Octene Elastomer Research Articles

Dielectric Breakdown Strength of Polypropylene Blended with Ethylene Octene Elastomers

Polymer blends have become a major focus of research in exploring the potential for new dielectric material applications, particularly in the insulation of high voltage systems. In the current research area, polypropylene (PP) is being investigated as an insulation material for high voltage alternating current and direct current power cables. However, PP must be treated with rubbery materials such as elastomers to lessen its overall stiffness for power cable extrusion. While various promising results have been published on the potential use of PP/elastomer blends as dielectric materials, the dielectric effects of adding ethylene octene elastomer to PP have been less explored. This paper discusses the alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) breakdown strength of PP that contains different amounts of ethylene octene elastomer (10, 30, and 50 wt%). The addition of ethylene octene elastomer to PP affects the breakdown performance of the blend systems under both AC and DC fields. Significantly, an increase in elastomer contents results in a notable reduction in the AC and DC breakdown strength. A discussion is presented on the mechanisms underlying the change in the breakdown strength caused by the different amounts of ethylene octene elastomer blended with PP.

Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of High Melt Flow Polypropylene & Ethylene - Octene Copolymer Blends

In this current study, we have investigated and compared the improvement on the mechanical properties of high melt flow polypropylene copolymer (PPCP1) and ethylene-based α-olefin elastomer i.e. Polyolefin elastomer by incorporating intermediate melt flow index polypropylene copolymer (PPCP2IF) and changing the composition of ethylene octene impact modifier (E.O1 & E.O1/ E.O2/ HDPE) while keeping the matrix copolymer (PPCP1) as such. This paper reports the experimental issues associated with data measurement, and a procedure for determining properties by modeling and extrapolation is proposed. Impact modifiers explored are olefinic copolymers i.e. ethylene - octene elastomer having different melt flow index of, 5 gm/10 min (EO1) and ethylene - octene elastomer of 0.5 gm/10 min (EO2). The inclusive performance of high melt flow polypropylene (PPCP1) - EO1 & high melt flow polypropylene (PPCP1) - (E.O1/ E.O2/ HDPE) blends are compared in terms of various mechanical and rheological properties by varying intermediate M.F.I. PPCP (PPCP2IF) content from 0% - 20%. Results shows that at low PPCP2IF content (<10%), the intensification in impact strength is insignificant while extra high toughness observed in the range of 10% - 20 % PPCP2IF when added to PPCP1 & E.O1/ E.O2/ HDPE system . Presence of HDPE plays a huge role in preventing coalescence of the rubber particles leading to better and finer dispersion of the rubber particles. Our research will give a new combination of PPCP and POE blends for perfect balance of toughness and stiffness which is a very essential requirement for automotive TPO application

Fabrication strategy for long‐chain branched polypropylene foams with high resilience and compressive strength

AbstractA flexible and controllable is proposed for fabricating long‐chain branched polypropylene (LCBPP) foams with high resilience and strength. LCBPP was blended with thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE) using polyethylene octene elastomer grafted glycidyl methacrylate (POE‐g‐GMA) as a compatibilizer at different mass ratios, and the blends were then used to prepare foams at different temperatures by the supercritical CO2 batch foaming method. The foams were then tested for their compressive permanent strain and compressive strength. The results showed that introducing TPEE and POE‐g‐GMA increased the resilience. In particular, the permanent strain of the LCBPP/TPEE/POE‐g‐GMA foam at a ratio of 90/10/7 decreased from an initial 14.5% for the original LCBPP foam to 5% after five compression cycles. However, the compressive strength decreased from 65.59 to 39.82 kPa. Therefore, the foam density (ρ) and cell size (d) were adjusted to balance the resilience and strength. Increasing ρ/d from 0.32 to 3.10 increased the compressive strength significantly from 39.82 to 91.67 kPa while the permanent strain only increased 3.5%. Thus, the proposed strategy realized LCBPP foams with high resilience and compressive strength.

