Polymer nanocomposites based on P3OT, TPU and SWNT: preparation and characterization

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were incorporated in polymer nanocomposites based on poly(3-octylthiophene) (P3OT), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or a blend of them. Thermogravimetry demonstrated the success of the purification procedure employed in the chemical treatment of SWNTs prior to composite preparation. Stable dispersions of SWNTs in chloroform were obtained by non-covalent interactions with the dissolved polymers. Composites exhibited glass transitions, melting temperatures and heat of fusion which changed in relation to pure polymers. This behavior is discussed as associated to interactions between nanotubes and polymers. The conductivity at room temperature of the blend (TPU-P3OT) with SWNT is higher than the P3OT/SWNT composite.

Rheology, morphology and mechanical properties of compatibilized poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) blends

Compatibilized blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were developed using maleated PVDF (PVDF-g-MA). Excellent compatibilization between PVDF and TPU was demonstrated by theological, morphological, and mechanical measurements. The introduction of PVDF-g-MA into the PVDF/TPU blends caused an increase in viscosity and storage modulus. Much finer morphology was clearly observed by SEM. The tensile tests showed that the tensile strength and ultimate elongation achieved a significant improvement with addition of PVDF-g-MA.

HPVC/TPU共混物的相容性研究

用傅立叶变换红外光谱（ＦＴ－ＩＲ）、动态力学分析（ＤＭＡ），对高聚合度聚氯乙烯／热塑性聚氨酯（ＨＰＶＣ／ＴＰＵ）共混物的相容性进行了研究。结果表明，共混物中ＴＰＵ分子上的氨基（－ＮＨ－）与ＨＰＶＣ分子上的氯（－Ｃｌ）形成了类氢键结构。ＨＰＶＣ与ＴＰＵ分子间有一定的相容性，并且ＴＰＵ的结构组成与共混配比对体系的相容性有较大的影响。

Biobased additives as biodegradability enhancers with application in TPU-based footwear components

Among the wide variety of materials employed in the manufacture of shoes, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are one of the most widely used. Given its widespread use, and associated waste management problems, the development of more biodegradable and evironmentally compatible solutions is needed. In this work, a polyester-based TPU used in the footwear industry for outsoles production was modified by compounding with lignin, starch and cellulose at content of 4% (w/w). The biodegradability was evaluated by using agar plate tests with the fungi Aspergillus niger ATCC16404, the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027 and an association of both (consortium), and soil tests at 37 °C and 58 °C. The obtained results evidenced a positive effect of the tested biobased additives, the most favourable results being registered with lignin. These results were corroborated by the structural modifications observed by FTIR analysis. Additionally, mechanical tests prove the suitability of using the lignin modified TPUs for footwear outsoles production.

羊草叶片光合参数对不同水分变化的响应机理与模拟林祥磊

由温室气体的大量排放引起的全球环境变化不仅导致了温度的升高和降水格局的变化，亦引起了干旱等极端气候事件的频繁发生。研究羊草光合参数对水分胁迫及复水的响应，可以增进全球变化对植物光合作用和陆地生态系统影响的理解，揭示羊草光合参数对水分胁迫及复水的响应机理，为发展植物光合参数对水热变化的响应模型提供参数与依据。基于温室模拟试验和野外观测实验，采用Li-6400R便携式光合作用系统（Li-cor, Lincoln, NE, USA）测定了羊草（Leymus chinensis）叶片A/Ci曲线(净光合速率A和胞间CO2浓度Ci的关系曲线)，获取了羊草叶片的光合参数Vcmax（Rubisco的最大羧化速率）、Jmax（最大光合电子传递速率）和TPU（磷酸丙糖利用率），分析研究了羊草叶片光合参数Vcmax（Rubisco的最大羧化速率）、Jmax（最大光合电子传递速率）和TPU（磷酸丙糖利用率）对干旱与复水的响应机理。结果表明，无论是模拟实验还是野外观测均显示羊草叶片的光合参数随着土壤水分的增加呈抛物线曲线变化，但各光合参数最大值对土壤水分的响应不同。温室模拟下的羊草光合参数Vcmax，Jmax和TPU在土壤含水量分别在15.56%，15.89%和16.23%时达到最大，而野外观测羊草的光合参数Vcmax，Jmax和TPU在土壤含水量分别为16.89%，17%和16.79%时达到最大。复水后羊草植株叶片光合参数的变化取决于前期干旱的影响，土壤含水量18%～19%和15%～16%处理的羊草复水后光合参数能够恢复正常，前者甚至超过正常水平，说明适宜的水分胁迫在复水后能够提高羊草叶片的光合能力，促进光合作用;土壤含水量10%～12%和7%～9%处理下的羊草复水后光合参数则不能恢复到正常水平。土壤含水量15%～16%可能是羊草光合能力在水分胁迫后能否恢复的阈值。

