBC-g-MAH foams. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 3879,3885, 2007 [source]


Morphology prediction of ternary polypropylene composites containing elastomer and calcium carbonate nanoparticles filler

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007
C. G. Ma
Abstract In this work, the morphology was studied in ternary composites of polypropylene (PP) with nanosized calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO3) fillers and elastomer inclusions and the thermodynamic consideration was used to analyze the formation of phase structure of the composites. The wetting coefficient (,a), interfacial tension (,AB), and work of adhesion (WAB) were calculated to predict dispersion state of nano-CaCO3 fillers. A comparison of the prediction and SEM analysis was given. The results show that three types of phase structures were formed: an encapsulation of the filler by elastomer, a separate dispersion of the filler and elastomer, and a particular structure of the filler at the PP/elastomer interface. The predictions by ,a were all successfully supported-up by SEM analysis and the predictions by WAB were however trustless. Both ,AB and WAB can predict a separate dispersion or an encapsulation phase structure, but they were not available for the particular structure of the filler at the PP/elastomer interface. ,a was competent and favored for the prediction of all three types of morphology among the three parameters. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 1578,1584, 2007 [source]


Nanotube Friendly Poly(N -isopropylacrylamide)

MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 15 2010
Krishna C. Etika
Abstract Poly(N -ispropylacrylamide) [PNIPAM] is a widely studied polymer for use in biological applications due to its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) being so close to the human body temperature. Unfortunately, attempts to combine carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with PNIPAM have been unsuccessful due to poor interactions between these two materials. In this work, a PNIPAM copolymer with 1,mol-% pyrene side group [p-PNIPAM] was used to produce a thermoresponsive polymer capable of stabilizing both single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in water. The presence of pyrene in the polymer chain lowers the LCST less than 4,°C and the interaction with nanotubes does not show any influence on LCST. Moreover, p-PNIPAM stabilized nanotubes show a temperature-dependent dispersion in water that allows the level of nanotube exfoliation/bundling to be controlled. Cryo-TEM images, turbidity, and viscosity of these suspensions were used to characterize these thermoresponsive changes. This ability to manipulate the dispersion state of CNTs in water with p-PNIPAM will likely benefit many biological applications, such as drug delivery, optical sensors, and hydrogels. [source]


Thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties of Si3N4 filled LLDPE composite

POLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 7 2009
Qunli An
Silicon nitride (Si3N4) filled linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) composite was prepared. The effects of Si3N4 filler content, dispersion, and LLDPE particle size on the thermal conductivity, and Si3N4 filled content on the mechanical and electrical properties of Si3N4 reinforced LLDPE composites prepared using powder mixing were investigated. The results indicate that there existed a unique dispersion state of Si3N4 particles in LLDPE, shell-kernel structure, in which Si3N4 particles surrounded LLDPE matrix particles. With increasing filler content and LLDPE particles size, thermal conductivity increased, and reached 1.42 W/m K at 30 vol% of filler, seven times as that of unfilled LLDPE. Furthermore, the examinations of Agari model demonstrate that larger size LLDPE particles form thermal conductive networks easily compared with smaller ones. The values predicted by theoretical model underestimate the thermal conductivity of Si3N4/LLDPE composites. In addition, the composites still possessed rather higher electrical resistivity and dielectric properties, but the mechanical properties decreased. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


Effect of intercalating agents on clay dispersion and thermal properties in polyethylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 8 2008
Karen Stoeffler
Alkyl pyridinium, 1-vinyl alkyl imidazolium, 1,3-dialkyl imidazolium, and tetraalkyl phosphonium bromides were successfully used as intercalants for the preparation of highly thermally stable organophilic montmorillonites. Nanocomposites of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and linear low density polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride (LLDPE/LLDPE- g -MAH) were prepared from those organoclays. The micro- and nano-dispersions were analyzed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM): intercalation and/or partial exfoliation were found to occur only for formulations based on organoclays having an initial basal distance higher than 20 Å, suggesting the existence of a critical interfoliar distance for the delamination of silicate layers in a noninteracting polymer matrix. The properties of the nanocomposites were analyzed through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and oscillatory rheometry. The dynamic crystallization of LLDPE was not significantly affected by the presence of clay. TGA in oxidative atmosphere proved to be very sensitive to the dispersion state of the organoclay: the thermal stability was drastically enhanced for intercalated and partially exfoliated formulations. However, the inherent thermal stability of the organoclay did not appear to influence significantly the overall thermal stability of the composite in the range of temperatures investigated (160,230°C). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source]