Preparation and characterization of wood-plastic composite by utilizing a hybrid compatibilizer system

The challenge to improve the interface in wood-plastic composite (WPC) has continued to remain a major setback in the field of wood technology. In this work, a novel hybrid compatibilizer system was developed. Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) waste and low-density polyethylene were used as a reinforcing lignocellulosic material and matrix, respectively. Maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene octene elastomer (MPOE), octadecyl organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) and their combinations were used as compatibilizers. The as-produced composites were characterized for their mechanical and physical properties using the SEM, FTIR, and mechanical testing. The result shows a significant increase in tensile strength of about 41.46 % when a mixture of MPOE and OMMT were used as compatibilizers. Moreover, the addition of MPOE led to the improvement of the impact strength by 26.89 %. Thus, the utilization of both compatibilizers offers an efficient route to improve the interaction and mechanical properties of WPC.

Strategy for the preparation of lightweight polypropylene/polyethylene‐octene elastomer composite foams with different phase morphologies using supercritical carbon dioxide

ABSTRACTPolypropylene (PP)/polyethylene‐octene elastomer (POE) composites with a “sea‐island” structure and a cocontinuous structure were prepared. With the selection of a suitable foaming temperature, the supercritical carbon dioxide foaming of PP/POE composites with different phase morphologies occurred only in the POE phase. The effects of the POE content, foaming temperature, pressure, and number of layers on the cell size, cell density, apparent density, foaming layer density, and foaming ratio under different phase morphologies were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic thermomechanical analysis. This article provides a novel approach for foaming PP at a low temperature. For PP/POE‐blended composites with a “sea‐island” structure, the foaming temperature is as low as 80 °C, and for PP/POE alternating multilayered composites with a cocontinuous structure, foaming can occur at 40 °C. Compared with the conventional methods for foaming PP, this method avoids the problems of a high foaming temperature, a narrow range of the foaming temperature, and a low melt strength of the PP. Thus, the PP foaming method was successfully improved, yielding a new technique for the preparation of lightweight PP. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48157.

Understanding the effect of silane crosslinking reaction on the properties of PP/POE blends

The effect of silane crosslinking reaction on properties and structure of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene–octene elastomer (POE) blends had been carried out. FTIR and gel content tests confirmed the grafting and crosslinking reaction mechanism of PP/POE blends. The incorporation of POE phase enhanced the crosslinking degree and thermal stability of blends. Crystallinity of silane-crosslinked PP/POE blends decreased sharply, and the melting points change a little with the POE content increasing. The rheological curves of silane-crosslinked PP/POE blends showed an obvious “gel point”, corresponding to the dynamic crosslinking network. Solvent resistance tests suggested crosslinking had a great improvement of solvent resistance. The blends with 30% POE had good comprehensive mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy images exhibited that crosslinking had a great influence on the morphologies of silane-crosslinked PP/POE blends. Characterization results indicated the “gel point” acquired from rheology had some corresponding relationship with mechanical properties and solvent resistance.

Synthesis of a novel reactive compatibilizer with large surface area and the application in monomer casting nylon/polyethylene–octene elastomer blends

Graphene oxide (GO) can be used as surfactants in numerous technological fields. For this study, functionalized GO was used as a novel reactive compatibilizer with large surface area to compatibilize immiscible polymer blends. The compatibilizer is composed of three parts with non-polar polymer chain, polar segment and GO sheet, which appears to be of more practical significance and can greatly expand the compatibilizing range. Monomer casting nylon (MC nylon)/polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) was chosen as the immiscible polymer pairs to investigate the compatibility and comprehensive properties of the compatibilizer. With the incorporation of the novel reactive compatibilizer (GO-TEPAF-POE), the immiscible blends exhibited better compatibility and the dispersion of the minor phase (POE) is remarkably improved without obvious agglomerates. Moreover, GO-TEPAF-POE also acts as multifunctional fillers for MC nylon/POE blends, thus enhancing their mechanical properties and thermal stability. In particular, the notched impact strength values sharply increase by 84 % as opposed to the neat MC nylon. The novel compatibilizer with large surface area may broaden its potential application and fully exploits the extraordinary properties of these appealing carbon nanomaterials.

