Studies on morphology and crystallization of polypropylene/polyamide 12 blends

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and an image analyser are used to study morphologies of the fractured surface, etched by hot phenol, of polypropylene/maleated polypropylene/polyamide 12 PP/PP-MA/PA12) = 65/10/25 blend and PP-MA/PA12 = 75/25 blend. The particle dimension and its distribution of PA12 dispersed phase in these blends are much lower and narrower than that of the PP/PA12. blends. Especially, most of the particles in the PP-MA/PA12 = 75/25 blend are smaller than 0.1 mu m. The effect of the morphology of PP/PA12 blends on their crystallization behaviour is studied using differential scanning calorimetry and SEM. PA12 dispersed phase coarsens during annealing in the PP/PP-MA/PA12 = 65/10/25 blend. The mechanism of coarsening of the PA12 dispersed phase is a coalescence process. The intense mixing between the PP component and the PA12 component through reaction of PP-MA and PA12 leads to a change of dynamic mechanical behaviour of the components. A separation method is used to separate the polyolefin parts (precipitated from hot phenol), from PA12 parts (hot phenol filtrate). Of PP/PP-MA/PA12 = 65/10/25 blend, infra-red measurements and elementary analysis show that the precipitate has a lower PA12 content than the feed, whereas the filtrate has a higher PA12 content. From PP-MA/PA12 = 75/25 blend, PA12 contents in the precipitate and the filtrate are the same as in the feed. This implies that all PA12 has reacted with all PP-MA in the latter case while not in the former case. Using the method of interface exposure, interfacial reaction of PP-MA with PA12 is studied by X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (X.p.s.). Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Miscibility and crystallization behaviour of poly(ether ether ketone)/polyimide blends

The miscibility and crystallization behaviour of the blends of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) with two thermoplastic polyimides (PI), PEI-E and YS-30, prepared by solution blending were studied by the use of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (d.s.c.) and polarizing microscopy techniques. The results obtained show that PEEK/YS-30 is miscible, while PEEK/PEI-E is partially miscible only in the composition range with PEI-E content up to 20 wt%. The crystallization behaviour of PEEK in PEEK/PI blends depends on the crystallization condition of the blend sample as well as the chemical structure and the content of the PI added. Our SAXS results indicate that the segregation of PI molecular chains during crystallization of PEEK chains in the blends is interfibrillar for PEEK/PEI-E blends, but interlamellar for PEEK/YS-30 blends. The compatibility and the crystallization behaviour are discussed in terms of charge transfer interaction between PI and PI molecules and between PI and PEEK molecules.

Miscibility, crystallization, and morphology studies of thermosetting polyimide PMR-15/PEK-C blends

Miscibility, crystallization, and mechanical properties of blends of thermosetting polyimide PMR-15 and phenolphthalein poly(ether ketone) (PEK-C) were examined. With the exception of the 90/10 blend, which has two glass transition peaks, all the blends with PMR-15 less than 90 wt % are miscible in the amorphous state according to DMA results. Addition of PEK-C hindered significantly the crystallization of PMR-15, indicating that there must exist some kind of interaction between molecular chains of PMR-15 and those of PEK-C. The semi-IPN system of PMR-15/PEK-C blends exhibits good toughness. Two distinct microphases, interweaving at the phase boundaries, were found in the PMR-15/PEK-C 60/40 blend. The toughness effect of the blends is discussed in terms of the interface adhesion between the two distinct phases and the domain sizes of the phases. The relation between miscibility and toughness of the blends was investigated. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Mechanical properties and miscibility of polyethersulfone phenoxy blends

The blends of polyethersulfone and phenoxy were prepared by melt mixing in a Brabender-like apparatus. The specimens for measurements were made by compression molding and then were water-quenched at room temperature under pressure. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break and yield, density, thermal analysis, and dynamic mechanical properties were each measured. The dependence of tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break and yield, and density on composition was obtained. The relationship between tensile modulus and elongation at break and yield and speed of the crosshead at different weight ratios of the blends is shown. The effects of composition and miscibility on the mechanical properties are discussed. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Miscibility and crystallization behavior of thermosetting polyimide thermoplastic polyimide blends

