Effect of composition and comonomer type on the rheology, morphology and properties of ethylene-α-olefin copolymer/polypropylene blends

Effect of Recycling on the Mechanical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Polypropylene/Carbon Nanotube Composites

In this research the effect of physical recycling on the mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of polypropylene (PP)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was investigated. After melt homogenization by extrusion, specimens were injection moulded with 0.1 and 0.5 wt% MWCNT content. The recycling process was simulated by multiple grinding and re-moulding, then we compared the behavior of original and recycled PP/MWCNT composites. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements proved that MWCNT had double the effect on the morphology of the PP matrix: on the one hand nucleating effect can be detected because 0.5 wt% MWCNT increased the onset temperature of crystallization by 10 °C, compared to the basic PP material; on the other hand, the crystalline fraction of the recycled composite materials decreased compared to the original PP material with the same MWCNT content. This resulted in a slight decrease in strength and stiffness but an increase in elongation at break. However, compared to the original unreinforced PP reference, even the recycled materials have better properties. The mechanical test results showed that recycled PP/MWCNT 0.5 wt% increased the elastic modulus (~15%) and decreased the tensile strain at yield (~10%). However, in the values of tensile stress at yield, relevant difference was not found. It was also shown by oscillatory rheometry that MWCNT had a significant effect on the rheological properties (storage and loss modulus, complex viscosity) of PP compounds in a wide temperature range (190-230 °C).

Metallocene Polyolefins Reinforced by Low-Entanglement UHMWPE through Interfacial Entanglements

By introducing low-entanglement UHMWPE, the mechanical properties of polyolefins are improved to varying degrees. For polypropylene, the lack of interaction between UHMWPE and polypropylene results in an unsatisfactory reinforcement effect, and the disentangled state makes it easier for the particles to form defects driven by a chain explosion. In contrast, regarding polyethylene and elastomer containing ethylene segments, low-entanglement UHMWPE plays a better role in reinforcement. A series of measurements including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), rheological measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical measurement were used to investigate the mechanisms for the different enhancement effects. It originates from interdiffusion and entanglement forming of polyethylene segments across the interface, endowing the material with different aggregated and defect structures. For instance, EPDM possesses a higher optimal dosage of UHMWPE particles reflected in good interfacial interdiffusion with UHMWPE particles, leading to significant optimized mechanical performance.

Current Developments in Native Nanometric Discoidal Membrane Bilayer Formed by Amphipathic Polymers

Unlike cytosolic proteins, membrane proteins (MPs) are embedded within the plasma membrane and the lipid bilayer of intracellular organelles. MPs serve in various cellular processes and account for over 65% of the current drug targets. The development of membrane mimetic systems such as bicelles, short synthetic polymers or amphipols, and membrane scaffold proteins (MSP)-based nanodiscs has facilitated the accommodation of synthetic lipids to stabilize MPs, yet the preparation of these membrane mimetics remains detergent-dependent. Bio-inspired synthetic polymers present an invaluable tool for excision and liberation of superstructures of MPs and their surrounding annular lipid bilayer in the nanometric discoidal assemblies. In this article, we discuss the significance of self-assembling process in design of biomimetic systems, review development of multiple series of amphipathic polymers and the significance of these polymeric "belts" in biomedical research in particular in unraveling the structures, dynamics and functions of several high-value membrane protein targets.

Morphology in Multilayer Blown Films of Polypropylene and Ethylene-Octene Copolymer Blends

In this work the microstructure of multilayer blown films consisting of a core layer placed between two external ones is studied. The core layer is a blend with 70 ° (w/w) of a homopolypropylene PP and 30 ° of a metallocene-catalyzed ethylene-octene copolymer mEOC (LLDPE or VLDPE), whereas the external symmetrical layers are composed of LLDPE or they have the same composition as the core layer. The PP and PE crystalline phases formed during the film blowing were investigated by thermal analysis, mechanical properties, TEM morphology and X-ray diffraction pole figures. These films successfully combine the high mechanical strength of PP with the quasi-isotropic behavior of blown PE. Multilayer film containing PP/mEOC blends, particularly blends of PP70/LLDPE30, show better balanced tensile properties when compared at crossed directions. The presence of VLDPE in the blends shifts downwards the melting and crystallization temperatures and crystallinity of PP. X-Ray pole figures suggest the occurrence of epitaxial crystallization of the PE phase upon the PP crystals in these PP/mEOC blend films.

Isothermal and Non-Isothermal Crystallization Studies of Long Chain Branched Polypropylene Containing Poly(ethylene-co-octene) under Quiescent and Shear Conditions

Isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization behaviours of the blends of long chain branched polypropylene (LCB PP) and poly(ethylene-co-octene) (PEOc) with different weight ratios were studied under quiescent and shear flow using polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and rheological measurements. Experimental results showed that the crystallization of the LCB PP/PEOc blends were significantly accelerated due to the existence of the long chain branches (LCBs), the blends being able to rapidly crystallize even at 146 °C. The addition of PEOc that acts as a nucleating agent, could also increase the crystallization rate of LCB PP. However, the crystallization rate of LCB PP was reduced when the PEOc concentration was more than 60 wt %, showing a retarded crystallization growth mechanism. The morphology of the binary blend was changed from a sea-island structure to a co-continuous phase structure when the PEOc concentration was increased from 40 to 60 wt %. In comparison with linear isotactic iPP/PEOc, the interfacial tension between LCB PP and PEOc was increased. In addition, flow-induced crystallization of LCB PP/PEOc blends was observed. Possible crystallization mechanisms for both LCB PP/PEOc and iPP/PEOc blends were proposed.