PP／极性聚合物共混体系增容及结构与性能研究

本文的主要工作如下：1、本文提出用化学方法将聚丙烯（PP）接枝马来酸酐（MA）的方法，得到了较高接枝率的PP－MA接枝物，MA的接枝状态主要取决于反应条件。2．本文合成了（PP－MA）-g-PEO梳型接枝物，接枝物中PP、PEO结晶性能明显与纯PP、PEO不同。3．采用溶液共混方法制备了PP／PMMA、PP／TPU、PP／PA－12、PP／PEO四种共混物。从实验上证明了PP－MA及（PP－MA）-g-MA两种接枝物对上述四种共混物增容的机理。4．共混物中极性聚合物对PP结晶具有两种不同作用：成核促进作用和结晶阻碍作用。5．在PP／PA－12、PP／PEO这类双晶共混体系中，组分之间相互作用比较复杂，尤其是高熔点组分对低熔点组分的影响，如取向附生作用。6．结晶分极是含有结晶组分不相容共混物的普遍具有的现象，它与组分配比、异种聚合物成核能力及组分之间相容性有必然联系。7、PP－MA是PP／TPU、PP／NBR－26有效增容剂，开发上述两种共混物材料势在必行。

The investigation of exfoliation process of organic modified montmorillonite in thermoplastic polyurethane with different molecular weights

Cloisite 30B (30B) was melt-mixed with two kinds of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with different molecular weights to discern the roles of molecular diffusion and shear in the exfoliation process. The higher level of exfoliation was achieved in TPU matrix with higher molecular weight due to the appropriate viscosity. In order to have an insight into the mechanism of exfoliation, the degree of dispersion and exfoliation of 30B was characterized by wide angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The layers of 30B were exfoliated via a slippage process, which was also observed in polyamide 12 nanocomposites recently.

A strategy of fabricating exfoliated thermoplastic polyurethane/clay nanocomposites via introducing maleated polypropylene

By reducing the attraction between the platelets of octaclecylammonium chloride modified montmorillonite (OMMT-C18) via pre-intercalation of maleated polypropylene (MAPP), OMMT-C18 was exfoliated in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix during melt-mixing. Wide angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis were used to investigate the microstructure of TPU nanocomposites. Three factors (including introducing sequence, the kind and the content of MAPP) showed important effects on the dispersion degree of OMMT-C18 in TPU matrix. The results confirmed that the pre-intercalation of MAPP was necessary for the exfoliation of OMMT-C18; however, the role of MAPP in TPU nanocomposites was different from that in polypropylene nanocomposites.

Syndiotactic polystyrene/thermoplastic polyurethane blends using poly(styrene-b-4-vinylpyridine) diblock copolymer as a compatibilizer

The effect of adding diblock copolymer poly(styrene-b-4-vinylpyridine) (P(S-b-4VPy), to immiscible blends of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) on the morphology, thermal transition, crystalline structure, and rheological and mechanical properties of the blends has been investigated. The diblock copolymer was synthesized by sequential anionic copolymerization and was melt-blended with sPS and TPU. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the added block copolymer reduced the domain size of the dispersed phase in the blends. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) revealed that the extent of compatibility between sPS and TPU affected the crystallization of the sPS in the blends. Tensile strength and elongation at break increased, while the dynamic modulus and complex viscosity decreased with the amount of P(S-b-4VPy) in the blend. The compatibilizing effect of the diblock copolymer is the result of its location at the interface between the sPS and the TPU phases and penetration of the blocks into the: corresponding phases, i.e. the polystyrene block enters the noncrystalline regions of the sPS, and the poly(4-vinylpyridine) block interacts with TPU through intermolecular hydrogen bonding. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

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.

Rotational moulding of thermoplastic polyester urethanes

Various grades of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) supplied by Bayer were studied to determine their suitability for the rotational moulding process. Following grinding, parts were produced using a variety of peak internal air temperatures and cooling rates. The tensile and impact properties of these parts were then analysed and it was found that both the grade and moulding conditions had a large bearing on the quality and mechanical strength of the part produced.

Scanning Electron Microscopy Studies on Tear and Wear Failure of Short Kevlar Fiber-Thermoplastic- Polyurethane Composite

Tear and wear properties of short kevlar fiber, thermoplastic polcurethane (TPU) composite with respect to fiber loading-and fiber onentation has been studied and the fracture surfaces were examined under scanning electron microscope (SEM). Tear strength first decreased up to 20 phr fiber loading and then gradually increased with increasing fiber loading. Anisotropy in tear strength was evident beyond a fiber loading of 20 phr. Tear fracture surface of unfilled TPU showed sinusoidal folding characteristics of high strength matrix. At low fiber loading the tear failure was mainly due to fibermatrix failure whereas at higher fiber loading the failure occurred by fiber breakage. Abrasion loss shows a continuous rise with increasing fiber loading, the loss in the transverse orientation of fibers being higher than that in the longitudinal orientation. The abraded surface showed lone cracks and ridges parallel to the direction of abrasion indicating an abrasive wear mechanism. In the presence of fber the abrasion loss was mainly due to fiber low.