A noble additive cum compatibilizer for dispersion of nanoclay into ethylene octene elastomer

This paper introduces a poly(ethylene-co-octene)-poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) double network hybrid as a noble additive cum compatibilizer for poly(ethylene-co-octene) (POE). The addition of only 0.5 mass% of the hybrid into POE has raised the net crystallinity from 29% to 59% and consequently improved both static (tensile strength, modulus and elongation at break) and dynamic (stress relaxation and hysteresis) properties of the virgin POE. As compatibilizer for organically modified montmorillonite (OMt) most of the properties further improved at a minimal loading of both OMt (0.5–1.0mass%) and compatibilizer (1–2mass%) owing to the establishment of a dominant intercalated structure. Although the die swell is slightly increased in the presence of both double network hybrid and OMt, the extruded profiles exhibit remarkable improvement in appearance compared to the virgin POE.

Wood-Plastic Composites Prepared by Waste Polypropylene and Toughening

The feasibility of wood-plastic composite (WPC) and efficiency of impact strength improvement by toughening agents were discussed using waste polypropylene (PP) from e-wastes as experimental materials. The researching results indicated that it could be used in manufacturing wood-plastic composite while the impact strength of waste PP decreased by 47.3% comparing with new PP. Adding polyethylene octene elastomer (POE) and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) could effectively enhance the impact strength of WPC. When adding 15% of POE and SBS individually, the impact strength increased by 113.2% and 43.4%. The modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) lowered when toughening agents were added, which should be made into consideration in practical application according to the property of materials comprehensively.

Rheological and morphological behaviors of polyamide 6/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene/nanoclay nanocomposites

In this study, the effect of nanoclay on the rheological and morphological properties of polyamide 6 (PA6)/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) blends was investigated. The scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that with increment in the nanoclay content, the dispersed phase droplets size and their polydispersity index decreased, and the finer and more uniform dispersed phase was obtained. The transmission electron microscopy micrographs of nanocomposites indicated well-dispersed nanoclay tactoids in the polymer matrix produced by exfoliation of the nanoclay in the polymeric blends. Dynamic strain sweep experiments showed that the extent of the linear viscoelastic region is sensitive to the nanoclay content and compatibilizer. With increasing nanoclay content in the blend, the extent of the linear viscoelastic region decreased. On the other hand, the rheological measurements revealed that the nanoclay content has a significant effect on the moduli and complex viscosity of the blends. These results have indicated that with increasing nanoclay content the storage modulus ( G′), loss modulus ( G′′) and complex viscosity ( η*) increased. In addition, the results of creep experiments revealed that with the addition of compatibilizer (polyethylene octene elastomer grafted with maleic anhydride) and nanoclay to PA6/ABS blends, creep and recovery strain, over time, decreased remarkably and the recovery percentage increased. It was concluded that there is a good conformity between the results obtained from morphological and rheological investigations.

Deformation reversibility enhancement of thermoplastic vulcanizates based on high density polyethylene and ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) based on high density polyethylene (HDPE)/ethylene–propylene diene copolymer (EPDM) blends with different compositions of polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) were prepared by dynamic vulcanization, the effects of the POE incorporation on deformation reversibility enhancement, mechanical, dynamic mechanical and morphological properties of the TPVs were investigated systematically. Characterization via FE-SEM confirms the tearing strips on the fracture surface of HDPE/EPDM TPVs were formed by the residual plastic deformation of HDPE lamellae crystals, which also resulted in the relatively high permanent deformation of TPVs. The elasticity of TPV matrix was improved greatly by the incorporation of POE and the tension set was decreased obviously. RPA results show that the increasing frequency led to the increased elastic modulus while the incorporation of POE in matrix led to the decreased elastic modulus. The tan δ decreased continuously with the increasing frequency and the incorporation of POE had a non-ignorable influence on the tan δ of HDPE/EPDM TPVs.

