Phase behavior of ternary blends containing dimethylpolycarbonate,tetramethylpolycarbonate and poly[styrene‐co‐(methyl methacrylate)] copolymers (or polystyrene)

The miscibility and phase behavior of ternary blends containing dimethylpolycarbonate (DMPC), tetramethylpolycarbonate (TMPC) and poly[styrene‐co‐(methyl methacrylate)] copolymer (SMMA) have been explored. Ternary blends containing polystyrene (PS) instead of SMMA were also examined. Blends of DMPC with SMMA copolymers (or PS) did not form miscible blends regardless of methyl methacrylate (MMA) content in copolymers. However, DMPC blends with SMMA (or PS) blends become miscible by adding TMPC. The miscible region of ternary blends is compared with the previously determined miscibility region of binary blends having the same chemical components and compositions. The region where the ternary blends are miscible is much narrower than that of binary blends. Based on lattice fluid theory, the observed phase behavior of ternary blends was analyzed. Even though the term representing the Gibbs free energy change of mixing for certain ternary blends had a negative value, blends were immiscible. It was revealed that a negative value of the Gibbs free energy change of mixing was not a sufficient condition for miscible ternary blends because of the asymmetry in the binary interactions involved in ternary blends. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of the ethylene–(methacrylic acid)–Zn2+ ionomer on the thermal and mechanical properties of blends of poly(propylene) (PP)/ethylene–(vinyl alcohol) copolymer (EVOH)

The thermal and mechanical properties and the morphologies of blends of poly(propylene) (PP) and an ethylene–(vinyl alcohol) copolymer (EVOH) and of blends of PP/EVOH/ethylene–(methacrylic acid)–Zn²⁺ ionomer were studied to establish the influence of the ionomer addition on the compatibilization of PP/EVOH blends and on their properties. The oxygen transmission rate (O₂TR) values of the blends were measured as well. PP and EVOH are initially incompatible as was determined by tensile tests and scanning electronic microscopy. Addition of the ionomer Zn²⁺ led to good compatibility and mechanical behaviour was improved in all blends. The mechanical properties on extruded films were studied for 90/10 and 80/20 w/w PP/EVOH blends compatibilized with 10 % of ionomer Zn²⁺. These experiments have shown that the tensile properties are better than in the injection‐moulded samples. The stretching during the extrusion improved the compatibility of the blends, diminishing the size of EVOH domains and enhancing their distribution in the PP matrix. As was to be expected, the EVOH improved the oxygen permeation of the films, even in compatibilized blends. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Low density polyethylene and grafted lignin polyblends using epoxy‐functionalized compatibilizer: mechanical and thermal properties

Lignin was graft copolymerized with methyl methacrylate using manganic pyrophosphate as initiator. This modified lignin was then blended (up to 50 wt%) with low density polyethylene (LDPE) using a small quantity of poly[ethylene‐co‐(glycidyl methacrylate)] (PEGMA) compatibilizer. The mechanical properties of the blend were substantially improved by using modified lignin in contrast to untreated lignin. Differential scanning calorimetry studies showed loss of crystallinity of the LDPE phase owing to the interaction between the blend components. Thermogravimetric analysis showed higher thermal stability of modified lignin in the domain of blend processing. This suggested that there is scope for useful utilization of lignin, which could also lead to the development of eco‐friendly products. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Nanostructured polymer blends: Synthesis and structure

Nanostructured polymer blends prepared via anionic ring opening polymerizations of cyclic monomers in the presence of a pre-made polymer melt exhibit a number of special properties over traditional polymer blends and homopolymers. Here, we report on a simple and versatile method of in situ polymerization of macrocyclic carbonates in the presence of a maleic anhydride polypropylene (mPP) matrix and a surface-active compatibilizer (i.e. PC grafted onto a mPP backbone generated in situ) to yield a micro- and nanostructured polymer blends consisting of a polycarbonate (PC) minor phase, and a polypropylene (PP) major phase. By varying the processing conditions and concentration of the macrocyclic carbonate it was possible to reduce the size of the PC dispersions to an average minor diameter of 150 nm. NMR and TEM characterizations indicate that the PC dispersions do not influence crystal content in the PP phase. Overall, the results point to a simple strategy and versatile route to new polymeric materials with enhanced benefits.     

