Study and evaluation of dispersion of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and silica filler in polypropylene composites
Various methods were used for evaluation of homogeneity of polypropylene (PP) matrix composites with octakis([n‐octyl]dimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane, octakis([n‐octadecyl]dimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane, and silica (SiO2) fillers. The filler dispersion was determined on the basis of the results from the wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) analysis, from the tests of selected mechanical properties, from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and from the decomposable entropic descriptor method. The use of different methods allowed to evaluate homogeneity of PP composites on various levels and with different precisions. The dispersion degree was found…
Accelerated laboratory weathering of polypropylene composites filled with synthetic silicon-based compounds
Abstract Non-functionalized and n-alkyl functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), siloxane-silsesquioxane resins and the sol-gel silicas were for the first time examined as possible UV-stabilizers and/or antioxidants in polypropylene (PP). The obtained composites were subjected to the accelerated laboratory weathering tests. The influence of the weathering conditions on the structure and properties of the PP materials was evaluated on the basis of the results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies. It was found that weathering resistance of the PP materials was strongly de…
Thermal Stability and Flame Retardancy of Polypropylene Composites Containing Siloxane-Silsesquioxane Resins
A novel group of silsesquioxane derivatives, which are siloxane-silsesquioxane resins (S4SQ), was for the first time examined as possible flame retardants in polypropylene (PP) materials. Thermal stability of the PP/S4SQ composites compared to the S4SQ resins and neat PP was estimated using thermogravimetric (TG) analysis under nitrogen and in air atmosphere. The effects of the non-functionalized and n-alkyl-functionalized siloxane-silsesquioxane resins on thermostability and flame retardancy of PP materials were also evaluated by thermogravimetry-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR) and by cone calorimeter tests. The results revealed that the functionalized S4SQ resins may for…
Study of thermal properties of polyethylene and polypropylene nanocomposites with long alkyl chain-substituted POSS fillers
The effect of incorporation of octakis({alkyl}dimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxanes molecules with n-octyl, n-octadecyl and 4-methyl-hexyl substituents on thermal properties of polypropylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was investigated. Thermal properties of those composite materials were evaluated by means of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) methods. The type and mass% content of POSS nanofillers influenced the crystallization and melting properties as well as thermal stability of the obtained polyolefin nanocomposites. The incorporated POSS particles—acting as nucleating agents—improved the crystall…
Polyethylene composites filled with n‐alkyl‐functionalized siloxane‐silsesquioxane resins and sol‐gel silicas
High‐density polyethylene (HDPE) composites filled with silicon‐based fillers were prepared by melt blending. The use of non‐functionalized and n‐octyl‐functionalized siloxane‐silsesquioxane resins and the sol‐gel silicas as fillers allowed us to evaluate the influence of functionalization of the fillers on the properties of the composites. The melting and crystallization temperatures of the composites were found to be only slightly affected by the addition of the silicon‐based fillers. In turn, the crystallization degree values were increased, in particular for the materials containing non‐functionalized fillers. The free‐volume properties of the composites did not change significantly in …
Polypropylene/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocomposites – study of free volumes, crystallinity degree and mass flow rate
Nanokompozyty polipropylen/poliedryczne oligomeryczne silseskwioksany (PP/POSS) przygotowano metodą mieszania w stanie stopionym polimeru. Wpływ struktury oraz ilości zastosowanych nanonapełniaczy POSS na objętości swobodne w polipropylenie określono z zastosowaniem spektroskopii czasów życia pozytonów (PALS). Ustalono zależności pomiędzy parametrami PALS: czasem życia o-Ps (τ3) i natężeniem (I3) składowej o-Ps oraz wartościami stopnia krystaliczności (Xc ) i masowego wskaźnika szybkości płynięcia (MFR) badanych materiałów. Obecność nanonapełniaczy POSS wpłynęła na liczbę i rozmiary objętości swobodnych w polimerze, co spowodowało zmianę mikrostruktury osnowy polipropylenowej. Wraz ze zwięk…
Functionalized siloxane‐silsesquioxane resins and polypropylene‐based composites: Morphological, structural, thermal, and mechanical properties
Non‐functionalized and n‐alkyl‐functionalized siloxane‐silsesquioxane resins (S4SQ) were synthesized and characterized to confirm their structure and properties. Polypropylene (PP) composites with S4SQ resins as fillers were prepared by the melt blending. The influence of the kinds and amounts of fillers on the structural, morphological and thermal properties as well as mechanical characteristics and processability was determined. High compatibility of composites with functionalized resins resulted in more homogenous dispersion of filler particles in comparison with the composites which contained a non‐functionalized resin. Moreover, the introduction of S4SQ resins into PP strongly affected…
Study of polyethylene nanocomposites with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanofillers—from structural characteristics to mechanical properties and processability
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposites filled with octakis({alkyl}dimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxanes (POSS) were prepared by the melt blending method. The effects of the structure and the content of POSS nanofillers on free-volume properties and structural characteristics of nanocomposites were investigated by the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and X-ray diffraction methods: wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Incorporation of POSS nanofillers into polyethylene matrices modified the arrangement of the polymer chains and affected the size and number of free-volume holes in nanocomposites.…