Polyethylene-octene Elastomer Research Articles

Toughening wood/polypropylene composites with polyethylene octene elastomer (POE)

Polyethylene octene elastomer (POE) as impact modifier was incorporated into wood/polypropylene composites (WPC) to enhance the impact strength of the composite. Two extruding routes, i.e. direct extruding route and two-stage extruding route, were adopted to produce Wood Powder/PP/POE ternary composites. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) properties of the composites were investigated. The results showed that the addition of POE can increase the impact strength of the composites, and the composites produced via two-stage extruding route showed superior mechanical properties. The results of the DMA confirmed the mechanical tests.

Performance evaluation of silane crosslinking of metallocene‐based polyethylene–octene elastomer

AbstractVinyl trimethoxysilane (VTMS) was grafted onto metallocene‐based polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) using a free‐radical reaction of VTMS and dicumyl peroxide as an initiator, and then the grafted POE was crosslinked in the presence of water. The effects of VTMS concentration on crystallization behavior, mechanical properties, and thermal properties of POE before and after crosslinking were studied in this article. Multiple melting behaviors were found for POE after silane crosslinking by using DSC measurement. Degree of crystallization of silane‐crosslinked POE decreases from 18.0 to 14.3%, with increase of VTMS from 0 to 2.0 phr. Tensile strength of silane‐crosslinked POE reaches a maximum of 28.4 MPa when concentration of VTMS is 1.5 phr, while elongation at break is 487%. TG shows that the temperature of 10% weight loss for pure POE is 405°C, while for crosslinked POE with addition of 2.0 phr VTMS the value comes to 452°C, indicating that crosslinking significantly help improve the thermal stability of POE. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5057–5061, 2006

Maleic Anhydride Polyethylene Octene Elastomer Toughened Polyamide 6/Polypropylene Nanocomposites: Mechanical and Morphological Properties

AbstractA series of polyamide 6/polypropylene (PA6/PP) blends and nanocomposites containing 4 wt% of organophilic modified montmorillonite (MMT) were designed and prepared by melt compounding followed by injection molding. Maleic anhydride polyethylene octene elastomer (POEgMAH) was used as impact modifier as well as compatibilizer in the blend system. Three weight ratios of PA6/PP blends were prepared i.e. 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40. The mechanical properties of PA6/PP blends and nanocomposite were studied through flexural and impact properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the microstructure. The incorporation of 10 wt% POEgMAH into PA6/PP blends significantly increased the toughness with a corresponding reduction in strength and stiffness. However, on further addition of 4 wt% organoclay, the strength and modulus increased but with a sacrifice in impact strength. It was also found that the mechanical properties are a function of blend ratio with 70:30 PA6/PP having the highest impact strength, both for blends and nanocomposites. The morphological study revealed that within the blend ratio studied, the higher the PA6 content, the finer were the POEgMAH particles.

Mechanical behaviour and fracture toughness evaluation of rubber toughened polypropylene nanocomposites

Rubber toughened polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites (RTPPNC) containing organophilic layered silicates were prepared by means of melt extrusion at 230°C using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder in order to examine the influence of the organoclay and polyethylene octene (POE) as filler and impact modifier, respectively, on mechanical and fracture properties. The mechanical properties of RTPPNC were studied through tensile, flexural and impact tests. The strength and stiffness of RTPPNC were improved significantly with an increase in the clay content, in the presence of maleic anhydride modified PP (PPgMAH). From the tensile and flexural tests, the optimum loading of organoclay in impact modified PP was found to be 6 wt-%. Conversely, the stiffness and strength of the blends decreased with respect to pure PP as the concentration of POE in the blends was increased. The essential work of fracture (EWF) method was also used to evaluate the fracture toughness of the RTPPNC. EWF measurements indicated that the specific essential work of fracture (we) decreased with an increase in the organoclay content. However, additions of POE elastomer are beneficial in enhancing the we of the PP blends. we appeared to increase with increasing POE content up to 20 wt-%.

