Enhanced glass fiber-reinforced phenolphthalein poly(ether ketone) composites by blending poly(phenylene sulfide)

The mechanical properties of glass fiber-reinforced phenolphthalein poly(ether ketone)/poly(phenylene sulfide) (PEK-C/PPS) composites have been studied. The morphologies of fracture surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscope. Blending a semicrystalline component, PPS, can improve markedly the mechanical properties of glass fiber-reinforced PEK-C composites. These results can be attributed to the improvement of fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion and higher fiber aspect ratio. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Synthesis and properties of block copolymers of poly(ether sulphone)s with liquid crystalline polyester units

Block copolymers of poly(ethersulphone) (PES) oligomers with liquid crystalline polyester units were synthesized by the reaction of dihydroxy-terminated poly(ether sulphone) oligomers (number-average molecular weights: 704, 1,158 and 2570) and terephthaloyl bis(4-oxybenzoyl chloride), and their properties were investigated. The results indicated that the copolymer with PES segments of molecular weight of 704 possessed birefringent features when annealed at 360 degrees C, while the copolymer with PES segments of molecular weight of 2,570 became isotropic. Also, the block copolymers had a better chemical resistance and high-temperature stability than PES.

Studies on polyepichlorohydrin-based polyurethane/poly(MMA-co-St) IPNs

Interpenetrating polymer networks of polyepichlorohydrin-based polyurethane/poly(MMA-co-St) have been prepared with simultaneous mettled by changing the weight fraction of MMA(W-MMA) in copolymer of MMA with styrene. The IPNs have been studied by DSC, TEM and dynamic mechanical spectroscopy(DMS). The results show that the IPNs have only one T-g, when W-MMA is greater than 0. 6. But when W-MMA IMA is less than 0. 4, the IPNs have two T(g)s, and phase separation is observed on TEM. The phenomenon is explained according to the solubility parameters(delta) and the fraction of hydrogen bond(delta(h)) of P (MMA-co-St). The study reveals that there is a close correlation among the delta, domain size and mechanical properties of PU (PECH)/P(MMA-co-St) IPN.

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW COMB-LIKE POLYMER-BASED ON POLY(VINYL METHYL ETHER-ALT-MALEIC ANHYDRIDE) BACKBONE

A new comblike polymer host for polymer electrolyte was synthesized by reacting monomethyl ether of poly(ethylene glycol) with poly(vinyl methyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) and endcapping the residual carboxylic acid with methanol. Butanone was selected as a solvent for the esterification in order to obtain a completely soluble product. The synthesis process was traced through by LR. Compared with the model compounds, the presumed structure of this comblike polymer has been proved to be valid by C-13 NMR The comb polymer is a white rubbery solid. It can be dissolved in butanone and THF, and manifests good film forming ability.

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.

PROMOTER EFFECT OF POLY(4-VINYLPYRIDINE) ON THE DIRECT ELECTRON-TRANSFER BETWEEN CYTOCHROME-C AND GOLD ELECTRODE

The electrochemistry of cytochrome c was studied at the PVP-modified gold electrode. It was found that the promoter effect is related to the amount of PVP at the gold electrode. From our results, it can be seen that the nitrogen element in the polymer is important for accelerating the electron transfer of cytochrome c.

THE COMPATIBILITY AND MORPHOLOGY OF CHITOSAN-POLY(ETHYLENE-OXIDE) BLENDS

Thermal behavior and morphology of blends prepared by solution casting of mixtures of chitosan and poly( ethylene oxide) were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The preliminary results indicate that both melting point and crystallinity depend on the composition of the blends, and that they exhibit minimum values when the blend contains 50% chitosan. From the prediction of melting point depression analysis, the compatibility of the blends shows a transition at this specific composition. This conclusion was further confirmed by observation of the morphology.

