Microhardness relating to crystalline polymers

Antimicrobial Activity and Crystallization Features in Bio-Based Composites of PLLA and MCM-41 Particles Either Pristine or Functionalized with Confined Ag Nanowires

Composites based on an L-rich poly(lactic acid) (PLLA) and MCM-41, either neat or modified with a silver (MCM-41@Ag), are achieved by solvent casting, being next processed by compression molding. Ag is mainly embedded as nanowires within the hybrid MCM-41@Ag particles, enabling its antimicrobial character. In these composites, the PLLA thermal stability, nucleation efficiency, and mechanical response are dependent on the MCM-41 nature and, to a lesser extent, on its content. Thus, differences in transitions of the PLLA matrix are noticed during cooling at 10 °C/min and in the subsequent heating when composites with neat or modified MCM-41 are compared. A very remarkable nucleation effect is played by pristine MCM-41, being inferior when MCM-41@Ag is incorporated into the PLLA. Wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) measurements using synchrotron radiation and performed under variable-temperature conditions in the composites containing MCM-41@Ag indicate that during cold crystallization, the disordered α' polymorph is initially formed, but it rapidly transforms into ordered α crystals. A long spacing peak, clearly seen in pure PLLA, appears as a small shoulder in PLLAMCM@Ag4 and is undetectable in PLLAMCM@Ag9 and PLLAMCM@Ag20. Furthermore, an increase in MH with the silica content is found in the two sets of composites, the higher MH values being observed in the family of PLLA and MCM-41@Ag. Finally, remarkable antimicrobial features are noticeable in the composites with MCM-41@Ag since this modified silica transfers its biocidal characteristics into the PLLA composites.

Effect of Graphene Nanofibers on the Morphological, Structural, Thermal, Phase Transitions and Mechanical Characteristics in Metallocene iPP Based Nanocomposites

Several nanocomposites were prepared by extrusion from a commercial metallocene-type isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and different amounts of two types of graphene (G) nanofibers: ones with a high specific surface, named GHS, and the others with a low specific surface, labeled as GLS. The number of graphene layers was found to be around eight for GLS and about five in the GHS. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the resultant iPP nanocomposites showed a better homogeneity in the dispersion of the GLS nanofibers within the polymeric matrix compared with the distribution observed for the GHS ones. Crystallinity in the nanocomposites turned out to be dependent upon graphene content and upon thermal treatment applied during film preparation, the effect of the nature of the nanofiber being negligible. Graphene exerted a noticeable nucleating effect in the iPP crystallization. Furthermore, thermal stability was enlarged, shifting to higher temperatures, with increasing nanofiber amount. The mechanical response changed significantly with nanofiber type, along with its content, together with the thermal treatment applied to the nanocomposites. Features of nanofiber surface played a key role in the ultimate properties related to superficial and bulk stiffness.

On the Application of Vickers Micro Hardness Testing to Isotactic Polypropylene

Hardness is a useful measure of a material’s resistance to permanent indentation; but for viscoelastic polymers, hardness data are highly dependent on the test type and the parameter set chosen. Vickers microhardness testing is used to leave small indents (<150 µm) and is shown to be applicable to polymers. A detailed investigation of the required steps for microhardness testing in isotactic polypropylene (iPP) is provided. Samples should be mounted in epoxy resin in order to maintain curing temperatures at room temperature. Mounted samples can be ground and polished in a semi-automatic polisher using graduated SiC paper (wet grinding) but progressing onto alumina suspension for polishing. Final polishing should be performed with 0.05-µm alumina suspension. The hardness measured was shown to be dependent on load and dwell time with a much greater dependency on dwell time. Strain recovery was shown to be completed after a time period equal to the dwell time. This study shows that indents can be measured thereafter, and it is recommended that they be measured within a 24 h period after the indent was created. After data fitting, the equation for hardness was shown to follow a power law with load and dwell time as the main variables. Fitting parameters were compared to those found in the literature, and it was found that parameters were significantly different to those reported elsewhere. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of calibrating on a case-by-case basis. Finally, to show the usefulness of the Vickers micro-hardness testing method, the calibrated test method was applied on iPP with additions of carbon black up to 3 wt.%. Comparisons were made with data from the literature, but the hardness data generated in our work were found to be at least twice that reported in the literature. The testing parameters were not cited in the literature: specifically, the dwell time was not provided, and this generated doubt on the usefulness of the cited data. Hence, this work is intended to serve as an exemplar of how to prepare and proceed with hardness testing of polymers.