Rubber‐toughened polypropylene nanocomposite: Effect of polyethylene octene copolymer on mechanical properties and phase morphology

AbstractRubber‐toughened polypropylene (PP)/org‐Montmorillonite (org‐MMT) nanocomposite with polyethylene octene (POE) copolymer were compounded in a twin‐screw extruder at 230°C and injection‐molded. The POE used had 25 wt % 1‐octene content and the weight fraction of POE in the blend was varied in the range of 0–20 wt %. X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD) revealed that an intercalation org‐MMT silicate layer structure was formed in rubber‐toughened polypropylene nanocomposites (RTPPNC). Izod impact measurements indicated that the addition of POE led to a significant improvement in the impact strength of the RTPPNC, from 6.2 kJ/m2 in untoughened PP nanocomposites to 17.8 kJ/m2 in RTPPNC containing 20 wt % POE. This shows that the POE elastomer was very effective in converting brittle PP nanocomposites into tough nanocomposites. However, the Young's modulus, tensile strength, flexural modulus, and flexural strength of the blends decreased with respect to the PP nanocomposites, as the weight fraction of POE was increased to 20 wt %. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for the investigation of the phase morphology and rubber particles size. SEM study revealed a two‐phase morphology where POE, as droplets was dispersed finely and uniformly in the PP matrix. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 3441–3450, 2006

The Effect of Polyethylene-Octene Elastomer on the Morphological and Mechanical Properties of Polyamide 6/Polypropylene Nanocomposites

Rubber-toughened nanocomposites (RTNC) consisting of ternary blends of polyamide 6 (PA6), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene-octene elastomer (POE) containing 4 wt% of organophilic modified montmorillonite were produced by melt compounding followed by injection moulding. The blend composition was kept constant (PA6/PP=70/30 parts by weight) while the POE content was varied between 5 and 20 wt%. Maleated PP (PP-g-MA) was used as compatibilizer. The morphology of the RTNC was studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mechanical properties of RTNC were studied through tensile, flexural, Izod impact and fracture toughness properties. While the tensile and flexural properties were found to decrease with the increasing concentration of POE, the toughness was significantly enhanced as compared to the neat PA6/PP blends. In general, the blends containing 10-15 wt% of POE had the best balance of stiffness, strength and toughness. The addition of 30 wt% of PP in the PA6 matrix improved the compatibility between PA6 and the rubber phase. XRD established that the organoclay was well dispersed (exfoliated) and preferentially embedded in the PA6 phase.

Compatibilization of Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Polypropylene Blends with Maleic Anhydride Grafted Polyethylene-Octene Elastomer

Blends of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and polypropylene (PP) at composition 80/20 with and without a compatibilizing agent were studied. Both materials are widely used in the soft drink bottle industry. The compatibilizing agent was a maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene-octene elastomer (POE-g-MA). The olefinic segment of POE is compatible with PP, whereas the maleic anhydride is affined with PET carbonyl groups. The effectiveness of the compatibilizing agent was evaluated using different techniques, such as Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, mechanical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, and rheological analysis. The results show that the addition of POE-g-MA promotes a fine dispersed-phase morphology, and improves process ability and toughness of these blends. Shifts in the glass-transition temperature of the PET phase and the increase in the melt viscosity of the compatibilized blends indicated enhanced interactions between the discrete PET and PP phases induced by the functional compatibilizer.

Impact-Modified Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Polyethylene-Octene Elastomer Blends

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is a low cost, high performance thermoplastics. However, its shortcoming is that it has poor impact-strength properties. High-impact strength PET was prepared using polyethylene-octene elastomer (POE) grafted with a toughener, maleic anhydride. The effect of the maleate compatibilizer on the interfacial adhesion and impact-strength properties of PET/POE blends was investigated through impact testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, and rheological behavior analysis. The results showed that unmodified POE has hardly any contribution to the toughness of PET, whereas maleic anhydride-grafted POE (POE-g-MA) significantly improves the compatibility of POE and PET. The size of POE-g-MA particles in the PET matrix were sharply reduced due to interaction between POE-g-MA and PET during melt processing.

Novel intercalated nanocomposites of polypropylene/organic‐rectorite/polyethylene‐octene elastomer: Rheology, crystallization kinetics, and thermal properties

