Good Balance Of Properties Research Articles

Transport and time dependent small angle X-ray morphology in metal cation and polymer modified perfluorocarbon ionomers

Transport and absorption in metal cation exchanged and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) modified Nafion® films were studied by various techniques. To understand the microscopic basis for permeation, time resolved small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to characterize the ionic domain morphology while films were exposed to vapors of water, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), or triethyl phosphate. Macroscopic weight uptake studies of DMMP vapor into PVP-Nafion® were also used to help explain the SAXS absorption studies and DMMP permeation properties. The SAXS results were correlated with macroscopic permeation rates of DMMP, Soman, and water through several different membranes. To provide additional basis for the SAXS derived morphologies, tapping-mode AFM was also used to image the 3–5 nm diameter ionic domains. A goal for protective suit applications is to find films with a balance of high moisture permeation rate for comfort, and low DMMP permeation. The best balance of properties in this context was found with PVP- and zirconyl-modified films. In another extreme, the permeation rates of both water and DMMP through cesium-modified Nafion® were low. SAXS studies were used to explain this where the ionic domains of cesium-modified Nafion® did not “expand” when exposed to DMMP or water vapor. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 284–298, 2009

Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Abrasive Wear Behaviour of Si‐Mn‐Cr‐B Cast Steel as a Function of Carbon Concentration

The microstructures, mechanical properties and abrasive wear behaviour of five kinds of Si‐Mn‐Cr‐B cast steels were studied. The steels investigated contained X wt.% C with X= 0.15, 0.25, 0.35, 0.45, 0.55, 2.5 wt.% Si, 2.5 wt.% Mn, 0.5 wt.% Cr, 0.004 wt.%B . The results showed that the Ac1temperatures increased and Ac3 and Ms temperatures decreased with increasing carbon concentration. From the continuous cooling transformation (CCT) curves, it was discovered that the incubation period of pearlitic transformation was prolonged and the transformation curves of pearlite and bainite were separated significantly with rising carbon concentration. At lower carbon concentration, the normalized structure of Si‐Mn‐Cr‐B cast steel consisted mainly of granular bainite and M‐A islands. The normalized microstructures of the cast steel changed from granular bainite gradually to needle‐like bainite, upper bainite, and lower bainite with rising carbon concentration. The tensile strength and hardness of Si‐Mn‐Cr‐B cast steel increased and impact and fracture toughness decreased with increasing carbon content. The wear testing results showed that the wear resistance of Si‐Mn‐Cr‐B cast steel improved with higher carbon content but was obviously unchanged beyond the carbon concentration of 0.45%. The best balance of properties of Si‐Mn‐Cr‐B cast steel is obtained at the carbon concentration range of 0.35 ‐ 0.45%C.

An investigation on the rheology, morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of recycled poly (ethylene terephthalate) reinforced with modified short glass fibers

AbstractThis work was done with the aim to solve an important environmental issue regarding poly (ethylene terephthalate), (PET) wastes. Samples of recycled PET (r‐PET) were reinforced with 10 to 30 wt% modified short glass fibers (SGF) through a melt mixing process in an internal mixer and their performance were assessed and compared with those of commercial glass reinforced PET through investigation of their rheology, morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties. It was found that the mechanical properties of the glass reinforced r‐PET composites in most cases were comparable or even higher than those of the commercial grades. The impact strength of the 30 wt% SGF filled r‐PET composite was about 30% higher than the commercial grades. This led to a conclusion that the PET wastes can be successfully converted to easily moldable thermoplastic materials by incorporation of 30 wt% SGF having a good balance of properties. Through investigation of rheological and morphological properties the optimum conditions for the best reinforcement performance were determined. The r‐PET with 30 wt% glass fiber content showed the highest level of orientation and improved interaction with the r‐PET matrix while having an acceptable flow behavior and processability. In spite of significant fiber breakage during the melt mixing process, leading to about 20 times reduction in the fiber aspect ratio, the composites maintained their good mechanical properties and showed a shear thinning behavior at high shear rates. The incorporated glass fibers acted as nucleating agents and improved the crystallization rate of r‐PET leading to an overall increase in the crystallinity. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers

