Morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties of polypropylene/polycarbonate blend

This work deals with the effect of compatibilizer on the morphological, thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties of polypropylene/polycarbonate (PP/ PC) blends. The blends, containing between 0 to 30 vol % of polycarbonate and a compatibilizer, were prepared by means of a twin-screw extruder. The compatibilizer was produced by grafting glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto polypropylene in the molten state. Blend morphologies were controlled by adding PP-g-GMA as compatibilizer during melt processing, thus changing dispersion and interfacial adhesion of the polycarbonate phase. With PP-g-GMA, volume fractions increased from 2.5 to 20, and much finer dispersions of discrete polycarbonate phase with average domain sizes decreased from 35 to 3 mu m were obtained. The WAXD spectra showed that the crystal structure of neat PP was different from that in blends. The DSC results suggested that the degree of crystallization of PP in blends decreased as PC content and compatibilizer increased. The mechanical properties significantly changed after addition of PP-g-GMA. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Crystallization of syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) from oriented melts

The influence of the syndiotacticity on the crystallization behaviour of syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) has been investigated. The syndiotacticity has been measured by C-13-NMR spectroscopy and the phase formation has been observed by electron diffraction of oriented samples. It is shown that the crystal phase formation depends strongly on the perfection of the tacticity of the macromolecules.

Study of ion solvation and ion association in polymer gel electrolyte with polyethylene oxide-co-polypropylene oxide as a plasticizer

Using a molal conductance method, ion solvation and ion association in polytriethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PTREGD)-LiClO4 gel electrolytes with amorphous ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide (EO-co-PO, <(M)over bar (n)>, = 1750) as the plasticizer were investigated. It was found that the fraction of solute existing as single ions (alpha(i)) and ion pairs (alpha(p)) decreases, while that of triple ions (alpha(t)) increases linearly with increasing salt concentration. The dependence of these fractions on molecular weight of plasticizer was also examined. It was shown that alpha(i) and alpha(t) increase and alpha(p) decreases with increasing molecular weight. The result of temperature dependence of these fractions was very interesting: when the temperature is lower than 55 degrees C, alpha(i) increases while alpha(p) and alpha(t) decrease with increasing temperature; however, when the temperature is higher than 55 degrees C, the reverse is true.

The phase inversion and morphology of nylon 1010 polypropylene blends

Noncompatibilized and compatibilized blends of nylon 1010/PP blends having five different viscosity ratios were prepared by melt extrusion. Glycidyl methacrylate-grafted-polypropylene (PP-g-GMA) was used as the compatibilizer to enbance the adhesion between the two polymers and to stabilize the blend morphology. The effect of the viscosity ratio on the morphology of nylon 1010/polypropylene blends was investigated, with primary attention to the phase-inversion behavior and the average particle size of the dispersed phase. The relationship between the mechanical properties and the phase-inversion composition was investigated as well. Investigation of the morphology of the blends by microscopy indicated that the smaller the viscosity ratio (eta(PP)/eta(PA)) the smaller was the polypropylene concentration at which the phase inversion took place and polypropylene became the continuous phase. The compatibilizer induced a sharp reduction of particle size, but did not have a major effect on the phase-inversion point. An improvement :in the mechanical properties was found when nylon 1010 provided the matrix phase. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Rheological properties and crystallization behavior of yttrium oxide filled low ethylene content polypropylene copolymer

The rheological properties and crystallization characteristics of low ethylene content poly propylene (EPM) with and without Yittrium oxide (Y2O3) as a filler was investigated by cone-plate viscometer and differential scanning calorimetry. Yittrium oxide had a profound effect on the viscosities of the systems. To determine the nonisothermal crystallization rate of the materials, a new estimation method was used. From the results, we can conclude that Y2O3 acts as a nucleating agent, which increased the crystallization rate of the EPM. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Effect of irradiation on pyrolysis of polypropylene in the presence of zeolites

For recycling of waste polymers, the degradation behavior of PP was studied with a combination of radiolysis and thermolysis methods. The results revealed that thermal degradation temperature of PP was significantly reduced when PP was irradiated in the presence of a zeolite. The irradiation-induced temperature reduction depended on the zeolite structure and composition, as well as on the morphology of the mixture. Identification of pyrolysis products indicated that, in the absence of zeolite, irradiation resulted only in a change of the product distribution but no formation of new compounds. In the presence of zeolite, however, a series of oxidized products were formed. In addition, the pyrolysis could be performed at a much lower temperature. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited

Effects of zeolites on the pyrolysis of polypropylene

With the intention of understanding chemical recycling of waste polymers, various kinds of zeolites were used as catalysts in the pyrolysis of polypropylene (PP). The effects of zeolites on the degradation temperature and pyrolyzed products of PP were studied. It was found that the degradation temperature of PP strongly depended on the type of zeolite used and the amount added. One type of HY zeolite (320HOA) was shown to be a very effective catalyst. Pyrolysis products, which were identified by using a coupled gas-chromatograph-mass-spectrometer, were also affected by the addition of zeolites. Some zeolites did not change the structure of the products but narrowed the product distribution to a smaller molecule region, while the HY zeolite led to hydrocarbons concentrated at those containing 4-9 carbons. Furthermore, some new compounds with cyclic structures were found in the presence of the HY zeolite. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited

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.

Crystal structure of polypropylene filled with rare earth oxides

The effect of a fine powder of Y2O3, Nd2O3, and Ho2O3 on the crystal structure of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was studied with WAXD and DSC techniques. The results showed that the addition of the three rare earth oxides (REOs) can increase the crystallite size of the alpha-form crystal and the degree of crystallinity of iPP at an annealing temperature of 120 degrees C and that both Y2O3 and Nd2O3 are the beta-nucleator of iPP. REOs enhance the overall growth rate of the spherulites of iPP. All the iPP samples filled with REOs which were crystallized isothermally at 132 degrees C from the melt exhibited their melting peaks of the beta-form on the DSC heating traces, indicating that the REOs are the nucleating agents for both the alpha- and beta-forms of iPP under isothermal conditions. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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.

STUDIES ON COMPATIBILIZATION OF POLYPROPYLENE THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE BLENDS AND MECHANISM OF COMPATIBILIZATION

This paper reports a study of compatibilization and the mechanism of compatibilization of polypropylene (PP)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) blends with maleated polypropylene (PP-MA) and its graft copolymer with polyethylene oxide (PEO), (PP-MA)-g-PEO.

COMPATIBILIZATION OF POLYPROPYLENE POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) BLENDS AND CRYSTALLIZATION BEHAVIOR OF THE BLENDS

The compatibilization of incompatible polypropylene (PP)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blends was studied. The experimental results showed that the graft copolymer [(PP-MA)-g-PEO] of maleated PP (PP-MA) and mono-hydroxyl PEO (PEO-OH) was a good compatibilize

MELTING BEHAVIOR OF DRAWN POLYPROPYLENE

The melting behavior of drawn, compression-molded isotactic polypropylene has been examined in terms of the influence of drawing conditions on the observed properties. Two endothermic peaks were observed on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for samples when high draw ratios and high heating rates were used during DSC tests. The peak at lower temperature is influenced by draw ratio, temperature, and rate, and exhibits a strong superheating effect. The species associated with this peak can partially recrystallize into another species associated with the peak at higher temperature during DSC measurements. The position of the peak at higher temperature depends only on draw ratio. It is proposed that the double-melting peaks at lower and higher temperature result from extremely thin quasi-amorphous or crystalline layers between microfibrils and the lamellar crystals within microfibrils, respectively. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

CRYSTALLIZATION OF RARE-EARTH OXIDE-FILLED POLYPROPYLENE

A study has been made of the crystallization behavior of polypropylene (PP) filled with rare earth oxides under isothermal conditions. These rare earth oxides include lanthanum oxide (La2O3), yttrium oxide (Y2O3), and a mixture of rare earth oxides containing 70% Y2O3 (Y2O3-0.70). A differential scanning calorimeter was used to monitor the energetics of the crystallization process from the melt. During isothermal crystallization, dependence of the relative degree of crystallinity on time was described by the Avrami equation. It has been shown that the addition of any of the three rare earth oxides causes a considerable increase in the overall crystallization rate of PP but does not influence the mechanism of nucleation and growth of the PP crystals. The analysis of kinetic data according to nucleation theories shows that the increase in crystallization rate of PP in the composites is due to the decrease in surface energy of the extremity surfaces. The relative contents of the beta-form in the composites are somewhat higher than that in the plain PP. However, the contents of the beta-form in the plain PP and the composites are all very low relative to those of the alpha-form and the influence of the formation of the beta-form on the crystallization kinetics can be neglected.