Study on non-isothermal crystallization behavior of isotactic polypropylene/bacterial cellulose composites

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has great potential to be used as a new filler in reinforced isotactic polypropylene (iPP) due to its characteristics of high crystallinity, biodegradability and efficient mechanical properties.

Preparation of Esterified Bacterial Cellulose for Improved Mechanical Properties and the Microstructure of Isotactic Polypropylene/Bacterial Cellulose Composites

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has great potential to be used as a new filler to reinforce isotactic polypropylene (iPP) due to its high crystallinity, biodegradability, and efficient mechanical properties. In this study, esterification was used to modify BC, which improved the surface compatibility of the iPP and BC. The results indicated that the cellulose octoate (CO) changed the surface properties from hydrophilic to lipophilic. Compared to the pure iPP, the tensile strength, charpy notched impact strength, and tensile modulus of the iPP/BC composites increased by 9.9%, 7.77%, and 15.64%, respectively. However, the addition of CO reinforced the iPP/CO composites. The tensile strength, charpy notched impact strength, and tensile modulus of the iPP/CO composites increased by 14.23%, 14.08%, and 17.82% compared to the pure iPP. However, the elongation at break of both the composites is decreased. The SEM photographs and particle size distribution of the composites showed improvements when the change of polarity of the BC surface, interface compatibility, and dispersion of iPP improved.

Influence of the HDPE molecular weight and content on the morphology and properties of the impact polypropylene copolymer/HDPE blends

The properties of the polyolefins blends depend not only on composition but also on morphology.

Selective dispersion of carbon fillers into dynamically vulcanized rubber/plastic blends: a thermodynamic approach to evaluate polymer reinforcement and conductivity enhancement

Phase selective and thermodynamically controlled dispersion of filler particles into the dynamically vulcanized rubber/plastic blends depicting higher abundance of carbon black in the thermoplastic phase with the progressive filler addition.

High Shear Processing of (PP/EPR)/Silica Nanocomposites: Improvement of Morphology and Properties

The aim of this article is to upgrade the performance of polypropylene/ethylene propylene rubber (PP/EPR) blends by addition of hydrophobic nanosilica (SiR805) and using “high shear processing technology”. The morphological developments, mechanical and rheological properties of these composites were investigated as a function of processing conditions. High shear processing has proved to be an efficient process to decrease the size of the dispersed phase (EPR) up to 300 nm and to disperse finely nanosilica particles to less than 30 nm especially at 800 min−1. Moreover, the morphology stability of the nanocomposite is ascribed to the formation of a core shell structure (EPR nodules = core; nano-silica = shell) and selective location of nanosilica at the interface. More importantly, this core-shell structure is favoured to enhance the impact strength of the (PP/EPR)/3 wt% SiR805 nanocomposite. In agreement to the obtained morphology, the improvement (about 60 %) of elongation at break attests a good adhesion between phases due to high shear effect as highlighted by viscoelastic properties. Therefore, high shear processing technology has proved to be a relevant method to prepare nanocomposites with high performances without adding any additive and offers new perspectives for recycling and lightening structures.

Propriedades mecânicas e morfologia de blendas de polipropileno com Tpes

Blendas de polipropileno e elastômeros termoplásticos (TPEs), estireno-b-butadieno-b-estireno (SBS) e estireno-b-etileno-co-butileno-b-estireno(SEBS) foram preparadas com o objetivo de avaliar a influência do tipo e da concentração do elastômero nas propriedades mecânicas e na morfologia das blendas. Foram utilizados dois tipos de polipropileno, um homopolímero de propileno (PP-H) e um copolímero randômico de propileno-etileno (PP-R), sendo avaliado também o efeito das características da matriz termoplástica. O elastômero termoplástico aumentou a resistência ao impacto do PP, e a variação da rigidez das blendas foi dependente somente da quantidade de TPE adicionada, sendo estas comparativamente mais rígidas que aquelas com igual teor de elastômero convencional, tipo EPDM e EPR. A blenda com melhor balanço rigidez-impacto foi aquela de PP-R com 10% de SEBS. As blendas do copolímero de propileno-etileno com os TPEs apresentaram maior deformação do que aquelas com o homopolímero, devido à natureza menos cristalina da matriz do copolímero de propileno. As blendas tanto do homo quanto do copolímero de propileno com SEBS ficaram mais homogêneas em função da maior afinidade do bloco central poliolefínico EB (etileno-co-butileno) do primeiro com a região amorfa da matriz, sendo esta mais significativa no PP-R.