The influence of post-ECAP annealing on the properties of ultrafine-grained 5005 aluminum alloy sheet

Abstract Equal Channel Angular Pressing is a well-known method of severe plastic deformation used to obtain ultrafine grained materials with significantly improved mechanical properties. To the present, Equal Channel Angular Pressing has essentially been restricted to the treatment of bulk billets of square or circular cross-section of limited size. A machine developed at Monash University allows the Equal Channel Angular Pressing of sheet material. In the present work, improvement in biaxial formability, associated textures and mechanical properties after one Equal Channel Angular Pressing pass followed by annealing for aluminium alloy 5005 were investigated. An optimal annealing treatment to obtain a good balance of properties was defined.

Cross-Linking of Hot-Melt-Processible Acrylic Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives using Acid/Base Interaction

Hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) advantageously reduce or eliminate the use of organic solvents. To provide for easy processing and good coating quality, hot-melt PSAs typically are relatively low in molecular weight, but this can compromise cohesive strength. Physical cross-linking and ionic cross-linking provide thermoreversible methods to increase cohesive strength. This study focuses on the use of acid/base interaction between two polymers as a possible route toward hot melt coatable acrylate PSAs. Adhesive performance and rheological data suggest that a good balance of properties can be obtained while maintaining melt processibility. The rheological data also clearly demonstrate that the strength of the acid/base interaction and the structure of the base have a significant effect on the final properties of the adhesive.

Water absorption characteristics of hybrid materials incorporating tetrabutyl titanate with acrylic polymer via sol-gel process

The sol–gel process was used to prepare organic/inorganic hybrids utilizing a terpolymer of n-butyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, and methacrylic acid as an organic phase and titanium tetrabutoxide as a precursor of the inorganic phase. Such hybrid materials may be of interest as primers for corrosion protection of metal substrates. In the absence of electrochemical influence, which is usually provided by anticorrosive pigments in current protective coatings, the barrier mechanism becomes one of the basic elements for protecting metals against atmospheric corrosion. In that context, we report the water uptake characteristics of hybrid films with titania content up to 16.3 wt %. The slow hydrolysis of butoxy, acetate, and carboxylate ligands, which becomes more and more obvious with an increase in titanium oxide cluster content, is found to produce a chemically driven force for water uptake in hybrids. The 4.6 wt % TiO2 hybrid results in the best balance of properties with a far lower diffusion coefficient and nearly the same amount of water absorbed at saturation compared to the polymer matrix. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 92–102, 2005

アルミナ水和物を配合したゴムの補強効果と難燃特性

Etylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) filled with mixtures of aluminium hydrate, carbon black and silica were evaluated. The aluminium hydroxides used were gibbsite (Al(OH)3) and boehmite (AlO(OH)). Silane treated boehmite was also evaluated. Mechanical and flame retardancy tests were carried out in order to find the relative amounts of fillers which would give the best balance of properties. A composite consisting of 100phr of gibbsite and 50phr of silane-treated boehmite showed the best balance between flame resistance and mechanical properties.

SYNTHESIS OF UNSATURATED POLYESTER RESIN—EFFECT OF CHOICE OF REACTANTS AND THEIR RELATIVE PROPORTIONS

Unsaturated polyesters are synthesized in the laboratory by the condensation of saturated and unsaturated anhydrides with glycols. The condensate obtained is mixed with styrene monomer to get an unsaturated polyester resin formulation. The properties of the polyester resin synthesized are affected by the synthesis parameters. In this study, the parameters investigated are the effect of choice of reactants and their relative proportions. Properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation-at-break, toughness, impact strength, surface hardness, abrasion resistance, and water absorption were tested after curing the resin. Various combinations of (a) maleic anhydride and phthalic anhydride, (b) propylene glycol and ethylene glycol, and (c) propylene glycol and diethylene glycol were used to investigate the effect on the properties of the synthesized resin. The combinations of the anhydrides and glycols that give optimum properties are identified. The results show that most of the properties are maximum at 60% maleic anhydride composition in a mixture of maleic anhydride and phthalic anhydride. Similarly, a better balance of properties is obtained when propylene glycol is mixed with 30% ethylene glycol or 20% diethylene glycol.