Modeling the mechanical and thermal expansion behavior of TPO-based nanocomposites

The modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of polypropylene-based nanocomposites and blends were predicted using various composite theories and compared to experimental results. The Mori–Tanaka and Chow model predictions best match the previously reported experimental trends, though the Chow model underestimates the CTE in the normal direction (ND). Of the various ternary-phase approaches used to predict the modulus and CTE of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) nanocomposites, a multiplicative approach wherein the contribution of the clay is calculated first and the nanocomposite is then considered to be the matrix for the elastomer blend best matches the experimental trends. The models better capture the effects of the MMT than those of the ethylene–octene elastomer, EOR. A different model predicting the effect of the MMT tactoids on the experimental TPO gives rather good quantitative agreement between the predicted and experimental values of modulus and CTE for TPO nanocomposites.

Dynamically vulcanized blends of polyethylene–octene elastomer and ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) based on polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE)/ethylene–propylene diene copolymer (EPDM) blends were prepared by dynamic vulcanization, the effects of the EPDM incorporation on mechanical, dynamic mechanical and morphological properties of the TPVs were investigated systemically. Experimental results indicate that compared with pure POE, the improvement of mechanical properties of POE/EPDM blends was achieved; the tensile strength and tearing strength reached the maximum at an EPDM content of 20 wt.%. It is interesting to note that the tensile set at break was decreased almost linearly with increasing EPDM loading, decreasing from 190% (at 0 phr EPDM) to 55% (at 30 wt.% EPDM), indicating the relatively large permanent deformation of POE is improved remarkably by the incorporation with EPDM. Phase contrast microscopy studies show that the vulcanized EPDM particles were uniformly dispersed in the POE matrix. RPA results show that the elastic modulus increased with increasing frequency, moreover, it is noteworthy that the storage modulus of dynamically vulcanized POE/EPDM blends was higher than that of pure POE, however, the storage modulus decreased with increasing EPDM content, the incorporation of EPDM had almost no influence on the tan δ.

Impact fracture behaviour of nylon 6-based ternary nanocomposites

This study focuses on achieving high stiffness/strength and high fracture toughness in nylon 6/organoclay nanocomposites prepared via melt compounding by incorporating a maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE-g-MA) as a toughening agent. Mechanical test results indicated that the ternary nanocomposites exhibited higher stiffness than nylon 6/POE-g-MA binary blends at any given POE-g-MA content. More importantly, the brittle–ductile transition of nylon 6/POE-g-MA blends was not impaired in the presence of organoclay for the compositions prepared in this study. TEM analysis shows that organoclay layers and elastomer particles were dispersed separately in nylon 6 matrix. In the binary nanocomposite, no noticeable plastic deformation was observed around the crack tip. In the ternary nanocomposites, the presence of organoclay in the matrix provided maximum reinforcement to the polymer, while their absence in the elastomer particles allowed the latter to promote high fracture toughness via particle cavitation and subsequent matrix shear yielding. The partially exfoliated clay layers also delaminated and hence, adding to the total toughness of the nanocomposites.

Biodegradation of Polyethylene—Octene Elastomer—Starch Composites in Soil

This study investigated the biodegradation of POE/starch and POE-g-MAH/starch composites in a natural soil environment for 6 months. Nonbiodegradable polyethylene-octene elastomer (POE) and its graft copolymer POE-g-MAH were blended with gelatinized waxy corn starch (GWCS) in different proportions. The weight loss, morphology and mechanical properties of the blend films were measured every month. Pure POE and POE-g-MAH specimens did not lose weight, while tensile strength and elongation at break only slightly changed in the soil, which indicated that pure POE and POE-g-MAH did not degrade in soil. With increasing starch content, the weight loss, tensile strength and elongation at break of POE/starch and POE-g-MAH/starch blend films reduced, as well as with increasing soil burial time, due to the biodegradation of starch. SEM photographs showed more holes and cracks with increasing starch content and burial time. The weight loss of the blends reduced evidently in the first 3 months, but much slower in the latter. Also, POE-g-MAH/starch blends showed better biodegradation than POE/starch blends.

