Influence of shear on crystallization behavior of the beta phase in isotactic polypropylene with beta-nucleating agent

Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) was used to investigate the effects of shear on the crystallization behavior of polypropylene (PP) with beta-nucleating agent. The melt was subjected to shear at the shear rate from 0.5 to 60 s(-1) for 5 s with a CSS450 shear stage. For the PP with low content of the additive, the formation mechanism of the beta crystals is almost the same as that of pure isotactic polypropylene (iPP), viz., shear induces. Otherwise, for the samples with high content of the additive, the formation mechanism of the beta form are nucleating agent induces. The results clearly show that shear restrains the formation of high beta phase for the melt with additive.

Transition from crazing to shear deformation in ABS/PVC blends

ABS/PVC blends were prepared over a range of compositions by mixing PVC, SAN, and PB-g-SAN. All samples were designed to have a constant rubber level of 12 wt % and the ratio of total-SAN to PVC in the matrix of the blends varied from 70.5/17.5 to 18/80. Transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope have been used to study deformation mechanisms in the ABS/PVC blends. Several different types of microscopic deformation mechanisms, depending on the composition of blends, were observed for the ABS/PVC blends. When the blend is a SAN-rich system, the main deformation mechanisms were crazing of the matrix. When the blend is a PVC-rich system, crazing could no longer be detected, while shear yielding of the matrix and cavitation of the rubber particles were the main mechanisms of deformation. When the composition of blend is in the intermediate state, both crazing and shear yielding of matrix were observed. This suggests that there is a transition of deformation mechanism in ABS/PVC blends with the change in composition, which is from crazing to shear deformation.

Numerical simulation of mesoscopic mechanical behaviors of gradual multi-fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites

To simulate the deformation and the fracture of gradual multi-fiber-reinforced matrix composites, a numerical simulation method for the mesoscopic mechanical behaviors was developed on the basis of the finite element and the Monte Carlo methods. The results indicate that the strength of a composite increases if the variability of statistical fiber strengths is decreased.

Polymer concentration, shear and stretch field effects on the surface morphology evolution during the spin-coating

Polymer concentration and shear and stretch field effects on the surface morphology evolution of three different kinds of polymers (polystyrene (PS), polybutadiene (PB) and polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-polystyrene (SBS)) during the spin-coating were investigated by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). For PS and SBS, continuous film, net-like structure and particle structure were observed at different concentrations. For PB, net-like structures were not observed and continuous films and radial array of droplets emerged. Moreover, we compared surface morphology transitions on different substrate locations from the center to the edge. For PS, net-like structure, broken net-like structure and irregular array of particles were observed. For SBS, net-like structure, periodically orientated string-like structure and broken-line structure appeared. But for PB, flower-like holes in the continuous film, distorted stream-like structure and irregular distributions of droplets emerged. These different transitions of surface morphologies were discussed in terms of individual material property.

Shear induced molecular alignments of a side-chain liquid crystalline polyacetylene containing biphenyl mesogens

Mesomorphic properties of a side chain liquid crystalline polyacetylene, poly(11-{[(4'-heptyloxy-4-biphenylyl)carbonyl]oxy}-1-undecyne) (PA9EO7), are investigated using polarized optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscope. Polymer PA9EO7 forms enantiotropic smectic A and smectic B phases. It also exhibits an additional high order smectic phase, a sandwich structure consisting of different molecular packing of biphenyl mesogenic moieties from that of alkyl spacers and terminals, when it is prepared from its toluene solution. Shearing the polymer film at its smectic A phase generates banded texture with the alignment of the backbones parallel to the direction of shear force. While at its high order smectic phase, the mesogen pendants of the polymer are arranged parallel to the direction of shear. The different mesomorphic behaviors arise from different molecular alignments influenced by the fluidity.

Theoretical representation of shear and pressure influence on the phase separation behavior of PVME/PS mixture

In the framework of lattice fluid model, the Gibbs energy and equation of state are derived by introducing the energy (E-s) stored during flow for polymer blends under shear. From the calculation of the spinodal of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) and polystyrene (PS) mixtures, we have found the influence of E., an equation of state in pure component is inappreciable, but it is appreciable in the mixture. However, the effect of E, on phase separation behavior is extremely striking. In the calculation of spinodal for the PVME/PS system, a thin, long and banana miscibility gap generated by shear is seen beside the miscibility gap with lower critical solution temperature. Meanwhile, a binodal coalescence of upper and lower miscibility gaps is occurred. The three points of the three-phase equilibrium are forecasted. The shear rate dependence of cloud point temperature at a certain composition is discussed. The calculated results are acceptable compared with the experiment values obtained by Higgins et at. However, the maximum positive shift and the minimum negative shift of cloud point temperature guessed by Higgins are not obtained, Furthermore, the combining effects of pressure and shear on spinodal shift are predicted.

Shear induced mixing/demixing: Blends of homopolymers, of homopolymers plus copolymers, and blends in solution

Shear may shift the phase boundary towards the homogeneous state (shear induced mixing, SIM), or in the opposite direction (shear induced demixing, SID). SIM is the typical behavior of mixtures of components of low molar mass and polymer solutions, SID can be observed with solutions of high molar mass polymers and polymer blends at higher shear rates. The typical sequence with increasing shear rate is SIM, then occurrence of an isolated additional immiscible area (SLD), melting of this island into the main miscibility gap, and finally SIM again. A three phase line originates and ends in two critical end points. Raising pressure increases the shear effects. For copolymer containing systems SID is sometimes observed at very low shear rates, preceding the just mentioned sequence of shear influences.

Shear-induced spiral-like morphology of a main-chain liquid crystalline poly(aryl ether ketone)

The shear-induced spiral-like morphology of a main-chain thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(aryl ether ketone) is observed and characterized by means of polarizing light microscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction techniques. The spiral-like texture is formed during shearing in the temperature range of liquid crystalline to isotropic transition (335-340 degreesC), and dispersed discontinuously in the mosaic matrix. Electron diffraction results indicate that the spiral exhibits orthorhombic lateral packing of the crystals and homeotropic alignment of the molecules. The spiral formation process and possible affecting factors are discussed.

MEASUREMENT AND CALCULATION OF SPONTANEOUS EMISSION BRANCHING RATIOS, RELATIVE OSCILLATOR-STRENGTHS, TRANSITION-PROBABILITIES AND LEVEL LIFETIMES FOR ATOMIC URANIUM

We propose a laser induced sensitized fluorescence spectrometry for measuring the spontaneous emission branching ratios o?the transitions from the ten levels 5f36d7s7p-7M7, 5f36d7s7p-7L6, 5f37s27p-5K6, 5f26d27s2 - 5L7, 5f46d7s - 7L6, (17,070cm-1)-5L6, 5f26d27s2-5K6, 6d7s7p-7L5, 5f36d7s7p-7K5 and 5f26d27s2-5I5 to the ground state of atomic uranium (UI) for the first time. Their relative oscillator strengths have been measured by means of hollow cathode discharge (HCD) emission spectrometry. The radiative...

Isotope Geochemistry of Gold Ore Deposits in the Gezhen Shear Zone, Qiongxi, Hainan Island

Gold deposits hosted in the Gezhen shear zone at Qingxi, Hainan Island occur in the Precambrian metamorphic rock series and are regionally developed in the N-E direction along the tectonic zone. From northeast to southwest are distributed the Tuwaishan-Baoban gold mining district, the Erjia gold mining district and the Bumo gold mining district, making up the most industrially important gold metallogenesis zone on the Hainan Island. Isotope geochemical studies of the typical gold deposits in this metallogen