Brittle-ductile transition of particle toughened polymers: influence of the matrix properties

It was theoretically pointed out that the product of the yield stress and yield strain of matrix polymer that determined the brittle-ductile transition (BDT) of particle toughened polymers. For given particle and test condition, the higher the product of the yield stress and the yield strain of the matrix polymer, the smaller the critical interparticle distance (IDc) of the blends was. This was why the IDc (0.15 mum) of the polypropylene (PP)/rubber blends was smaller than that (0.30 mum) of the nylon 66/rubber blends, and the IDc of the nylon 66/rubber blends was smaller than that (0.60 mum) of the high density polyethylene (HDPE)/rubber blends.

Independence of the brittle-ductile transition from the rubber particle size for impact-modified poly(vinyl chloride)

A series of acrylic impact modifiers (AIMS) with different particle sizes ranging from 55.2 to 927.0 nm were synthesized by seeded emulsion polymerization, and the effect of the particle size on the brittle-ductile transition of impact-modified poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was investigated. For each AIM, a series of PVC/AIM blends with compositions of 6, 8, 10, 12, and 15 phr AIM in 100 phr PVC were prepared, and the Izod impact strengths of these blends were tested at 23 degrees C. For AIMs with particle sizes of 55.2, 59.8, 125.2, 243.2, and 341.1 nm, the blends fractured in the brittle mode when the concentration of AIM was lower than 10 phr, whereas the blends showed ductile fracture when the AIM concentration reached 10 phr. It was concluded that the brittle-ductile transition of the PVC/AIM blends was independent of the particle size in the range of 55.2-341.1 nm. When the particle size was greater than 341.1 nm, however, the brittle-ductile transition shifted to a higher AIM concentration with an increase in the particle size. Furthermore, the critical interparticle distance was found not to be the criterion of the brittle-ductile transition for the PVC/AIM blends.

Fabrication of a metal particle array based on a self-assembled template from a two-armed polymer

A two-armed polymer with a crown ether core self-assembles to produce macroporous films with pores perpendicularly reaching through the film down to the substrate. A possible assembling mechanism is discussed. The pore size can be conveniently adjusted by changing the solution concentration. These through-hole macroporous films provide a template for fabricating an array of Cu nanoparticle aggregates.

Effect of cavitations on brittle-ductile transition of particle toughened thermoplastics

In this study, we established a correlation between cavitations volume and the brittle-ductile transition (BDT) for particle toughened thermoplastics. The brittle-ductile transition temperature (T-BD) was calculated as a function of T* and interparticle distance (ED), respectively, where T* was a parameter related to the volume of cavitations. The results showed that the smaller the cavitations volume, the higher the brittle-ductile transition temperature. The calculations correlated well with the experimental data. With respect to rubber particle, the rigid particle was too hard to be voided during deformation, thereby the TED of the blend was much higher than that of rubber particle toughened thermoplastic. This was a main reason that rubber particle could toughen thermoplastics effectively, whereas rigid particle could not.

Preparation and application of a novel core-shell-particle-supported zirconocene catalyst

The use of functional groups bearing silica/poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) core-shell particles as a support for a zirconocene catalyst in ethylene polymerization was studied. Several factors affecting the behavior of the supported catalyst and the properties of the resulting polymer, such as time, temperature, Al/N (molar ratio), and Al/Zr (molar ratio), were examined. The conditions of the supported catalyst preparation were more important than those of the ethylene polymerization. The state of the supported catalyst itself played a decisive role in both the catalytic behavior of the supported catalyst and the properties of polyethylene (PE). IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to follow the formation of the supports. The formation of cationic active species is hypothesized, and the performance of the core-shell-particle-supported zirconocene catalyst is discussed as well. The bulk density of the PE formed was higher than that of the polymer obtained from homogeneous and polymer-supported Cp2ZrCl2/methylaluminoxane catalyst systems. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Effects of rubber content and temperature on unstable fracture behavior in ABS materials with different particle sizes

