0000000000041387
AUTHOR
Massimo Paci
Compatibilization of blends of polyethylene with a semirigid liquid crystalline polymer by PE-g-LCP copolymers
The blends of thermoplastics with liquid crystalline polymers show, in general, poor properties because of the lack of adherence between the two phases. The use of ad hoc synthesized copolymers containing the monomer units of the two polymers has been recently considered by some of us for blend compatibilization, and the results appear promising. In this work, new PE-g-LCP copolymers, prepared either by the synthesis of the LCP in the presence of a functionalized PE, or by reactive blending of the latter polymer with preformed LCP, have been employed as compatibilizing additives for blends of PE with a semirigid LCP. The morphology and the rheological and mechanical properties of the ternar…
Morphology and Rheology of HDPE/LCP Blends Compatibilized by a Novel PE-g-LCP Copolymer
A novel graft copolymer (PE-g-LCP) consisting of polyethylene (PE) backbones and liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) branches was synthesized via reactive blending of an acrylic acid-functionalized PE (Escor 5000 by Exxon) with a semiflexible LCP (SBH 1 : 1 : 2 by Eniricerche S.p.A.). The crude reactive blending product (COP) was shown by investigation of the fractions soluble in boiling toluene and xylene and of the residue to contain unreacted Escor and SBH, together with the graft copolymer forming the interphase. The compatibilizing activity of COP for PE/SBH blends, compared to that of pure Escor, was investigated using two PE grades. The COP addition into 80/20 PE/SBH blends caused a muc…
Shear viscosity of polybutyleneterephthalate/liquid crystal polymer blends
Viscosity measurements have been carried out on blends of polybuty-leneterephthalate (PBT) and a liquid crystalline copolyesteramide (LCP). The flow curves of the blends with LCP content larger than 20%, show a behavior similar to that of the pure LCP, with a rapid rise of the viscosity at low shear rates. The viscosity-composition curves exhibit a deep minimum at low LCP content which may be mainly attributed to the lack of interactions between the two phases.
On the use of PET-LCP copolymers as compatibilizers for PET/LCP blends
Copolyesters of poly[ethylene terephthalate) (PET) with a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP), SBH 1:1:2, have been synthesized by the polycondensation, carried out in the melt at temperatures up to 300 degrees C of sebacic acid (S), 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl (B), and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (H) in the presence of PET. The PET-SBH copolyesters have been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, etc., and the relationships between properties and preparation conditions are discussed. The copolyesters show a biphasic nature, which is more evident for the products synthesized with a thermal profile comprising relatively lower temperatures (220-…
Effect of the Orientation on the Properties of Compatibilized Polypropylene/Liquid Crystal Polymer Blends
Abstract Blends of polypropylene and a semirigid liquid crystal polymer have been compatibilized with an acrylic acid modified polypropylene and with an ad-hoc synthesized graft copolymer made from polypropylene and from the monomers of the liquid crystal polymer. The two compatibilizers improve the adhesion and the mechanical properties of the two incompatible phases. The two compatibilizers give about the same results. The effect of the compatibilization improve also the orientation of the liquid crystalline polymer particles and the mechanical properties.
Effect of the Components Molar Mass and of the Mixing Conditions on the Compatibilization of PE/LCP Blends by PE-g-LCP Copolymers
The rheology, morphology, and mechanical properties of blends of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with a semiflexible liquid crystalline copolyester (SBH) were studied in order to assess the compatibilizing ability of added PE-g-SBH copolymers, and its dependence on the molar mass of the PE matrix, and on the technique used for blend preparation. The PE-g-SBH copolymers were synthesized as described in previous articles, either by the polycondensation of the SBH monomers in the presence of a functionalized PE sample containing free carboxyl groups, or by reactive blending of the latter polymer with preformed SBH. Two samples of HDPE having different molar masses, and two samples of SBH with…
On the interlayer spacing collapse of Cloisite (R) 30B organoclay
Abstract When used as a nanofiller for the preparation of polymer/clay nanocomposites (PCNs), Cloisite® 30B (30B) often undergoes a d-spacing collapse, as demonstrated by a shift to wider angles of the XRD basal reflection. Such collapse has been variously attributed to organoclay contamination or, more often, to thermal degradation of the organic modifier with expulsion of the volatile products from the galleries. In this work, several PCNs loaded with 30B have been prepared by melt compounding, using different polymer matrices, and have subsequently been subjected to dissolution in appropriate solvents followed by precipitation in excess non-solvent and room temperature drying. An XRD ana…
The Nucleating Effect of a Semiflexible Liquid-Crystalline Polymer for the Crystallization of Poly(Phenylene Sulfide)
Abstract Blends of poly(phenylene sulfide) and a semiflexible liquid-crystalline polymer have been prepared, in the whole range of concentration, by melt mixing. The effect of the LCP phase on the crystallization of PPS has been studied by non-isothermal and isothermal calorimetry. It has been found that the addition of only 2-5% LCP into PPS strongly increases the crystallization rate of the latter polymer. This effect has been interpreted as the result of an increased nucleation density. The morphology of the blends, studied by scanning electron microscopy, has shown that the two polymers are incompatible, although the phase dispersion is good. Under elongational flow, the dispersed phase…
Characterization and Reprocessing of Greenhouse Films.