AbstractThe melt blending method was applied to prepare ternary composites of polypropylene (PP)/organic‐rectorite (OREC)/polyethylene‐octene elastomer (POE) at constant content of 2 phr (parts per hundred PP) of OREC and 5, 10, 15 phr of POE (named PRE25, PRE210, and PRE215, separately) via twin‐screw extruder. At the same time the binary composites of OREC/PP at 2 phr loading of OREC, named PR2 were prepared in order to investigate effects of OREC and POE on rheology and crystallization properties of composites. The rheology was characterized on capillary rheometer, nonisothermal crystallization kinetics on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermal stability properties on thermogravimetric analysis (TG). It is found that melting PR2 and PRE systems conform to the law of Non‐Newton and shear‐thinning behavior is observed for both systems. The apparent viscosity of the melt decreases with the increase of POE loadings. The crystallization halftime (t1/2) of PRE is shorter, the rate constant Zc larger, which indicates OREC and POE has the heterogeneous nucleation effect and the crystallization rate of PP was increased. The enthalpy of PRE is lower than that of PR2 and pure PP at the same conditions, which shows that the relative crystallinity of PRE composites are reduced. TG curves show that the ternary systems have higher thermal stability in contrast with pure PP. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1915–1921, 2005

Synthesis and characterization of polyethylene‐octene elastomer/clay/biodegradable starch nanocomposites

AbstractThe aim of this work is the production of new nanocomposites from metallocene polyethylene‐octene elastomer (POE), montmorillonite and biodegradable starch by means of a melt blending method. Characterizations of clay, modified clay, POE, POE‐g‐AA, and the hybrids produced from polymer, clay, and/or starch were performed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry analyzer (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Instron mechanical tester. As to the results, organophilic clay can be well dispersed into acrylic acid grafted polyethylene‐octene elastomer (POE‐g‐AA) in nanoscale sizes since cetyl pyridium chloride is partially compatible with POE‐g‐AA and allows POE‐g‐AA chains to intercalate into clay layers. Based on consideration of thermal and mechanical properties, it is also found that 12 wt % of clay content is optimal for preparation of POE‐g‐AA/clay nanocomposites. The new partly biodegradable POE‐g‐AA/clay/starch hybrid could obviously improve the elongation and the tensile strength at break of the POE‐g‐AA/starch hybrid since the former can give the smaller starch phase size and nanoscale dispersion of silicate layers in the polymer matrix. The nanocomposites produced from our laboratory can provide a stable tensile strength at break when the starch content is up to 40 wt %. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 397–404, 2005

Synthesis of polyethylene‐octene elastomer/SiO2‐TiO2 nanocomposites via in situ polymerization: Properties and characterization of the hybrid

AbstractIn this study, a silicic acid and tetra isopropyl ortho titanate ceramic precursor and a metallocene polyethylene‐octene elastomer (POE) or acrylic acid grafted metallocene polyethylene‐octene elastomer (POE‐g‐AA) were used in the preparation of hybrids (POE/SiO2TiO2 and POE‐g‐AA/SiO2TiO2) using an in situ sol‐gel process, with a view to identifying a hybrid with improved thermal and mechanical properties. Hybrids were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 29Si solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and Instron mechanical testing. Properties of the POE‐g‐AA/SiO2TiO2 hybrid were superior to those of the POE/SiO2TiO2 hybrid. This was because the carboxylic acid groups of acrylic acid acted as coordination sites for the silica‐titania phase to allow the formation of stronger chemical bonds. 29Si solid‐state NMR showed that Si atoms coordinated around SiO4 units were predominantly Q3 and Q4. The 10 wt % SiO2TiO2 hybrids gave the maximum values of tensile strength and glass transition temperature in both POE/SiO2TiO2 and POE‐g‐AA/SiO2TiO2. It is proposed that above this wt %, excess SiO2TiO2 particles caused separation between the organic and inorganic phases. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1690–1701, 2005

Studies on impact‐modified nylon 6/ABS blends

AbstractThe objective of this research is to study the effect of using maleic anhydride‐grafted polyethylene‐octene elastomer (POE‐g‐MA) as a compatibilizer on nylon 6/acrylonitile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) copolymer blends. With POE‐g‐MA, nylon 6/ABS at a blending ratio of 80/20 showed an optimal result in modified impact property. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the particle sizes of ABS in the dispersed phase diminished as the amount of the added compatibilizer (POE‐g‐MA) increased. The compatibilizer reduced the surface tension between nylon 6 and ABS, thus increasing the compatibility of the two phases. Furthermore, studies of the rheological behavior of the system showed that the shear viscosity of nylon 6/ABS blends also increased with the introduction of POE‐g‐MA. Finally, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) experiments showed that adding POE‐g‐MA dramatically improved the impact strength of the blends at room temperature and low temperatures. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:2340–2345, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.