The fracture behavior of ABS materials with a particle diameter of 110 nm and of 330 nm was studied using instrumented Charpy impact tests. The effects of rubber content and temperature on fracture behavior, deformation mode, stable crack extension, plastic zone size, J-integral value, and crack opening displacement were investigated. In the case of a particle size of 110 nm, the material was found to break in a brittle manner, and the dominant crack mechanism was unstable crack propagation. Fracture toughness increases with increasing rubber content. In the case of a particle size of 330 nm, brittle-to-tough transition was observed. The J-integral value first increases with rubber content, then levels off after the rubber content is greater than 16 wt %. The J-integral value of a particle diameter of 330 nm was found to be much greater than that of 110 nm. The J-integral value of both series first increased with increasing temperature until reaching the maximum value, after which it decreased with further increasing temperature. The conclusion is that a particle diameter of 330 nm is more efficient than that of 110 nm in toughening, but for both series the effectiveness of rubber modification decreases with increasing temperatures higher than 40 degreesC because of intrinsic craze formation in the SAN matrix at temperatures near the glass transition of SAN. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Determination of hydroxylamine by capillary electrophoresis electrochemical detection with a palladium-particle modified carbon fiber microdisk array electrode

A highly dispersed ultramicro palladium-particle modified carbon fiber microdisk array electrode (Pd-CFE) was employed for capillary electrophoresis-electrochemical (CEEC) detection of hydroxylamine (HA). The Pd particles obtained were in the nanometer scale, had a high electrocatalytic activity towards HA and exhibited good reproducibility and stability. A linear relationship between the current and the analyte concentration was found between 5 x 10(-6) and 1 x 10(-3) mol/l of HA with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992. The detection limit was 5 x 10(-8) mol/l. The applicability of the method for the determination of HA in river water and waste water was investigated.

Determination of isoniazid and hydrazine by capillary electrophoresis with amperometric detection at a Pt-particle modified carbon fiber microelectrode

Capillary electrophoresis (CE)/electrochemical detection (EC) for the simultaneous determination of hydrazine and isoniazid has been developed. The electrochemical method uses a novel modified electrode dispersed with ultrafine platinum particles on the surface of a 30 mu m carbon fiber microelectrode. The unique characteristic of the Pt-particles modified carbon fiber microelectrode is its excellent stability. The current measurement for hydrazine is more sensitive than that of isoniazid. Selective determination of trace amount of free hydrazine in isoniazid and its formulation can be achieved at applied potential of 0.5 V.

The direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c at the nanometer-sized rare earth element oxide particle-modified gold electrodes

The direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c was studied at nanometer-sized rare earth element dioxide particle-modified gold electrodes. It was demonstrated that rare earth element oxides can accelerate the electrochemical reaction of cytochrome c and the reversibility of the electrochemical reaction of cytochrome c was related to the size of rare earth element oxide particles.

EFFECT OF PARTICLE-SIZE ON IMPACT STRENGTH OF POLYMER BLENDS

The effect of particle size on impact strength of polymer blends with ductile fracture was studied. The results are in agreement with the experiments. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ELECTROCATALYTIC OXIDATION AND ION-CHROMATOGRAPHIC DETECTION OF BR-, I-, SO32-, S2O32- AND SCN- AT A PLATINUM PARTICLE-BASED GLASSY-CARBON MODIFIED ELECTRODE

A modified method for dispersing platinum particles on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode was investigated. The ultramicro Pt particle-modified electrode obtained exhibited high catalytic stability and activity towards the oxidation of some halide ions (Br-, I-) and inorganic sulfur species (S2O32-, SO32- and SCN-). These anions were separated and detected by using ion chromatography and electrochemical detection via this novel dispersed Pt particles-GC working electrode. The detection limits were 20 ng/ml for Br-, 1.0 ng/ml for I-, 10 ng/ml for SO32- and 4.0 ng/ml for SCN-. This method was employed for the analysis of industrial and environmental waste waters.