Relaxation behavior of polymer blends with complex morphologies: Palierne emulsion model for uncompatibilized and compatibilized PP/PA6 blends

This paper deals with the dynamic rheological behavior of polypropylene/polyamide6 (PP/PA6) uncompatibilized blends and those compatibilized with a maleic anhydride grafted PP (PP/PP-g-MAH/PA6). The terminal relaxation times of the blends predicted by the Palierne emulsion model were compared with those obtained from experimental relaxation time spectra. The Palierne model succeeded well in describing PP/PA6 uncompatibilized blends with relatively low dispersed phase contents (10 wt%) and failed doing so for those of which the dispersed contents were high (30 wt%). It also failed for the compatibilized ones, irrespective of the dispersed phase content (10 or 30 wt%) and whether or not interface relaxation was taken into consideration. In the case of the uncompatibilized blend with high dispersed-phase content, interconnections among inclusions of the dispersed phase were responsible for the failure of the Palierne model. As for the compatiblized blends, in addition to particle interconnections, the existence of emulsion-in-emulsion (EE) structures was another factor responsible for the failure of Palieme model.

Nanometer scale mechanical study on well defined nanostructured chain aggregation of polyethylene

Two kinds of polyethylene chain aggregation with chain axis perpendicular and parallel to the supported substrate were designed and successfully obtained from melt under an electric field and by melt-drawn method

Encapsulation and luminescence of the nanostructured supramolecular material [Eu(Phen)(4)](NO3)(3)/(CH3)(3)Si-MCM-41

The nanostructured material (NSM) of pure silica MCM-41 molecular sieve was synthesized with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the source of silica and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMABr) as the template under supersonic wave condition. Then NSM of (CH3)(3)Si-MCM-41 was obtained by introducing trimethylsilyl to MCM-41. (CH3)(3)Si-MCM-41 showed the similar TEM and XRD photographs with the normal crystal of MCM-41 and the diameter of the NSM crystallites with a hexagon shape is of about 10-40 nm. The dispersivity of (CH3)(3)Si-MCM-41 prevails over the NSM of MCM-41 as its hydrophobicity. The fluorescent intensity of (CH3)(3)Si-MCM-41 is 3.4 times as that of the MCM-41. The luminescent functional supramolecular nanostructured material was prepared in EtOH, and characterized by TEM, HRTEM, XRD, TG, IR, and elemental analysis. The results showed that the [Eu(Phen)(4)](NO3)(3) had entered into the channels of nanosized mesoporous sieve of (CH3)(3)Si-MCM-41, forming discrete centers of luminescence. The energy transferring of the host to guest, superficial effect of NSM, quanta tunnel effect, and discrete luminescent center result in the fluorescent intensity of the supramolecule enhancement.

Preparation of polymer/silica nanoscale hybrids through sol-gel method involving emulsion polymers. II. Poly(ethyl acrylate)/SiO2

Poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA)/SiO2 hybrids with different compositions were prepared under different casting temperatures and pH values. Their morphology as investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows that samples with different compositions have different morphologies. When the SiO2 content is lower, PEA is the continuous phase and SiO2 is the dispersed phase. At higher SiO2 content, the change in phase morphology takes place, nd PEA gradually dispersing in the form of latex particles in SiO2 matrix. Change in phase morphology depends mainly on the time the sol-gel transition occurs. At suitable casting temperature and pH value, PEA/SiO2 in 95/5 and 50/50 hybrids with even dispersion was obtained.

Preparation and characterization of poly(ethyl acrylate)/bentonite nanocomposites by in situ emulsion polymerization

Transparent poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA)/bentonite nanocomposites containing intercalated-exfoliated combinatory structures of clay were synthesized by in situ emulsion polymerizations in aqueous dispersions containing bentonite. The samples for characterization were prepared through direct-forming films of the resulting emulsions without coagulation and separation. An examination with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed that intercalated and exfoliated structures of clay coexisted in the PEA/bentonite nanocomposites. The measurements of mechanical properties showed that PEA properties were greatly improved, with the tensile strength and modulus increasing from 0.65 and 0.24 to 11.16 and 88.41 MPa, respectively. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed a very marked improvement of the storage modulus above the glass-transition temperature. In addition, because of the uniform dispersion of silicate layers in the PEA matrix, the barrier properties of the materials were dramatically improved. The permeability coefficient of water vapor decreased from 30.8 x 10(-6) to 8.3 x 10(-6) g cm/cm(2)s cmHg. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Preparation of polymer/silica nanoscale hybrids through sol-gel method involving emulsion polymers (PMMA/SiO2)

The different poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) /SiO2 hybrids were prepared through sol-gel method involving PMMA emulsion (emulsion method) and PMMA/THF solution (solution method). The samples were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), thermogravimetry analysis(TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that PMMA/SiO2 composites in nanoscale were prepared by emulsion method, and its size of phase heterogeneity was less than that of solution method. Meanwhile, the polymer emulsion as the reactive medium was more suitable for the formation of SiO2 network.