Organic–inorganic polymeric nanocomposites involving novel titanium tetraisopropylate in polyethylene–octene elastomer

AbstractThe new nanocomposites, by means of an in situ sol–gel process consisting of metallocene polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) and titanium tetraisopropylate (TTIP), were investigated. In addition, the acrylic acid grafted POE (POE‐g‐AA) was studied as an alternative to POE. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) spectrometer, an X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), an Instron mechanical tester, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to characterize and examine the samples. The results indicate that the POE‐g‐AA/TiO2 hybrid could have a positive effect on the properties of the POE/TiO2 hybrid because the carboxylic acid groups of acrylic acid should act as coordination sites for the titania phase to form a TiOC chemical bond. The strength of interfacial bonding between the polymer chains and the ceramic phase depended on the amount of TiO2, as shown by the change in glass‐transition temperature (Tg) with TiO2 content. The result of mechanical and thermal tests showed that both the tensile strength and the Tg increased to a maximum value and then decreased with an increasing of TiO2 because excess particles (e.g., greater than 10 wt % TiO2) might cause separation or segregation between the organic and inorganic phases. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4272–4280, 2004

Polypropylene/polyamide 6/polyethylene–octene elastomer blends. Part 2: volume dilatation during plastic deformation under uniaxial tension

Plastic deformation upon stretching was investigated in ternary blends of polypropylene, polyamide 6 and maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene–octene elastomer (PP/PA6/POE). A novel video-controlled tensile testing method was utilized, which allows recording simultaneously axial strain, axial stress and volume strain while axial strain-rate is regulated at a constant value even after necking has begun. Increasing the alloying content modifies drastically the original stress–strain properties of PP: yield softening is suppressed and strain hardening is increased. As for the volume strain, which is representative of the overall cavitation process, it is found to decrease with increasing alloying content (apart from a small increase for low alloying content). This unexpected result indicates that the finely dispersed cavities nucleated under tension at the POE interphase of PA6 particles and at isolated POE particles favor the profuse development of plastic shear bands in the PP matrix. As such, it can be considered as an experimental evidence of the synergistic effect of cavitation and shear banding in a structural polymer.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of polypropylene/polyamide 6/polyethelene-octene elastomer blends

A series of polymer blends were designed and manufactured. They are composed of three phases: polypropylene (PP), polyamide-6 (PA6) and polyethylene-octene elastomer (POE) grafted with maleic anhydride. The weight fraction of PA6 was adjusted from 0 to 40% by increments of 10%, and the weight fraction of POE was systematically half that of PA6. The morphology, essentially made of PA6 particles dispersed in the PP matrix, was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In the extruded plates prepared with the blends, the shape of the dispersed PA6 particles showed an elongated ellipsoidal shape, whose aspect ratio increased somehow with alloying content. The POE modifier was observed both as a thin interlayer (less than 100 nm thickness) at the PP/PA6 interface, and as a few isolated particles. The elastic modulus and yield stress in tension are nearly constant for PP and blends. By contrast, the notched Izod impact strength increases very much with alloying content. This remarkable effect is interpreted in terms of POE interphase cavitation, enhanced plastic shear deformation and resistance of PA6 particles to crack propagation.

Improving polyethylene–octene elastomer/chitosan by graftation of acrylic acid onto polyethylene–octene elastomer—mechanical properties and biodegradability examination and composites characterization

AbstractIn this study, the properties of polyethylene–octene elastomer/chitosan (POE/chitosan) and acrylic acid (AA)‐grafted‐polyethylene–octene elastomer/chitosan (POE‐g‐AA/chitosan) were examined using various characterizing instruments. Mechanical and thermal properties of POE deteriorated noticeably when it was blended with chitosan, due to the unsatisfactory compatibility between the two phases. The greater compatibility of POE‐g‐AA with chitosan, due to the formation of ester carbonyl and imide groups, led to a much better dispersion and homogeneity of chitosan in the POE‐g‐AA matrix and consequently to noticeably better mechanical properties. Furthermore, with a lower melting point temperature, the POE‐g‐AA/chitosan blend was more easily processed than POE/chitosan. POE‐g‐AA/chitosan had a higher water resistance than POE/chitosan. Both blends suffered weight loss when buried in soil, especially at high levels of chitosan substitution, indicating that both were biodegradable. The mechanical properties of both blends, such as tensile strength and elongation at break, also deteriorated after being buried in soil. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3882–3891, 2003