Influence of Content in D Isomer and Incorporation of SBA-15 Silica on the Crystallization Ability and Mechanical Properties in PLLA Based Materials

Two L-rich polylactides (PLLA) with distinct contents in D isomer and their composites with an intermediate amount of mesoporous Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15) (about 9 wt.%) particles were attained by melt extrusion for the evaluation of the effect of content in D isomer and incorporation of mesoporous silica on the structural PLLA features and on their ultimate mechanical performance. For that, samples have been crystallized under dynamic and isothermal tests (from the melt and from the glassy states). The results from DSC and X-ray diffraction show obtainment of the pure α’ and α modifications at different intervals of crystallization temperature depending on the D steroisomer amount of the PLLA used. Furthermore, several phase transitions are observed depending on the crystallinity reached and the polymorphs developed during the isothermal crystallization from the glass: an additional cold crystallization, the α’/α transformation and the subsequent melting process, appearing all of them at temperatures clearly dependent on the D content. Rigidity, measured through microhardness in amorphous samples, is also affected by the D isomer and the presence of SBA-15 particles. Reinforcement effect of mesoporous silica is relatively more important in the matrix with the highest D content.

Processes for coating surfaces with a copolymer made from sulfur and dicyclopentadiene

A copolymer made from sulfur and dicyclopentadiene was useful as a mercury sorbent, and also as a protective and repairable coating.

Composites of a Polypropylene Random Copolymer and Date Stone Flour: Crystalline Details and Mechanical Response

Several composites were prepared based on a polypropylene random copolymer (PPR) and different amounts of date stone flour (DSF). This cellulosic fiber was silanized beforehand in order to reduce its hydrophilicity and improve the interfacial adhesion with the polymer. Other composites were also obtained, including a sorbitol derivative as an effective nucleant. Films made from these composites were prepared using two different thermal treatments, involving slow crystallization and rapid cooling from the melt. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the morphological features and the DSF particle dispersion within the PPR matrix. X-ray diffraction experiments and differential scanning calorimetry tests were employed to assess the crystalline characteristics and for the phase transitions, paying especial attention to the effects of the DSF and nucleating agent on PPR crystallization. An important nucleation ability was found for DSF, and evidently for the sorbitol derivative. The peak crystallization temperature upon cooling was considerably increased by the incorporation of either the nucleant or DSF. Additionally, a much higher proportion of orthorhombic crystals developed in relation to the monoclinic ones. Moreover, the mechanical responses were estimated from the microhardness experiments and significant improvements were found with increasing DSF contents. All of these findings indicate that the use of silanized DSF is a fairly good approach for the preparation of polymeric eco-composites, taking advantage of the widespread availability of this lignocellulosic material, which is otherwise wasted.

Macro-, Micro- and Nanomechanical Characterization of Crosslinked Polymers with Very Broad Range of Mechanical Properties

This work is focused on the comparison of macro-, micro- and nanomechanical properties of a series of eleven highly homogeneous and chemically very similar polymer networks, consisting of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A cured with diamine terminated polypropylene oxide. The main objective was to correlate the mechanical properties at multiple length scales, while using very well-defined polymeric materials. By means of synthesis parameters, the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the polymer networks was deliberately varied in a broad range and, as a result, the samples changed their mechanical behavior from very hard and stiff (elastic moduli 4 GPa), through semi-hard and ductile, to very soft and elastic (elastic moduli 0.006 GPa). The mechanical properties were characterized in macroscale (dynamic mechanical analysis; DMA), microscale (quasi-static microindentation hardness testing; MHI) and nanoscale (quasi-static and dynamic nanoindentation hardness testing; NHI). The stiffness-related properties (i.e., storage moduli, indentation moduli and indentation hardness at all length scales) showed strong and statistically significant mutual correlations (all Pearson′s correlation coefficients r > 0.9 and corresponding p-values < 0.001). Moreover, the relations among the stiffness-related properties were approximately linear, in agreement with the theoretical prediction. The viscosity-related properties (i.e., loss moduli, damping factors, indentation creep and elastic work of indentation at all length scales) reflected the stiff-ductile-elastic transitions. The fact that the macro-, micro- and nanomechanical properties exhibited the same trends and similar values indicated that not only dynamic, but also quasi-static indentation can be employed as an alternative to well-established DMA characterization of polymer networks.

Composites Based on Poly(Lactic Acid) (PLA) and SBA-15: Effect of Mesoporous Silica on Thermal Stability and on Isothermal Crystallization from Either Glass or Molten State