Effect of surface treatment for carbon nanotubes on morphological and rheological properties of poly(ethylene oxide) nanocomposites

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 10 2006
Young S. Song
Poly(ethylene oxide) nanocomposites filled with functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes are prepared and characterized using rheological and morphological measurements. This study investigates how the surface treatment of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) affects the CNT dispersion state. It is found that the nanocomposites have a higher effective volume fraction than the real volume fraction of the CNTs. The dispersion state of the CNTs is identified by using field emission scanning electron spectroscope and transmission electron microscope. The rheological findings indicate that there exists a percolated network structure of the CNTs in the nanocomposites, which was confirmed by electrical conductivity measurements as well as morphological observation. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 46:1350,1357, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers [source]


Synthesis of sub-micrometer core,shell rubber particles with 1,2-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator and deformation mechanisms of modified polystyrene under various conditions

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 10 2009
Rujun Dai
Abstract BACKGROUND: Sub-micrometer core-shell polybutadiene- graft -polystyrene (PB- g -PS) copolymers with various ratios of polybutadiene (PB) core to polystyrene (PS) shell were synthesized by emulsion grafting polymerization with 1,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. These graft copolymers were blended with PS to prepare PS/PB- g -PS with a rubber content of 20 wt%. The mechanical properties, morphologies of the core-shell rubber particles and deformation mechanisms under various conditions were investigated. RESULTS: Infrared spectroscopic analysis confirmed that PS could be grafted onto the PB rubber particles. The experimental results showed that a specimen with a ,cluster' dispersion state of rubber particles in the PS matrix displayed better mechanical properties. Transmission electron micrographs suggested that crazing only occurred from rubber particles and extended in a bridge-like manner to neighboring rubber particles parallel to the equatorial plane at a high speed for failure specimens, while the interaction between crazing and shear yielding stabilized the growing crazes at a low speed in tensile tests. CONCLUSION: AIBN can be used as an initiator in the graft polymerization of styrene onto PB. The dispersion of rubber particles in a ,cluster' state leads to better impact resistance. The deformation mechanism in impact tests was multi-crazing, and crazing and shear yielding absorbed the energy in tensile experiments. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Intercalation and exfoliation behaviour of clay layers in branched polyol and polyurethane/clay nanocomposites

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2006
Hesheng Xia
Abstract The exfoliation of clay layers was realized in a tri-hydroxyl branched polyether polyol by direct mixing and the corresponding exfoliated polyurethane/clay nanocomposite was prepared by further in situ curing. The effects of various surface-modified organoclays and various polyol types on the intercalation and exfoliation behaviour of clay layers were investigated. The interaction between the polyol and clay and the mixing temperature plays an important role in the occurrence of exfoliation and intercalation. The relationship between rheological data of polyol/clay dispersion and the intercalation or exfoliation state of the clay was established. This provides a convenient and efficient way to evaluate the dispersion state of the clay. Based on the experimental results, a possible layer-by-layer exfoliation mechanism is proposed. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Tensile fracture morphologies of nylon-6/montmorillonite nanocomposites