Plastic damage mechanisms of polypropylene/polyamide 6/polyethelene-octene elastomer blends under cyclic tension

A series of three-phase polymer blends, composed of polypropylene (PP) matrix, polyamide-6 (PA6) fillers and polyethylene-octene elastomer grafted with maleic anhydride (POE- g-MA) modifiers, were designed and manufactured. Their mechanical behavior under cyclic loading–unloading was studied by using a video-controlled testing system named as VideoTraction © system. It was found that with the increasing PA6 and POE content, the strain hardening became more and more prominent, the volume strain decreased, and the energy dissipated increased. A detailed examination of the cryo-fractured surfaces under SEM was undertaken. The microcavity nucleation, growth and coalescence were observed, and represent the main mechanisms of plastic deformation and damage. The high volume strain comes from the abundant formation of microvoids. On the contrary, the formation of microvoids resulted in relatively smaller quantity of energy dissipation. This result coincides well with the toughening mechanisms of polymer blends revealed by other peoples.

Study on the properties of polyethylene–octene elastomer/wood flour blends

AbstractIn the present study, the properties of metallocene polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) and wood flour (WF) blends were examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), an Instron mechanical tester, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the mechanical properties of POE were obviously lowered, due to the poor compatibility between the two phases, when it was blended with WFs. A fine dispersion and homogeneity of WF in the polymer matrix could be obtained when acrylic acid‐grafted POE (POE‐g‐AA) was used to replace POE for manufacture of the blends. This better dispersion is due to the formation of branched and crosslinked macromolecules since the POE‐g‐AA copolymer had carboxyl groups to react with the hydroxyls. This is reflected in the mechanical and thermal properties of the blends. In comparison with a pure POE/WF blend, the increase in tensile strength at break was remarkable for the POE‐g‐AA/WF blend. The POE‐g‐AA/WF blends are more easily processed than are the POE/WF blends, since the former had a lower melt viscosity than that of the latter. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1919–1924, 2003

Modification of polyethylene–octene elastomer by silica through a sol–gel process

AbstractIn this study, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and a metallocene polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) were chosen as the ceramic precursor and the continuous phase, respectively, for the preparation of new hybrids by an in situ sol–gel process. To obtain a better hybrid, a maleic anhydride‐grafted polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE‐g‐MAH), used as the continuous phase, was also investigated. Characterizations of POE‐g‐MAH/SiO2 and POE/SiO2 hybrids were performed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 29Si solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers, a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), a thermogravimetry analyzer, and an Instron mechanical tester. The results showed that the POE‐g‐MAH/SiO2 hybrid could improve the properties of the POE/SiO2 hybrid because the interfacial force between the polymer matrix and the silica network was changed from hydrogen bonds into covalent SiOC bonds through dehydration of hydroxy groups in POE‐g‐MAH with residual silanol groups in the silica network. The existence of covalent SiOC bonds was proved by FTIR spectra. For the POE/SiO2 and POE‐g‐MAH/SiO2 hybrids, maximum values of the tensile strength and the glass transition temperature were found at 9 wt % SiO2 since a limited content of silica might be linked with the polymer chains through the covalent bond. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 966–972, 2003

In situ polymerization of silicic acid in polyethylene–octene elastomer: Properties and characterization of the hybrid nanocomposites

AbstractSilicic acid produced from sodium metasilicate hydrate and metallocene polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE) were chosen as the ceramic precursor and the continuous phase, respectively, for preparation of new hybrids by an in situ sol–gel process. To obtain a better hybrid, the acrylic acid‐grafted polyethylene–octene elastomer (POE‐g‐AA) prepared in our laboratory and used as the continuous phase was also investigated. Characterizations of POE/SiO2 and POE‐g‐AA/SiO2 composites were performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 29Si solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry, X‐ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analysis, and an Instron mechanical tester. The POE‐g‐AA/SiO2 hybrid could give the positive effect on the properties of POE/SiO2 hybrid because the carboxylic acid groups of acrylic acid should act as coordination sites for the silica phase to form chemical bonds. The result of 29Si solid‐state NMR spectra showed that Si atom coordination around SiO4 units is predominantly Q3 and Q4. Also, the POE‐g‐AA/SiO2 hybrid with 15 wt % SiO2 gave the maximum values of tensile strength and glass‐transition temperature because excess particles might cause the separation between the organic and inorganic phases when the silica content was beyond this point. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 351–359, 2003