Several composites based on an L-rich poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with different contents of mesoporous Santa Barbara Amorphous (SBA-15) silica were prepared in order to evaluate the effect of the mesoporous silica on the resultant PLA materials by examining morphological aspects, changes in PLA phases and their transitions, and, primarily, the influence on some final properties. Melt extrusion was chosen for the obtainment of the composites, followed by quenching from the melt to prepare films. Completely amorphous samples were then attained, as deduced from X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results demonstrated that the presence of SBA-15 particles in the PLA matrix did not exert any significant influence on the thermal decomposition of these composites. An important nucleation effect of the silica was found in PLA, especially under isothermal crystallization either from the melt or from its glassy state. As expected, isothermal crystallization from the glass was considerably faster than from the molten state, and these high differences were also responsible for a more considerable nucleating role of SBA-15 when crystallizing from the melt. It is remarkable that the PLA under analysis showed very close temperatures for cold crystallization and its subsequent melting. Moreover, the type of developed polymorphs did not accomplish the common rules previously described in the literature. Thus, all the isothermal experiments led to exclusive formation of the α modification, and the observation of the α’ crystals required the annealing for long times at temperatures below 80 °C, as ascertained by both DSC and X-ray diffraction experiments. Finally, microhardness (MH) measurements indicated a competition between the PLA physical aging and the silica reinforcement effect in the as-processed amorphous films. Physical aging in the neat PLA was much more important than in the PLA matrix that constituted the composites. Accordingly, the MH trend with SBA-15 content was strongly dependent on aging times.

Effect of the Thermal History of the Melt on the Degradation of the Surface Mechanical Properties of Poly(aryl-ether-ether-ketone) as Measured by Microindentation

In this study, the effect of the thermal history of the melt on the morphology and the mechanical properties of the surface of crystallized poly(aryl-ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) films was followed by density measurements, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and microindentation. The study has shown a decrease in microhardness of the polymer surface as the temperature at which the polymer is kept in the molten state increases and as the time spent in the molten state becomes longer. The study suggests that keeping PEEK for long periods of time in the molten state, in the presence of oxygen, results in chemical changes (presumably crosslinking involving oxygen atoms) which are responsible for drastic changes in the morphological characteristics of the samples and consequently on the mechanical properties of the surface of the solidified material. Above 400 °C, in air, a total change in surface morphology takes place and the mechanical properties of the surface are degraded. The study also suggests that the negative effects of degradation can be avoided to a large extent if the samples are melted at temperatures below 385 °C for short periods of time and kept from oxygen exposure.

Epoxidized soybean oil/ZnO biocomposites for soft tissue applications: preparation and characterization

Biocompatible and biodegradable nanocomposites comprising epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) as matrix, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles as reinforcements, and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) as a catalyst have been successfully prepared via epoxidization of the double bonds of the vegetable oil, ultrasonication, and curing without the need for interfacial modifiers. Their morphology, water uptake, thermal, mechanical, barrier, tribological, and antibacterial properties have been investigated. FT-IR analysis revealed the existence of strong ESO-ZnO hydrogen-bonding interactions. The nanoparticles acted as mass transport barriers, hindering the diffusion of volatiles generated during the decomposition process and leading to higher thermal stability, and also reduced the water absorption and gas permeability of the bioresin. Significant improvements in the static and dynamic mechanical properties, such as storage and Young's moduli, tensile strength, toughness, hardness, glass transition, and heat distortion temperature, were attained on reinforcement. A small drop in the nanocomposite stiffness and strength was found after exposure to several cycles of steam sterilization or to simulated body fluid (SBF) at physiological temperature. Extraordinary reductions in the coefficient of friction and wear rate were detected under both dry and SBF conditions, confirming the potential of these nanoparticles for improving the tribological performance of ESO. The nanocomposites displayed antimicrobial action against human pathogen bacteria with and without UV illumination, which increased progressively with the ZnO content. These sustainable, ecofriendly, and low-cost biomaterials are very promising for use in biomedical applications, like structural tissue engineering scaffolds.

Synthesis, growth, optical, mechanical, dielectric and thermal properties of 4-chloro-4'-chlorobenzylidene aniline single crystal

The organic material 4-chloro-4'-chlorobenzylidene aniline (CCBA) was synthesized and confirmed by NMR and FTIR spectral analyses. CCBA crystal was grown from chloroform by slow evaporation at room temperature and the single crystal cell parameters were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction method. The perfection of the grown crystal was analyzed by high resolution X-ray diffraction rocking curve analysis. Fluorescence spectrum indicated violet emission at 428 nm. The range of optical absorbance was ascertained by recording UV-vis-NIR spectrum. Load dependant microhardness measurements on this crystal revealed the mechanical behavior of the material. Stiffness constant, Meyer index and yield strength of CCBA crystal were calculated. Dielectric studies were carried out to estimate the dielectric parameters of the grown crystal in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 100 kHz. The thermal behavior of CCBA was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and no phase transition was identified in the temperature region 30-100°C. Further, the CCBA crystal was subjected to open aperture Z-scan studies in order to investigate the third order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of CCBA crystal.

Hard Coatings for Polymer Films by Biomimetic in situ Precipitation

Hard siliceous coatings on polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) surfaces have been prepared upon hydrolyzing a tetraisocyanatosilane permeant present in biaxially oriented PET film samples. The structure of these films differs from commercial PET film materials in that silica is present both as a surface layer and as discrete submicron particles dispersed throughout the films. In order to accomplish this, it was found that suitable silica precursors should be chemically compatible with the polymer and have calculated Hildebrand solubility parameter values similar to that for PET.