Polymer/silica nanoscale hybrids through sol-gel method involving emulsion polymers. 1. Morphology of poly(butyl methacrylate)/SiO2

In this article, we report on an approach of using an emulsion polymerized polymer in preparing organic-inorganic nanocomposites through a sol-gel technique. By mixing a polymer emulsion with prehydrolyzed tetraethoxysilane transparent poly(butyl methacrylate)/SiO2, nanocomposites were prepared as shown by TEM. AFM, FTIR, and XPS results show that there is a strong interaction between polymer latex particles and the SiO2 network. Comparison of the emulsion method with a traditional solution method shows that nanocomposites can be prepared by both methods, but there is some difference in their morphology and properties.

Monte Carlo simulation of pulsed-laser polymerization in emulsion

The pulsed-laser polymerization in emulsions has been simulated by the Monte Carlo method. Our simulation shows that the best measure of the propagation rate coefficients K-p is the peak maximum of molecular weight distribution for microemulsions when the droplets are small. However, the inflection point at the low-molecular-weight side of the peaks provides the best measure of K-p of bigger droplets. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nanostructured hybrid organic-inorganic lanthanide complex films produced in situ via a sol-gel approach

Communication: Nanostructural hybrid organic-inorganic lanthanide complex films were prepared in situ by use of a novel sol-gel precursor containing pendant triethoxy-silyl and carboxyl groups (see Figure). The resulting transparent and crack-free films gave rise to strong red or green emission, even at low lanthanide ion concentration. Phase separation and lanthanide ion aggregation were controlled at the nanoscale.

Surface photovoltage spectra and photoelectrochemical properties of semiconductor-sensitized nanostructured TiO2 electrodes

Three kinds of TiO2 nanostructured thin films and their CdS-sensitized films, consisting of different sizes of TiO2 nanoparticles prepared with different methods, have been investigated. The surface photovoltage spectra (SPS) measurements indicate that the density of surface states on TiO2 is likely dependent upon the details of prepared methods. TiO2 particles prepared from basic sol have more surface states than that prepared from acidic sol. When the TiO2 thin films prepared using the TiO2 sols were sensitized by CdS particles, the SPS responses relative to the surface states on TiO2 from 350 to 800 nm were decreased. The photoelectrochemical properties of nanostructured TiO2 electrodes suggest that the fewer the surface states and the smaller the particle sizes of TiO2, the larger the photocurrent response. For CdS sensitized TiO2 thin film electrode, it is shown that the semiconductor sensitization is an efficient way to decrease the influence of surface states on the charge separation, and can improve the intensity of photocurrent response. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Processible nanostructured materials with electrical conductivity and magnetic susceptibility: Preparation and properties of maghemite polyaniline nanocomposite films

We here present a versatile process for the preparation of maghemite/polyaniline (gamma-Fe2O3/ PAn) nanocomposite films with macroscopic processibility, electrical conductivity, and magnetic susceptibility. The gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles are coated and the PAn chains are doped by anionic surfactants of omega-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) phosphate (PEOPA), 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA), and 10-camphorsulfonic acid (CSA). Both the coated gamma-Fe2O3 and the doped PAn are soluble in common organic solvents, and casting of the homogeneous solutions gives free-standing nanocomposite films with gamma-Fe2O3 contents up to similar to 50 wt %. The morphology of the gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. The gamma-Fe2O3/PAn films prepared from chloroform/m-cresol solutions of DBSA-coated gamma-Fe2O3 and CSA-doped PAn are conductive (sigma = 82-237 S/cm) and superpapamagnetic, exhibiting no hysteresis at room temperature. The zero-field-cooled magnetization experiment reveals that the nanocomposite containing 20.8 wt % gamma-Fe2O3 has a blocking temperature (T-b) in the temperature region of 63-83 K.

Heat capacity enhancement and thermodynamic properties of nanostructured amorphous SiO2

The heat capacity of nanostructured amorphous SiO2 (na-SiO2) has been measured by adiabatic calorimetric method over the temperature range 9-354 K. TG and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) were also employed to determine the thermal stability. Glass transition temperature (T-g) for the two same grain sizes with different specific surface of naSiO(2) samples and one coarse-grained amorphous SiO2 (ca-SiO2) sample were determined to be 1377, 1397 and 1320 K, respectively. The low temperature experimental results show that there are significant heat capacity (C-P) enhancements among na-SiO2 samples and ca-SiO2. Entropy, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy and Debye temperature (theta (D)) were obtained based on the low temperature heat capacity measurement of na-SiO2. The Cp enhancements of na-SiO2 were discussed in terms of configurational and vibrational entropy. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Enhancement of molar heat capacity of nanostructured Al2O3

The nanosized alumina prepared by the hydrolysis method with an average particle size of 20 nm was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The heat capacity measurements of the prepared sample were carried out using an adiabatic calorimeter in the temperature range from 78 to 370 K. Enhancement of heat capacity was observed in the nanostructured materials as the heat capacity data were compared with those of the corresponding coarse-grained materials. The enhanced heat capacity was discussed on the basis of experiments. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry were used to determine the thermal stability of the nanostructured alumina.