HIPS-g-MA共聚物对HIPS/PC共混物相容性、形态和拉伸性能的影响

研究了HIPS／PC共混物的相容性及HIPS－MA对HIPS（30）／PC（70）共混物的相容性、形态和拉伸性能的影响。DSC研究结果表明，HIPS／PC共混物中PS的玻璃化转变温度（Tg)不随组成而变化，而PC的Tg随其质量分数的降低逐渐向低温移动，说明HIPS／PC是部分相容体系。通过DSC、扫描电镜形态观察和拉伸性能测试结果发现，当HIPS－g-MA的含量低于7．5％时，共混物的相容性改善不明显，当其含量达到7．5％时，对共混物有明显的乳化作用，说明饱和的界面浓度在7．5％左右。HIPS－g-MA接枝共聚物在HIPS（30）／PC（70）共混物中的增容作用可能是酯交换反应原位生成的嵌段共聚物所致。     

PC／PET共混物的非等温结晶动力学

采用等速变温ＤＳＣ法对ＰＣ／ＰＥＴ共混体系的非等温结晶动力学进行了研究，结果表明，从玻璃态结晶时，随着ＰＣ含量的增加，ＰＥＴ组分的结晶速率先增加后降低。耐从熔体结晶时，体系的结晶速率随着ＰＣ含量的增加而增加，讨论了ＰＣ对ＰＥＴ组分结晶过程的影响。     

Apparent versus true density for the volume-to-weight transformation in coal blends

This work reviews the procedures involved in the conversion of the petrographic characterization data of blended coals into weight percentages of the single coals in the blends, the selection of the most suitable parameter for describing the density of the coals being critical. First, the fundamentals of the volume-to-weight transformation of the petrographic data were developed by means of mathematical formulae. This part of the procedure highlighted the need to use a density value adapted to the resolving power of the optical microscope. It was found that mercury penetration at 5 MPa, as determined by mercury porosimetry, was best suited for this purpose. A literature survey of published coal density data revealed that the use of correlations between coal density and rank was not an accurate enough procedure to deal with the relatively low corrections involved in the transformation of petrographic data. In the end, three binary blends were prepared from six carefully selected coals and polished particulate blocks of these blends were petrographically analysed to determine their compositions on a volume per cent basis. The best fit of these volume percentages with the weight percentages used in the formulation of the blends was found for a density correction based on mercury penetration at 5 MPa, in agreement with the empirical analysis.     

Mechanical and microstructure studies on the modification of CA film by blending with PS

DriedMusa paradiciaca (banana) stem and veins of the leaves, which were hitherto discarded as a waste, were collected and used as starting material for the preparation of cellulose and cellulose acetate. This cellulose acetate was mixed with polystyrene to form blend of cellulose acetate-polystyrene in order to provide enhanced stability and extended utility to the end products. The films of these composites or their individual partners were made separately and studied for their mechanical properties, chemical modification and morphological changes. We report here that banana stem is good source of cellulose and that cellulose completely undergoes modification upon esterification.     

Decreasing miscibility with greater heterogeneity in ternary polymer blend: poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate), poly(α‐methyl styrene) and poly(4‐methyl styrene)

A ternary blend system comprising poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) (PCHMA), poly(α‐methyl styrene) (PαMS) and poly(4‐methyl styrene) (P4MS) was investigated by thermal analysis, optical and scanning electron microscopy. Ternary phase behaviour was compared with the behaviour for the three constituent binary pairs. This study showed that the ternary blends of PCHMA/PαMS/P4MS in most compositions were miscible, with an apparent glass transition temperature (T_g) and distinct cloud‐point transitions, which were located at lower temperatures than their binary counterparts. However, in a closed‐loop range of compositions roughly near the centre of the triangular phase diagram, some ternary blends displayed phase separation with heterogeneity domains of about 1 µm. Therefore, it is properly concluded that ternary PCHMA/PαMS/P4M is partially miscible with a small closed‐loop immisciblity range, even though all the constituent binary pairs are fully miscible. Thermodynamic backgrounds leading to decreased miscibility and greater heterogeneity in a ternary polymer system in comparison with the binary counterparts are discussed. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Morphological and kinetics study of PEO/PVC blends

The kinetics of spherulite radial growth and the morphology of the compatible system PEO/PVC have been studied by optical microscopy. The usual spherulite radial growth behaviour has been found for compatible blends with PEO content higher than 70%. For lower composition, distortion of the usual spherulite morphology has been observed; the anomalies have been attributed to partial miscibility of the components.