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Polymer Morphology (polymer + morphology)
Selected AbstractsThermal and Photooxidative Degradation Behaviors of Poly(propylene)/SiO2 Nanocomposites with Various Polymer MorphologiesMACROMOLECULAR REACTION ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2008Ken-Ichi Sumino Abstract Photo- and thermal stabilities of poly(propylene) (PP)/SiO2 nanocomposites were studied by varying the particle size of the SiO2 nanoparticles. It was found that smaller SiO2 nanoparticles improved the stabilities of the nanocomposites by depressing the size of spherulites. The phenomenon was successfully explained within the infectious spreading model, where the spatial spreading of oxidation was delayed at the interfacial region between the spherulites. [source] Polymer Morphology: A Guide to Macromolecular Self-OrganizationMACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA, Issue 1 2004D.C. Bassett Abstract The study of polymer morphology continues to be the principal means of acquiring knowledge and understanding of macromolecular self-organization. Longstanding problems of the nature of melt-crystallized lamellae and spherulitic growth have been resolved, bringing understanding of how characteristic properties such as a broad melting range and spatially-varying mechanical response are inherent in spherulitic morphologies. This reflects the distinctive features of the crystallization of long molecules, i.e. that they impede each other and, for faster growth, form rough basal surfaces. Knowledge of morphology is an essential accompaniment to the informed development of advanced polymeric materials and a full understanding of their structure/property relations. [source] Recent Progress in Polymer Solar Cells: Manipulation of Polymer:Fullerene Morphology and the Formation of Efficient Inverted Polymer Solar CellsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 14-15 2009Li-Min Chen Abstract Polymer morphology has proven to be extremely important in determining the optoelectronic properties in polymer-based devices. The understanding and manipulation of polymer morphology has been the focus of electronic and optoelectronic polymer-device research. In this article, recent advances in the understanding and controlling of polymer morphology are reviewed with respect to the solvent selection and various annealing processes. We also review the mixed-solvent effects on the dynamics of film evolution in selected polymer-blend systems, which facilitate the formation of optimal percolation paths and therefore provide a simple approach to improve photovoltaic performance. Recently, the occurrence of vertical phase separation has been found in some polymer:fullerene bulk heterojunctions.1,3 The origin and applications of this inhomogeneous distribution of the polymer donor and fullerene acceptor are addressed. The current status and device physics of the inverted structure solar cells is also reviewed, including the advantage of utilizing the spontaneous vertical phase separation, which provides a promising alternative to the conventional structure for obtaining higher device performance. [source] Visualizing phase separation in polystyrene/polystyrene homo-IPNs via sulfonationPOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2009Bo Zheng Abstract BACKGROUND: Polystyrene/polystyrene (PS/PS) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) represent ideal homo-IPNs. Whether phase separation occurs in this system has been a long-standing problem, which is closely related to the self-organization mechanism in IPN formation and is important to the exploration of new polymer morphologies and properties by topological isomerism. RESULTS: A series of bead samples of PS/PS sequential IPNs with the same nominal divinylbenzene contents were synthesized by suspension polymerization, followed by sulfonation. Scanning electron micrographs and energy-dispersive X-ray mapping show unique distinctive topography on both surfaces and fractured surfaces and large heterogeneity in sulfonation of the PS/PS IPN beads, which for the first time provide visual evidence for dual-phase continuity in PS/PS IPNs. CONCLUSION: The phase separation behavior is proposed to be due to hydrodynamic screening, architectural asymmetry and excluded volume interactions between network I and the precursor chains of network II. This is considered to represent pure IPN effects in sequential formation and may shed light on the general constitution mechanism and molecular design of IPN materials. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Organic Field-Effect Transistors: Planarization of Polymeric Field-Effect Transistors: Improvement of Nanomorphology and Enhancement of Electrical Performance (Adv. Funct.ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 14 2010Mater. Contact geometry plays an important role in charge injection and transport in organic field-effect transistors. On page 2216, T. Kowalewski, L. M. Porter, et al. show a dramatic effect of electrode planarization on the polymer morphology at the contact edges and a resulting increase in fi eld-effect mobility in short channel length devices, and a corresponding decrease in contact resistance. The cover image shows atomic force micrograph of individual polymer nanofi brils spanning the length of a 10 µm channel transistor with planarized contacts. [source] Planarization of Polymeric Field-Effect Transistors: Improvement of Nanomorphology and Enhancement of Electrical PerformanceADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 14 2010Kumar A. Singh Abstract The planarization of bottom-contact organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) resulting in dramatic improvement in the nanomorphology and an associated enhancement in charge injection and transport is reported. Planar OFETs based on regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (rr-P3HT) are fabricated wherein the Au bottom-contacts are recessed completely in the gate-dielectric. Normal OFETs having a conventional bottom-contact configuration with 50-nm-high contacts are used for comparison purpose. A modified solvent-assisted drop-casting process is utilized to form extremely thin rr-P3HT films. This process is critical for direct visualization of the effect of planarization on the polymer morphology. Atomic force micrographs (AFM) show that in a normal OFET the step between the surface of the contacts and the gate dielectric disrupts the self-assembly of the rr-P3HT film, resulting in poor morphology at the contact edges. The planarization of contacts results in notable improvement of the nanomorphology of rr-P3HT, resulting in lower resistance to charge injection. However, an improvement in field-effect mobility is observed only at short channel lengths. AFM shows the presence of well-ordered nanofibrils extending over short channel lengths. At longer channel lengths the presence of grain boundaries significantly minimizes the effect of improvement in contact geometry as the charge transport becomes channel-limited. [source] Recent Progress in Polymer Solar Cells: Manipulation of Polymer:Fullerene Morphology and the Formation of Efficient Inverted Polymer Solar CellsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 14-15 2009Li-Min Chen Abstract Polymer morphology has proven to be extremely important in determining the optoelectronic properties in polymer-based devices. The understanding and manipulation of polymer morphology has been the focus of electronic and optoelectronic polymer-device research. In this article, recent advances in the understanding and controlling of polymer morphology are reviewed with respect to the solvent selection and various annealing processes. We also review the mixed-solvent effects on the dynamics of film evolution in selected polymer-blend systems, which facilitate the formation of optimal percolation paths and therefore provide a simple approach to improve photovoltaic performance. Recently, the occurrence of vertical phase separation has been found in some polymer:fullerene bulk heterojunctions.1,3 The origin and applications of this inhomogeneous distribution of the polymer donor and fullerene acceptor are addressed. The current status and device physics of the inverted structure solar cells is also reviewed, including the advantage of utilizing the spontaneous vertical phase separation, which provides a promising alternative to the conventional structure for obtaining higher device performance. [source] Exploitation of the complex chemistry of hindered amine stabilizers in effective plastics stabilization,JOURNAL OF VINYL & ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2007J. Pospí Hindered amine stabilizers (HAS) remain a prominent class of stabilizers having a fortunate development with continuous interest in shaping the future properties of plastics: increase in polymer durability, application extension, reaching new effects. Commercial tests provided much information. Insufficient mechanistic interpretations of the complex effects of environmental factors (harshness of testing, penetration of radiation and oxygen, superposition of temperature, atmospheric impurities) and those of the microenvironment (morphology of the polymer matrix, physical relations of HAS,polymer, interference between HAS and other additives) are a drawback. Model experiments complement commercial studies and explain some phenomena. A careful transfer of information from model experiments must be done to avoid misinterpretation of mechanisms, particularly of the HAS regenerative cycle. A critical analysis of primary steps of the HAS activity mechanism in the polymer matrix based on HAS-related primary nitroxides, formation of their stationary concentration and concentration gradients influenced by polymer morphology, spatial competition between autoreactions, and oxidation of polymer-developed alkyl radicals and their scavenging by nitroxides (the key process of HAS efficiency) is outlined. Cyclic regeneration of nitroxides affected by the structure of the amino moiety in the HAS molecule, influence of acid environment, atmospheric ozone or singlet oxygen, cooperative mixtures of HAS with UV absorbers, combinations with additives increasing the thermal stabilization effect and improving color retention, assessment of the heat stabilization performance of HAS by proper testing, and influence of the molecular weight of HAS are mentioned together with examples of the chemical consumption of HAS in the final phases of their lifetime. lifetime. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 13:119,132, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] Mathematical Modeling of Homopolymerization on Supported Metallocene CatalystsMACROMOLECULAR MATERIALS & ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2004Alessio Alexiadis Abstract Summary: In this paper, a mathematical model describing olefin polymerization with metallocene catalysts is presented. It is an improvement of a previous model, the "particle growth model" (PGM) proposed by, among others, one of the authors of the present work and derives from the so-called "multigrane model" (MGM). The main differences between this work and others is a more sophisticated approach to fragmentation with respect to the MGM. Additionally, there is a more specific modeling for the unfragmented core with respect to the PGM. The numerical results obtained by the model are compared with experimental data. The results of this work allow to extend the PGM to catalysts with lower activity. The importance of those catalysts depends on the fact that high activity catalysts could bring, in some cases, too poor polymer morphology. Geometrical representation of the micro- and macroparticle. [source] Polymer Morphology: A Guide to Macromolecular Self-OrganizationMACROMOLECULAR SYMPOSIA, Issue 1 2004D.C. Bassett Abstract The study of polymer morphology continues to be the principal means of acquiring knowledge and understanding of macromolecular self-organization. Longstanding problems of the nature of melt-crystallized lamellae and spherulitic growth have been resolved, bringing understanding of how characteristic properties such as a broad melting range and spatially-varying mechanical response are inherent in spherulitic morphologies. This reflects the distinctive features of the crystallization of long molecules, i.e. that they impede each other and, for faster growth, form rough basal surfaces. Knowledge of morphology is an essential accompaniment to the informed development of advanced polymeric materials and a full understanding of their structure/property relations. [source] The effect of crystalline morphology on the degradation of polycaprolactone in a solution of phosphate buffer and lipasePOLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 12 2008M. J. Jenkins Abstract The degradation of polycaprolactone (PCL) in a solution of lipase and phosphate buffer has been characterized using a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron microscopy. The molecular weight of the polymer initially appeared to determine the degradation rate while the degree of crystallinity was found to increase with time. Samples of PCL were also conditioned using DSC to specify a known degree of crystallinity. This approach enabled the effects of molecular weight and degree of crystallinity on the degradation to be separated. It was observed that an increase in either molecular weight or degree of crystallinity reduced the rate of degradation. The work presented in this paper addresses a significant limitation associated with the characterization of "as received" samples and provides a more detailed understanding of the effect of polymer morphology on the degradation process. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] FI Catalysts: new olefin polymerization catalysts for the creation of value-added polymersTHE CHEMICAL RECORD, Issue 3 2004Makoto Mitani Abstract This contribution reports the discovery and application of phenoxy,imine-based catalysts for olefin polymerization. Ligand-oriented catalyst design research has led to the discovery of remarkably active ethylene polymerization catalysts (FI Catalysts), which are based on electronically flexible phenoxy,imine chelate ligands combined with early transition metals. Upon activation with appropriate cocatalysts, FI Catalysts can exhibit unique polymerization catalysis (e.g., precise control of product molecular weights, highly isospecific and syndiospecific propylene polymerization, regio-irregular polymerization of higher ,-olefins, highly controlled living polymerization of both ethylene and propylene at elevated temperatures, and precise control over polymer morphology) and thus provide extraordinary opportunities for the syntheses of value-added polymers with distinctive architectural characteristics. Many of the polymers that are available via the use of FI Catalysts were previously inaccessible through other means of polymerization. For example, FI Catalysts can form vinyl-terminated low molecular weight polyethylenes, ultra-high molecular weight amorphous ethylene,propylene copolymers and atactic polypropylenes, highly isotactic and syndiotactic polypropylenes with exceptionally high peak melting temperatures, well-defined and controlled multimodal polyethylenes, and high molecular weight regio-irregular poly(higher ,-olefin)s. In addition, FI Catalysts combined with MgCl2 -based compounds can produce polymers that exhibit desirable morphological features (e.g., very high bulk density polyethylenes and highly controlled particle-size polyethylenes) that are difficult to obtain with conventionally supported catalysts. In addition, FI Catalysts are capable of creating a large variety of living-polymerization-based polymers, including terminally functionalized polymers and block copolymers from ethylene, propylene, and higher ,-olefins. Furthermore, some of the FI Catalysts can furnish living-polymerization-based polymers catalytically by combination with appropriate chain transfer agents. Therefore, the development of FI Catalysts has enabled some crucial advances in the fields of polymerization catalysis and polymer syntheses. © 2004 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 4: 137,158; 2004: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.20010 [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||