Properties of silica/clay filled heavy‐duty truck tire thread formulation

AbstractA tire thread formulation for heavy‐duty trucks containing SBR/BR rubber blend and varying proportions of silica/clay fillers including a silane‐coupling agent have been investigated. The various mixes were compounded in a Banbury ‘O’ mixer and vulcanized using the EV‐system. Silica/clay (80/0) served as the control mix. The oscillating disc rheometer (ODR) was used in determination of cure characteristics. Substitution of silica (80 phr) with china clay up to 40 phr increased the cure rate of the rubber blend mixes as well as their maximum torque level (Tmax). Tmax was observed to be highest at a filler blend ratio of 40/40 phr. Synergism between silica and clay at this filler blend mixture is suggested to be responsible for the observation. The heat buildup was reduced from 43 to 20°C as the clay content increased. Results also showed that the rubber blend compound containing silica/clay (60/20) filler blend in the stated ratio exhibited the best balance of properties in the critical parameters such as the absolute torque level (69.5 dNm), heat buildup (39°C), and abrasion resistance (0.574 mg.loss/1,000 rev). The rate of depreciation of abrasion resistance of rubber blend compound as the clay content increased was found to be 0.035 mg loss/1,000 rev as silica is substituted with one part of china clay phr. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 1024–1028, 2004

Fibers and 3D mesh scaffolds from biodegradable starch-based blends: production and characterization.

The aim of this work is the production of fibers from biodegradable polymers to obtain 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering of hard tissues. The scaffolds required for this highly demanding application need to have, as well as the biological and mechanical characteristics, a high degree of porosity with suitable dimensions for cell seeding and proliferation. Furthermore, the open cell porosity should have adequate interconnectivity for a continuous flow of nutrients and outflow of cell metabolic residues as well as to allow cell growth into confluent layers. Blends of corn starch, a natural biodegradable polymer, with other synthetic polymers (poly(ethylene vinyl alcohol), poly(epsilon-caprolactone), poly(lactic acid)) were selected for this work because of their good balance of properties, namely biocompatibility, processability and mechanical properties. Melt spinning was used to produce fibers from all the blends and 3D meshes from one of the starch-poly(lactic acid) blends. The experimental characterization included the evaluation of the tensile mechanical properties and thermal properties of the fibers and the compression stiffness, porosity and degradation behavior of the 3D meshes. Light microscopy picture of 3D meshes.

Processing and Alloy Development to Optimise the Properties and Cost-Effectiveness of Components Manufactured from TiAl-Based Alloys

The IRC has carried out a major research programme over the last ten or so years aimed at developing the processing and optimisation of TiAl-based alloys. This work has covered melting, the production of shaped castings, powder processing and a range of thermomechanical processing routes in parallel with alloy development. In this paper the work aimed at understanding the factors that influence the properties of thermo-mechanically processed and cast samples of TiAl-based alloys will be reviewed. It is shown that the use of boron to control the grain size of castings leads to limited ductility in the stronger and more highly alloyed TiAl alloys because ribbon-like borides up to 200µm in length can be formed. It is also shown that although a fully lamellar microstructure offers a good balance of properties their plastic anisotropy leads to pre-yield fracture and to reduced fatigue life. It is clear that grain size control is essential if an acceptable balance of properties is to be obtained but that if casting is to be used grain refinement via boron addition is not totally satisfactory. A simple heat treatment can be used to refine the microstructure of cast boron-free alloys, which leads to ductility comparable with that in wrought samples and the associated convoluted microstructure should also eliminate pre-yield cracking.

