A review of small molecule diffusion in polyolefins

All-atom molecular dynamics simulation of solvent diffusion in an unentangled polystyrene film

The diffusion behavior of low molecular weight solvents within an unentangled polystyrene film below and above its glass transition temperature is investigated. The diffusion behavior in the glassy state exhibits a distinct behavior known as case II or class II diffusion, noticeably diverging from conventional Fickian diffusion observed above the glass transition temperature of the polymer film. In the context of case II diffusion, the primary experimental observation entails the emergence of a well-defined concentration front moving at a constant speed, delineating a swollen, rubbery region from a glassy region within the polymer system. Despite the prevalence of this phenomenon in experimental settings, simulating case II diffusion has posed a significant challenge, primarily due to the computationally intensive nature of the diffusion process. To address this, we have developed an all-atom molecular dynamics simulation approach for the observation of case II diffusion in glassy polymers. This method aims to unravel the intricacies of the diffusion process, providing valuable insights into the dynamic interactions between solvents and the polymer matrix.

Diffusion Coefficients of Variable-Size Amphiphilic Additives in a Glass-Forming Polyethylene Matrix

Diffusion of additives in polymers is an important issue in the plastics industry since migratory-type molecules are widely used to tune the properties of polymeric composites. Predicting the diffusional behavior of new additives can minimize the need for repetitive experiments. This work presents molecular dynamics simulations at the microsecond time scale and uses the MARTINI force field to estimate self-diffusion coefficients, D, of six monounsaturated amides and their analogs carboxylic acids in polyethylene matrices (PE, MW = 5600 Da). The results are strongly influenced by the glass-forming properties of the PE matrix, which we characterize by three distinct temperatures. The metastability region (T < 325 K), the glass transition temperature (Tg = 256-260 K), and the end of the transition (T ≅ 200 K). Self-diffusion mechanisms are inferred from the results of the dependence of D on the molecular mass of the additive, observing a Rouse-like behavior at high temperatures and deviations from it within the metastability region of the matrix. Interestingly, D values are nonsensitive to the nature of the considered polar head for additives of similar size. The temperature-dependent behavior of D follows, at fixed additive size, a linear Arrhenius pattern at high temperatures and a super Arrhenius trend at lower temperatures, which is well represented with a power law equation as predicted by the Mode Coupling Theory (MCT). We offer a conceptual explanation for the observed super-Arrhenius behavior. This explanation draws on Truhlar and Kohen's interpretation of the available energies at both the initial and the transition states along the diffusion pathway. The matrix's mobility significantly affects solute self-diffusion, yielding equal activation enthalpies for the Arrhenius region or the same power law parameters for the super-Arrhenius regime. Finally, we establish a one-to-one time-equivalence of the self-diffusion processes between CG and all-atom systems for the largest additives and the PE matrix in the high-temperature regime.

Determination of Initial and Long-Term Microstructure Changes in Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene Induced by Drawing Neat and Pyrenyl Modified Films

Deformation processes in gel-crystallized ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) films with draw ratios (DR) as high as 96 have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). In addition, low concentrations of pyrene molecules have been introduced at the time of film preparation from the gels or afterward by sorption after film preparation, and the polarization of their electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra at different draw ratios has been measured over a large temperature range extending to below the glass transition. The pyrene-doped films have been irradiated to introduce covalently attached 1-pyrenyl groups, and these films at two draw ratios have been employed to investigate over large temperature ranges (1) the steady-state fluorescence intensity and (2) the rates of diffusion of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA). These data have been correlated with the XRD, DSC, and PALS information obtained on the unmodified films. On the basis of analyses of this body of information, a novel deformation model that explains the decreased crystallinity and increased mean free volumes in gel-crystallized UHMWPE at low draw ratios is proposed. It involves "stretch" and "flip" motions of microfibrils present in the undrawn films. The high crystallinity content and stiffer chains due to drawing UHMWPE films result in weak alpha- and beta-relaxation processes, slower diffusion of DMA than in undrawn films, and orientation factors for doped pyrene molecules that are constant over a large temperature range. The overall picture that emerges allows several aspects of the morphology of UHMWPE, a polymer of fundamental importance in materials research, to be understood.

Acid-base and surface energy characterization of grafted polyethylene using inverse gas chromatography

For a specific design of interfaces, i.e. in composites and blends, it is essential to know the surface thermodynamics of the components. Polyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride and maleic anhydride-styrene mixtures, respectively, was the component of interest of our investigations. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) at infinite dilution was shown to be an appropriate method to evaluate the dispersive and acid-base surface characteristics although there is an influence of bulk absorption and morphology when performing IGC above the glass transition temperature of the polymer.