Films for greenhouses are an attractive source of post-consumer plastic materials because they are mainly made of polyethylene and can be easily collected in large amounts in small zones. The types of polymers for this application are, however, increasing and the films contain not only additives and stabilisers, but also fertiliser and pesticide residues. Finally, the extent of photooxidative degradation undergone during the use can strongly influence the recycling operations and the final properties of the secondary material. In this work, a complete characterisation of post-consumer films for greenhouses has been carried out and the properties of the recycled material have been correlated…
Rheological behavior of a semirigid liquid crystal polymer
The rheological behavior of liquid crystal polymers is still far from completely clarified from both experimental and theoretical points of view. In this paper, the shear flow and the non-isothermal elongation flow behavior of a semi-rigid liquid crystal copolyester is discussed. The viscosity strongly decreases when the test temperature is increased above the crystal-nematic transition temperature; below this temperature the viscosity is very high. The thermal history strongly affects the shear viscosity. The elongational flow behavior depends also on temperature. Above the crystal-nematic transition temperature and the mesophase is easily spinnable, whereas below this temperature, the spi…
Reactive blending of a functionalized polyethylene with a semiflexible liquid crystalline copolyester
Reactive blends (50/50 w/w) of a low molar mass polyethylene containing free carboxylic groups (PEox) and a semiflexible liquid crystalline polyester (SBH 1 : 1 : 2, by Eniricerche) have been prepared at 240 degrees C in a Brabender mixer, in the presence of Ti(OBu)(4) catalyst, for different mixing times (15, 60, and 120 min). In order to prove the formation of a PE-g-SBH copolymer, the blends have been fractionated by successive extractions with boiling toluene and xylene. The soluble fractions and the residues have been analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TG and DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)…
Rheology-morphology relationships in nylon 6/liquid-crystalline polymer blends
Extrusion measurements have been carried out on blends of nylon 6 and a liquid-crystalline copolyesteramide (LCP). The flow curves at low temperature show a behavior similar to that of pure LCP with a rapid rise of the viscosity at low shear rates. At high shear rates the viscosity is lower than that for each of the two components. This minimum has been attributed to the lack of interactions between the two phases and to the formation of fibrils of the LCP phase. The SEM analysis shows, indeed, that fibrils of the LCP phase are produced in the convergent flow at the inlet of the capillary at high shear rates. These fibrils are lost during the flow in the long capillary.
Oxazoline functionalization of polyethylenes and their blends with polyamides and polyesters
The compatibilization of blends of polyamide-6 (PA6) with linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) with high density polyethylene (HDPE), by functionalization of the polyethylenes with oxazoline groups was investigated. Chemical modification of LLDPE and HDPE was carried out by melt free radical grafting with ricinoloxazoline maleinate. Blends preparation was made either with a two-steps procedure comprising functionalization and blending, and in a single step in which the chemical modification of polyethylene with the oxazoline monomer was realized in situ, during blending. The characterization of the products was carried out by FTIR spectroscopy an…
On the mechanism of compatibilization of polyolefin/liquid crystalline polymer blends with graft copolymers
The compatibilization mechanism of some compatibilizers for blends of polyolefins with a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) was studied. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were blended with a semirigid LCP (SBH) in a batch mixer, either with and without compatibilizers. The latter were two commercially available samples of functionalized polyolefins, that is, a PE-g-MA (HDM) and a PP-g-AA (Polybond 1001) copolymer and some purposely synthesized PE-g-LCP and PP-g-LCP copolymers. Microtomed films of the binary and the ternary blends were annealed at 240°C on the hot stage of a polarizing microscope and the changes undergone by their morphology were recorded as a function of time. The resu…
A Study of Polycarbonate-Liquid Crystal Polymer Blends
BThe morphologican and mechanical properties of blends of bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) with a wholly aromatic liquid crystal copolyesteramide (Vectra-B) are discussed with reference to the conditions used for their preparation. The blends made by extrusion behave as mixtures of incompatible polymers. THe behaviour of the blends prepared in a batch mixer depends strongly on mixing time. A slight decrease in the mechanical properties accompanies the morphological changes associated with a progressive improvement in the compatibility of the two polymers
“Effect of Filler Type and Processing Apparatus on the Properties of the Recycled “Light Fraction” from Municipal Post-Consumer Plastics”
Plastic waste or scraps are generated from two main sources: industrial wastes and post-consumer wastes. By using the flotation method, generally two fractions are obtained from municipal post-consumer wastes: a light fraction, floating on water, and a heavy fraction. The former is essentially made of low and high density polyethylene—LDPE, HDPE—and polypropylene—PP; the heavy fraction is formed by poly(vinyl chloride)—PVC—and poly(ethylene terephthalate)—PET. In this work, the recycling of a light fraction from municipal post-consumer plastics has been studied, considering also the effect of filler type—glass fibres, calcium carbonate and wood fibres—and processing apparatus—discountinous …
Reprocessing and restabilization of greenhouse films
From the ecological and economical points of view, reprocessing of polyethylene greenhouse films is a promising solution to reduce discarded materials and to produce useful, or potentially useful, objects for service. Films exposed outdoors, however, show inferior mechanical properties and the melt processing worsens these properties. The addition of stabilizers and antioxidants to recycled plastic products prevents inherent thermal instabilities from occurring within the time frame of proper processing. In this study, we attempt to explore ways for improving product performance by the addition of four different additives when the recycled films undergo intensive shear processing. The proce…
Rheological behavior and thermal stability of poly(phenylene sulfide)/vectra-B950 blends
Blends of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) with a commercial, wholly aromatic, liquid crystalline polymer (LCP), Vectra-B950, have been prepared by melt-blending. Their rheological behavior has been studied in order to determine if the LCP displays a processing aid ability, and under what conditions it gives rise to potentially reinforcing fibrils dispersed in the PPS matrix. The problem of the thermal stability of PPS/LCP blends, which has been considered by some authors as the main obstacle to the production of usable materials due to the evolution of gaseous substances during processing, has been discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.