Cure characteristics and mechanical properties of short nylon fiber‐reinforced nitrile rubber composites

AbstractAcrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)‐based composites were prepared by incorporating short nylon fibers of different lengths and concentration into the matrix using a two‐roll mixing mill according to a base formulation. The curing characteristics of the samples were studied. The influence of fiber length, loading, and rubber crosslinking systems on the properties of the composites was analyzed. Surface morphology of the composites has been studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Addition of nylon fiber to NBR offers good reinforcement, and causes improvement in mechanical properties. A fiber length of 6 mm was found to be optimum for the best balance of properties. It has been found that at higher fiber loadings, composites show brittle‐type behavior. Composites vulcanized by the dicumyl peroxide (DCP) system were found to have better mechanical properties than that by the sulfur system. The swelling behavior of the composites in N,N‐dimethyl formamide has been analyzed for the swelling coefficient values. Composites vulcanized in the DCP system were found to have higher rubber volume fraction than that in the sulfur system, which indicates better rubber–fiber interaction in the former. The crosslink densities of various composites were also compared. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1023–1030, 2004

Processability, morphology and mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced poly(ether sulfone) modified by a liquid crystalline copolyester

AbstractTernary composites based on glass fiber reinforced polyethersulfone (gPES) modified by a liquid crystalline copolyester (R5) were obtained by injection molding at different nozzle temperatures and at LCP contents up to 20%. The blends showed two pure amorphous phases. The ability of R5 to improve processing was seen mainly in the increase in the MFI of the blends on 5% LCP addition, which was more than 75% and 16% with respect to that of pure gPES and PES, respectively. The best processing temperature appeared to be 330°C, as it led to the maximum skin fibrillation and provided both the best small strain and fracture mechanical properties. The blend processed at 330°C with 5% R5 showed the best balance of properties because, besides the highest relative processability increase, it led to maximum values in all mechanical properties measured. This was due to both the overall fibrillation of the skin and to its having the highest ductility.

Influence of properties and morphology of elastomeric phase on the behavior of ternary reactive blends of polyamide 6/rigid polymer/elastomer

AbstractA ternary blend of the PA6 matrix with a finely dispersed rigid polymer and elastomer is a system with well‐balanced mechanical properties. Its micromechanical behavior, especially that of the elastomer phase, apparently differs from corresponding binary mixtures. This study shows the influence of the elastomer type, modulus, and reactivity on the behavior of ternary blends in comparison with analogous binary PA6/elastomer combinations. The presence of rigid reactive poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) (SMA) enhanced the properties of all the systems studied. For nonreactive elastomers, the dominant effect was refinement of their size due to enhanced viscosity, whereas for functionalized low‐modulus elastomers, the very good balance of properties was due to synergistic influences of both finely dispersed phases. Of interest is the enhanced toughness of ternary blends also for more rigid elastomers having a low toughening efficiency in binary blends. An appropriate addition of rigid SMA together with an elastomer enhances the energy absorption of the matrix, probably without cavitation of very small elastomer particles. Of importance also is the simultaneous strain‐hardening effect of deformed rigid particles. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3647–3651, 2003

Synthesis and Characterization of Gd(1−x)SrxCo(1−y)FeyO(3−Δ) as a Cathode Material for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

ABSTRACTGd(1−x)SrxCoO(3−Δ) (GSC) is a promising cathode material system for use in IT-SOFCs due to its high catalytic activity for oxygen reduction and appreciable conductivity. However, it has a high thermal expansion coefficient that is unmatched to the common IT-SOFC electrolyte material, Ce0.8Gd0.2O(2−Δ) (CGO). Gd0.8Sr0.2CoO(3−Δ) (GS20C) was determined to provide the best balance of properties as a base composition in the GSC system for further study. GS20C exhibited electrical conductivity of 400 S cm−1 at 600°C and a linear thermal expansion coefficient of 23 ppm/°C. Manipulation of the Co-site in GS20C by Fe substitution to form Gd(0.8)Sr(0.2)Co(1−y)FeyO(3−Δ) (GS20CFY, Y= 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 atomic%) resulted in a dramatic decrease in the thermal expansion coefficient to a level close to that of the electrolyte (∼13 ppm/°C). However, the decrease in thermal expansion was accompanied by a large decrease in the conductivity as the iron content was increased in the system (to ∼10 S cm−1). Alternatively, formation of GS20C/CGO composite cathodes resulted in thermal matching with the electrolyte material up to the IT-SOFC operating temperature of approximately 600°C with the maintenance of high electrical conductivity. Composite GS20C/CGO cathodes may reduce the problems associated with poor GSC thermal matching to the electrolyte without compromising other important cathodic properties.