SYNTHESIS OF A POLYETHYLENE-GRAFT-POLYSTYRENE COPOLYMER AND ITS COMPATIBILIZATION FOR LINEAR LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE/POLY(PHENYLENE OXIDE) BLENDS

Based on unsteady diffusion kinetics, polyethylene(PE)-graft-polystyrene (PS) copolymers were designed and synthesized with a heterogeneous high yield titanium-based catalyst by copolymerization of ethylene with a PS-macromonomer using 1-hexene as a short chain agent to promote the incorporation of the PS-macromonomer. The presence of 1-hexene facilitated the diffusion of the PS-macromonomer, giving rise to the significantly increased incorporation of the PS-macromonomer. Compatibilization of blends of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) with the PE-g-PS copolymer were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA).

SIMPLE-MODELS FOR STRESS-RELAXATION AND YIELD PHENOMENON OF PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLY(ETHER KETONE)

According to stress relaxation curves of phenolphthalein poly(ether ketone) (PEK-C) at different temperatures and the principle of time-temperature equivalence, the master curves of PEK-C at arbitrary reference temperatures are obtained. A coupling model (Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts) is applied to explain quantitatively the different temperature dependence of stress relaxation behavior and the relationship between stress relaxation and yield phenomenon is established through the coupling model.

POLY(AZOMETHINE SULFONES) WITH THERMOTROPIC LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE BEHAVIOR

New poly(azomethine sulfones) with linear structures containing sulfonyl bis(4-phenoxyphenylene) and oxo bis(benzylideneaniline) or methylene bis(benzylideneaniline) units were prepared in the conventional literature manner by condensing the dialdehyde sulfone monomer (V) with diamines such as 4,4'-oxydianiline (IIIa) and 4,4'-methylenedianiline (IIIb), or by condensing an azomethine biphenol (IX) with 4,4'-sulfonyldichlorobenzene (II). Three model compounds which reproduced the above structures were also synthesized. The resulting polymers were confirmed by IR, H-1-NMP, and elemental analysis, and were characterized by inherent viscosities, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and x-ray diffraction. The thermotropic liquid crystalline (TLC) behavior was studied using polarization light microscopy (PLM), thermooptical analysis (TOA), and DSC. A nematic texture was observed only for 4,4'-oxydianiline-units-based polymers. The reaction of polymer VIIIb containing -CH2- links between the mesogens with the model compound IX led to polymer X which exhibited TLC behavior.

KINETICS OF NONISOTHERMAL PHASE-TRANSITION OF POLY(ESTER-IMIDE)

Based on Jeziorny theory, the kinetics of phase transition of poly(ester-imide) has been determined under non-isothermal condition by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Avrami exponent n, kinetic parameters G(c) and rate constant Z(c) were derived and discussed.

THE IZOD IMPACT FRACTURE-BEHAVIOR OF PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLY(ETHER KETONE)

The Izod impact fracture behaviour of notched specimens of phenolphthalein poly(ether ketone) (PEK-C) has been studied over a temperature range from room temperature to 240 degrees C by using an instrumented impact tester. The temperature dependence of the maximum load, total impact energy, initiation energy, propagation energy, ductility index (DI) and the relationships between these parameters and the relaxation processes have been investigated.

VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES OF PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLY(ETHER KETONE)

Stress relaxation and dynamic mechanical behavior of phenolphthalein poly(ether ketone) (PEK-C) have been investigated. Using Ferry's reduction method, the master curve was obtained. From the experimental results, we found that the WLF equation is not appropriate in the lower-temperature range (T < T-g). The relaxation spectrum was calculated according to the first approximation method proposed by Schwarzl and Staverman. In addition to the alpha-transition region, a second transition zone is revealed at low temperature. This transition is probably due to a restricted motion of its main chain. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

TEMPERATURE EFFECT ON IMPACT FRACTURE-TOUGHNESS AND FRACTURE MECHANISM OF PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLY(ETHER KETONE)

Phenolphthalein poly(ether ketone) (PEK-C) was tested using an instrumented impact tester to determine the temperature effect on the fracture toughness K-c and critical strain energy release rate G(c). Two different mechanisms, namely the relaxation processes and thermal blunting of the crack tip were used to explain the temperature effect on the fracture toughness. Examination of the fracture surfaces revealed the presence of crack growth bands. It is suggested that these bands are the consequence of variations in crack growth along crazes that are formed in the crack tip stress field. As the crack propagates, the stress is relaxed locally, decreasing the growth rate allowing a new bundle of crazes to nucleate along which the crack advances.