The Relationship Between Rheological Behavior and Toughening Mechanism of Toughened Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)

Mechanical properties, morphology, and rheological behavior of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) with different compatible agents were studied. The results showed that the addition of ethylene-butylacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (PTW) significantly improved the impact-strength property of PET over maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene octene elastomer copolymer (POE-g-MA), whereas silane coupling agent KH570 grafted polyethylene octane elastomer (POE-g-KH570) had no obvious contribution to the toughness of PET. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs indicated that the size of POE-g-MA and PTW particles were smaller that that of POE-g-KH570 and dispersed uniformly due to their interaction with PET. The rheological tests revealed the viscoelastic properties of PET/PTW and PET/POE-g-MA were different from that of PET/POE-g-KH570 ascribed to the high elastic of the compatibilizers and the finely dispersed particle. And it explained that the toughening mechanism of PET toughened system was mostly due to shear yielding.

Preparation of polyethylene–octene elastomer foams by compression molding

AbstractTo produce polyethylene–octene elastomer foams with compression molding, the influences of various activators on the thermal decomposition temperature of the chemical blowing agent azodicarbonamide were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis, which showed that the decomposition temperature of azodicarbonamide could be effectively reduced by the addition of zinc oxide/zinc stearate. The results of a moving die rheometer suggested that the vulcanization and blowing curves were influenced by the content of azodicarbonamide and temperature, and the optimum temperature was about 170°C. The morphology and physical properties of the microcellular polyethylene–octene elastomer were studied. The results indicated that the amount of azodicarbonamide and the processing temperature played important roles in the cell morphology and physical properties of polyethylene–octene elastomer foams. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008

Properties and Structure of Polypropylene/ Polyethylene-Octene Elastomer/Nano CaCO 3 Composites

Polypropylene (PP)-based nanocomposites were developed by the incorporation of a novel nano-sized precipitated calcium carbonate (NPCC) nanoparticles and polyethylene—octene elastomer (POE). The NPCC filler loading selected were 10 and 15wt.% while the POE contents were varied between 0 and 30wt.%. A slight decrease in the tensile strength of the PP nanocomposites was observed with increasing NPCC content. Results of impact strength indicated that the NPCC filler imparted some toughening effects on the PP and PP/POE blends. Maximum impact strength enhancement was achieved for the PP when blended with 30wt.% POE and filled with 15wt.% NPCC. However, the essential property balance between toughness and stiffness was still lacking in the nanocomposites developed. Differential Scanning Calorimeter results showed that NPCC acted as a nucleating agent for PP, increasing the crystallization temperature of PP by approximately 9°C.

Effect of Compatibilizer Type on Properties of 70:30 Polyamide 6/Polypropylene/MMT Nanocomposites

PA6/PP nanocomposites with either polyethylene octene elastomer grafted maleic anhydride (POEgMAH) or PP grafted maleic anhydride (PPgMAH) as compatibilizer were prepared using co-rotating twin-screw extruder followed by injection molding. The mechanical and microstructural properties of the composites were investigated by means of tensile, flexural, and impact testing and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the formation of nanocomposites. The result indicated that the miscibility of PA6/PP nanocomposites was improved with the addition of POEgMAH and PPgMAH. The impact strength of PA6/PP nanocomposite with POEgMAH increased about 5 times higher than uncompatibilized composite. Increment in tensile properties was observed when PPgMAH was used as compatibilizer. XRD results revealed that PA6/PP nanocomposites were successfully formed. Uniform dispersion of PP in matrix were observed through SEM, which showed the improvement of the compatibility between polymers.

Chemical modification of metallocene‐based polyethylene–octene elastomer through solution grafting of acrylic acid and its effect on the physico‐mechanical properties

AbstractIn the present work, the metallocene‐based polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) was chemically modified by solution grafting of acrylic acid in presence of benzoyl peroxide. The relative proportions of graft and gel formation were optimized through %weight gain, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The gel formation in the POE matrix was found to be the prime competitor. The effect of grafting at its maximum level on various physicomechanical properties was thoroughly investigated, using X‐ray diffraction analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and thermogravimetric analysis. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007