Blending elastomeric nanoparticles with PP provides good balance of properties

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) filled powder styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) composites were prepared by spray drying of the suspension of CNTs in SBR latex. The powder was spherical like and uniform with an average diameter of less than 10 μm. The dispersion of CNTs in the rubber matrix was improved remarkably compared with that in the rubber composites obtained by the conventional mechanical mixing method. Further study about the effect of CNTs on the prepared SBR composites was performed by analyzing the vulcanization process of the SBR powder, thermal and mechanical properties of the vulcanized SBR composites. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis indicated that the glass transition temperatures of SBR composites increased with the increasing ratio of CNTs. The vulcanization process showed that CNTs could decelerate the vulcanization of the SBR composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that the storage modulus of the composites was improved with the CNTs additions, especially when the CNTs addition exceeded 30 phr. Compared with pure SBR composites, the hardness, tensile and tear strengths of the composites filled with 60 phr CNTs enhanced 73.9%, 327.7% and 191.1%, respectively, which should be ascribed to the excellent mechanical properties of CNTs and uniform dispersion of CNTs in the rubber matrix.

Viscoelasticity and tack of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)–poly(ethylene glycol) blends

AbstractThe adhesive properties of blends of high molecular weight poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were systematically investigated with a probe test and correlated with their viscoelastic properties. The material parameters that were varied were the PEG content (31–41 wt %) and the hydration rate. The 36% PEG showed the best balance of properties for a pressure‐sensitive adhesive. At low debonding rates, the debonding took place through the formation of a fibrillar structure, whereas at high debonding rates, the debonding was brittle. This transition was attributed to the breakage and reformation of hydrogen bonds between PVP units and OH groups on PEG during the large strain of the polymer chains in elongation. This transition was observed, albeit shifted in frequency, for all three compositions, and the characteristic relaxation times of the hydrogen‐bonded network were estimated. A comparison between the tack properties of the adhesives and their linear viscoelastic properties showed a very strong decoupling between the small‐strain and large‐strain properties of the adhesive, which was indicative of a pronounced deviation from rubber elasticity in the behavior of the blends. This deviation, also seen during tensile tests, was attributed to the peculiar phase behavior of the blends. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 2395–2409, 2002

Mechanical and Flammability Properties of ATH-Filled EPDM Compositions

Poly(ethylene-co-propylene-co-diene) (EPDM) compositions filled with mixtures of aluminium hydroxide (ATH) and carbon black (HAF) were evaluated for electrical applications. Mechanical and flammability tests were carried out in order to find out the relative amounts of the two fillers which would give the best balance of properties, mainly to meet the Brazilian Society for Technical Standards-ABNT. For good flame resistance, amounts as high as 160 phr ATH, at least, must be used.

Polyester/lignosulfonate blends, 2. Accelerated aging behavior

The behavior of the poly[(ethylene terephthalate)-co-(ethylene isophthalate)] copolymer/epoxy-modified lignosulfonate (LER) blends has been studied during aging, in the conditions of sewage sludge test. The bulk and surface properties of the aged blends have been followed by electron microscopy, DSC, TG/DTG, IR spectroscopy and contact angle measurements, and compared with undegraded samples. It has been established that the UV-irradiated blends undergo more important changes in their properties after aging than the unirradiated samples. The physical treatment and increase of LER content in the blend could be a way to obtain materials with a good balance of properties and environmental degradation.

Polyester/lignosulfonate blends, 2. Accelerated aging behavior

The behavior of the poly[(ethylene terephthalate)-co-(ethylene isophthalate)] copolymer/epoxy-modified lignosulfonate (LER) blends has been studied during aging, in the conditions of sewage sludge test. The bulk and surface properties of the aged blends have been followed by electron microscopy, DSC, TG/DTG, IR spectroscopy and contact angle measurements, and compared with undegraded samples. It has been established that the UV-irradiated blends undergo more important changes in their properties after aging than the unirradiated samples. The physical treatment and increase of LER content in the blend could be a way to obtain materials with a good balance of properties and environmental degradation.