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 12 2005
Shaobo Xie
Abstract Nylon-6/montmorillonite nanocomposites with different dispersion states of clay and different clay loadings were prepared by melt processing. The nanostructure and mechanical properties were also investigated. The influence of the montmorillonite dispersion state and clay content on the tensile fracture morphology of the injection-molded nanocomposites was studied by scanning electron microscopy. A rounded ,cabbage-like-sheet' structure was observed in the fracture surface of the well-exfoliated nanocomposites, which was absent in the intercalated and poorly dispersed nanocomposite and neat nylon-6. The formation of this ,cabbage-like-sheet' pattern has been attributed to the extensive plastic fibrillations of the nylon-6 matrix, facilitated by the stress concentration and the strengthened effect caused by the well-exfoliated clay platelets. The change in stiffness caused by the skin,core structure was also considered. The difference in the patterns observed in this present work and those reported by Uribe-Arocha et al. (Polymer, 44, 2441 (2003)) were discussed, based on the diversity in preparation of the tensile specimens. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Oxygen infusions (hemoglobin-vesicles and albumin-hemes) based on nano-molecular sciences,

POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 2-3 2005
Professor Eishun Tsuchida
Abstract Since the discovery of a red-colored saline solution of a heme derivative that reversibly binds and releases oxygen (1983), significant efforts have been made to realize an oxygen infusion as a red cell substitute based on the sciences of both molecular assembling phenomena and macromolecular metal complexes. The authors have specified that hemoglobin (Hb)-vesicles (HbV) and recombinant human serum albumin-hemes (rHSA-heme) would be the best systems that meet the clinical requirements. (A) Hb is rigorously purified from outdated, donated red cells via pasteurization and ultrafiltration, to completely remove blood type antigen and pathogen. The HbV encapsulates thus purified concentrated Hb solution with a phospholipid bimolecular membrane (diameter, 250,nm,), and its solution properties can be adjusted comparable with blood. Surface modification of HbV with a water-soluble polymer ensures stable dispersion state and storage over a year at 20°C. In vivo tests have clarified the efficacy for extreme hemodilution and resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock, and safety in terms of biodistribution, metabolism in reticuloendothelial system (RES), clinical chemistry, blood coagulation, etc. The HbV does not induce vasoconstriction thus maintains blood flow and tissue oxygenation. (B) rHSA is now manufactured in Japan as a plasma-expander. The rHSA can incorporate eight heme derivatives (axial base substituted hemes) as oxygen binding sites, and the resulting rHSA-heme is a totally synthetic O2 -carrier. Hb binds endothelium-derived relaxation factor, NO, and induces vasoconstriction. The rHSA-heme binds NO as Hb does, however, it does not induce vasoconstriction due to its low pI (4.8) and the resulting low permeability across the vascular wall (1/100 of Hb). A 5%-albumin solution possesses a physiologic oncotic pressure. Therefore, to increase the O2 -transporting capacity, albumin dimer is effective. Albumin dimer can incorporate totally 16 hemes with a regulated oncotic pressure. The rHSA-heme is effective not only as a red cell substitute but also for oxygen therapeutics (e.g. oxygenation for tumor). Significant efforts have been made to produce HbV and rHSA-heme with a facility of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard, and to start preclinical and finally clinical trials. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Regimes of Multiple Emulsions of W1/O/W2 and O1/W/O2 Type in the Continuous Couette-Taylor Flow Contactor

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 1 2010
E. Dluska
Abstract The flow regimes of multiple emulsions in the continuous Couette-Taylor flow (CTF) contactor and characterization of the dispersion state are reported. The proposed method of multiple emulsion preparation is a one-step procedure on the contrary to the classical two-step procedure. The effect of operating parameters in the CTF contactor on multiple emulsion appearance, structure (drop size and packing), and rheological behavior is discussed. The key factors affecting multiple emulsion preparation in the CTF apparatus were the phases ratio, the rotational flow, and an annular gap width. The influence of an axial flow was more significant in the range of small rotational rates. The operating conditions were optimized to find the best characteristic multiple emulsions (largest interfacial area). The paper presents the same exemplary data of using W1/O/W2 emulsions as emulsion liquid membranes (ELMs) in the extraction process and O1/W/O2 for control active agent (drug) release. [source]