Compatibility, morphology, crystalline structure and mechanical properties of the blends of a thermosetting polyimide with thermoplastic polyimides consisting of dianhydrides of different lengths have been studied by the use of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. The results of our research show that the blends change from compatible to semi-compatible when the difference between the length of the dianhydrides of the two components increases. Addition of a thermoplastic polyimide inhibits the crystallization of the thermosetting component. However, this effect decreases with increasing length of the dianhydrides and the distribution of the molecules of the thermoplastic polyimide component changes from interlamellar to interfibrillar. Impact strength and morphology of the fractured surfaces indicate that among the semiinterpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPN) obtained the toughening effect of the partially compatible one is the best. The results are discussed in terms of charge transfer interaction between imide group and p-phenylene group.

Studies on simultaneous crystallization of polypropylene/nylon 12 blends

The effect of the morphology of polypropylene (PP)/nylon 12 (PA12) blends on their crystallization behaviour is studied using differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. In PP/maleated polypropylene (PP-MA)/PA12 = 65/10/25 blend, simultaneous crystallization of the PP/PA12 blend occurs under some conditions. When the diameter of the dispersed phase (PA12) is smaller than 0.5 mu m, PP crystallizes first and its crystals induce the crystallization of PA12. When some of the PA12 particles are larger than 0.5 mu m, this part of PA12 crystallizes first. Then this part of the PA12 crystals induces the crystallization of PP, and PP crystals induce the crystallization of PA12 fine droplets in turn.

MORPHOLOGY AND DYNAMIC-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF NYLON 66/POLY(ETHER IMIDE) BLENDS

The morphology and dynamic mechanical properties of blends of poly(ether imide) (PEI) and nylon 66 over the full composition range have been investigated. Torque changes during mixing were also measured. Lower torque values than those calculated by the log-additivity rule were obtained, resulting from the slip at the interface due to low interaction between the components. The particle size of the dispersed phase and morphology of the blends were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The composition of each phase was calculated. The blends of PEI and nylon 66 showed phase-separated structures with small spherical domains of 0.3 similar to 0.7 mu m. The glass transition temperatures (T(g)s) of the blends were shifted inward, compared with those of the homopolymers, which implied that the blends were partially miscible over a range of compositions. T-g1, corresponding to PEI-rich phase, was less affected by composition than T-g2, corresponding to nylon 66-rich phase. This indicated that the fraction of PEI mixed into nylon 66-rich phase increased with decreasing PEI content and that nylon 66 was rarely mixed into the PEI-rich phase. The effect of composition on the secondary relaxations was examined. Both T-beta, corresponding to the motion of amide groups in nylon 66, and T-gamma, corresponding to that of ether groups in PEI, were shifted to higher temperature, probably because of the formation of intermolecular interactions between the components.

MODIFICATION OF PP/HDPE BLENDS BY PP-PE SEQUENTIAL POLYMERIZATION PRODUCT

The morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene/high-density polyethylene (PP/HDPE) blends in a wide range of compositions modified by a sequential Ziegler-Natta polymerization product (PP-PE) have been investigated. PP-PE contains multiple components such as PP, ethylene-propylene copolymer (EPC), and high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE). The effects of PP-PE on the mechanical properties and morphology of the PP/HDPE blends are the aggregative results of all its individual components. Addition of PP-PE to the blends not only improved the tensile strength of the blends, but the elongation at break increased linearly while the moduli were nearly unchanged. Morphological studies show that the adhesion between the two phases in all the blends of different compositions is enhanced and the dispersed domain sizes of the blends are reduced monotonously with the increment of the content of PP-PE. PP-PE has been demonstrated to be a more effective compatibilizer than EPC. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the tensile strength of the blends depends most on the adhesion between the two phases and the elongation at break depends most on the domain size of the dispersed component. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

EFFECT OF ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE COPOLYMER WITH RESIDUAL PE CRYSTALLINITY ON MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES AND MORPHOLOGY OF PP/HDPE BLENDS

Morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/high density polyethylene (HDPE) blends modified by ethylene-propylene copolymers (EPC) with residual PE crystallinity were investigated. The EPC showed different interfacial behavior in PP/HDPE blends of different compositions. A 25/75 blend of PP/HDPE (weight ratio) showed improved tensile strength and elongation at break at low EPC content (5 wt %). For the PP/HDPE = 50/50 blend, the presence of the EPC component tended to make the PP dispersed phase structure transform into a cocontinuous one, probably caused by improved viscosity matching of the two components. Both tensile strength and elongation at break were improved at EPC content of 5 wt %. For PP/HDPE 75/25 blends, the much smaller dispersed HDPE phase and significantly improved elongation at break resulted from compatibilization by EPC copolymers. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

NMR-STUDY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MISCIBILITY AND ANTIAGING PERFORMANCE OF BLENDS CONTAINING BLOCK-COPOLYMERS

The anti-aging performance of blends of polystyrene (PS), styrene-butadiene triblock copolymers (SBS), and PS/styrene-butadiene (SB)-4A (Carm star SE block copolymer) has been studied by means of C-13 NMR techniques. It is found that the anti-aging performance of these kinds of blends largely depends on their miscibility with PS of different molecular weight M(PS). The larger the quantities of PS solubilized in polybutadiene (PBD) domains, the better the anti-aging performance of the blends. It is also found that the anti-aging performance of these blends has dependence on molecular architectures of the SE block copolymers. For the aged blends, the double bonds of PBD were broken, meanwhile serious cross-linking networks formed in the blends. The proposed anti-aging mechanism is that the PS solubilized in PBD domains can efficiently prevent oxygen molecules from diffusing into PBD domains, therefore, successfully stop the oxidative process of PBD.

MISCIBILITY OF HOMOPOLYMER RANDOM COPOLYMER BLENDS .2. SMA/PMMA BLENDS

The miscibility of blends of PMMA with SMA (50 wt% MA) has been investigated by means of NMR, FTIR and DSC techniques. The results indicate that the SMA/PMMA blends are miscible on a molecular level, and there are strong intermolecular interactions between the phenyl groups in SMA and carbonyl groups in PMMA. It is the intermolecular interactions instead of the intramolecular repulsion forces within the SMA copolymer that make the SMA/PMMA blends miscible. It is also found that the strength of the intermolecular interactions to some degree depends on the compositions of the blends.

THERMAL AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLYETHERSULFONE POLY(PHENYLENE SULFIDE) BLENDS

The thermal and mechanical properties of phenolphthalein polyethersulfone/poly(phenylene sulfide) (PES-C/PPS) blends were studied using a differential scanning calorimeter, a dynamic mechanical analyzer, and mechanical characterization. The morphologies of fracture surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The blends are multiphase systems with strong interaction between the two phases. It is of interest that, although the strength and ductility of PPS are lower than those of PES-C, the addition of PPS can improve markedly the impact strength of PES-C without changing its higher strength. The PPS can also act as a flow aid for PES-C. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

MISCIBILITY, MICROSTRUCTURE, AND DYNAMICS OF BLENDS CONTAINING BLOCK-COPOLYMER .2. MICROSTRUCTURE OF BLENDS OF HOMOPOLYSTYRENE WITH STYRENE-BUTADIENE BLOCK-COPOLYMERS

The microstructures of styrene-butadiene triblock (SBS) and styrene-butadiene four-arm star block (SB-4A) copolymers and their blends with homopolystyrene (PS) of different molecular weights, MPS, have been investigated by means of small-angle X-ray scatt

COMPATIBILITY AND CRYSTALLIZATION OF TETRAHYDROFURAN-METHYL METHACRYLATE DIBLOCK COPOLYMER/POLYTETRAHYDROFURAN BLENDS

The compatibility and crystallization of tetrahydrofuran-methyl methacrylate diblock copolymer (PTHF-b-PMMA)/tetrahydrofuran homopolymer (PTHF) blends were studied. Our results showed that the crystallization and morphology of compatible PTHF-b-PMMA/PTHF

COMPATIBILIZATION AND STRUCTURE OF POLY(PROPYLENE) NYLON-12 BLENDS

In this paper, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) were used to study the structure and compatibilization of poly(propylene) (PP)/nylon-12 (PA 12) blends. The compatibilizatio