Search results for "Plastics"
showing 10 items of 2724 documents
Orientation and order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer
1994
The order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer is studied by X-ray reflection. Films of thicknesses of less than 200 nm on float glass are investigated as a function of temperature. The polymer with mesogenic groups in the main and side-chains exhibits smectic and cholesteric mesophases. Measurements in the smectic phases show a Bragg peak and smectic layers are oriented parallel to the substrate. The sample is thus macroscopically ordered by the influence of substrate and free surface. The film surface is very smooth after spincoating; surface roughness is typically 0.8 nm. First annealing of samples leads to a significant roughening of the free surface; roughness increas…
Rheological Response of Polyethylene/Clay Nanocomposites to Annealing Treatment
2007
The rheological response of a polyethylene/clay nanocomposite to annealing treatment under air and nitrogen atmospheres was studied. The treatment influences the rheology of the nanocomposite significantly. In particular, the viscosity and the non-Newtonian behavior dramatically increase with annealing time, and a liquid-like/solid-like transition is observed. The annealed samples were characterized by ATR-FT-IR spectrometry and it was shown that a silicate-rich layer is formed on the surface of the nanocomposite. This result was confirmed by TEM images of bulk and surface of annealed samples. It was demonstrated that the formation of this coating is the main cause of the change of rheologi…
Creating Defined 3-D Defects Inside an Opaline Ormocer® Matrix with Two-Photon Lithography
2007
The creation of defined structures inside a synthetic opal is a key step toward applications in optics, where control of the propagation of light inside a photonic crystal is necessary. In a previous paper, we described the nanostructuring of Ormocer® to form inverse opals (Lange et al., Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2006, 27, 1746). Here, we report an application for this robust replica process in which defects can be directly produced within the PC by two-photon lithography. The holes of an inverse opal structure are first filled with a resin of similar refractive index. In this transparent material, polymerization can be initiated at defined places via two-photon lithography. After removal of …
Deconvolution of the Effects of Binary Associations and Collective Assemblies on the Rheological Properties of Entangled Side-Chain Supramolecular Po…
2019
The properties and function of supramolecular polymer networks are determined not only by pairwise interchain transient associations but also by chain entanglement and nanoscopic phase separation of the associative groups. To unravel the impact and interplay of these different factors, we devise a set of model supramolecular polymer networks in which the number of entanglements and the density of associative groups are systematically varied. Rheological data show that by increasing the density of associative groups, the plateau modulus grows to a steady level and extends over a distinct frequency range. This is credited to the presence of binary associations with unique partner exchange tim…
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and Copolymers: A Review on Recent Progresses in Biomedical Applications.
2017
The innate ability of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) thermo-responsive hydrogel to copolymerize and to graft synthetic polymers and biomolecules, in conjunction with the highly controlled methods of radical polymerization which are now available, have expedited the widespread number of papers published in the last decade—especially in the biomedical field. Therefore, PNIPAAm-based hydrogels are extensively investigated for applications on the controlled delivery of active molecules, in self-healing materials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, or in the smart encapsulation of cells. The most promising polymers for biodegradability enhancement of PNIPAAm hydrogels are probably…
Optimization of electrospun polylactide-based ultrathin fibers for osteoconductive bone scaffolds
2011
Bone tissue interfacial scaffolds, which encourage cell growth, are critical determinants for clinical success after implant surgery. Over the years, a number of resorbable configurations have emerged for bone cell support and growth, but only a few have demonstrated clinical efficacy. Polymer coatings produced by electrospinning are regarded as very promising bone interfaces because of the ultrathin-scaled dimensions of its physical structure. In this study, the morphology, composition, thermal properties, and cell growth viability of a number of polylactide-based systems containing different binary and ternary formulations of this biomaterial with collagen and commercial hydroxyapatite na…
E-beam irradiation and UV photocrosslinking of microemulsion-laden poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) hydrogels for ‘‘in situ’’ encapsulation of volatile hy…
2011
Gelled microemulsions are the subject of considerable scientific and commercial interest. Many efforts are currently devoted to improving their toxicological profile and functioning as biocompatible diffusion barrier for the controlled delivery of hydrophobic compounds. In the present investigation, a non-ionic polymeric surfactant was chosen to generate an oil-in-water microemulsion of a model fragrance in the presence of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP). The microemulsion was then subjected to either electron-beam or UV-irradiation to induce free-radical crosslinking of PVP at low temperature and in the absence of crosslinking agents, catalysts and initiators. Irradiation conditions with…
In-situ nano-silica deposition and air-abrasion with Bioglass 45S5 or aluminium oxide: Effects on methacrylate bonding to yttria-tetragonal zirconia …
2015
This study aimed at assessing the bonding performance after water storage (24 h/6-month) of a methacrylate-based cement applied onto Yttria-Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal(Y-TZP) pre-treated using an innovative in-situ silica nanoparticle deposition method and/or air-abrasion with Bioglass 45S5 (BAG) or aluminium oxide (AlO). Pre-sintered blocks of Y-TZP were coated with nano-silica using an experimental in-situ deposition method or used as received (control/silica-free). Air-abrasion was performed with AlO or BAG particles both on silica-coated and control Y-TZP specimens. All the specimens were then analysed using SEM– EDX. Further specimens were treated as described above, bonded using a…
Surfactant-Free Emulsion Polymerization of Various Methacrylates: Towards Monodisperse Colloids for Polymer Opals
2004
A systematic investigation of the surfactant-free emulsion polymerization (SFEP) on three different methacrylates (MMA, tert-butyl methacrylate and 2,2,2-trifluoro ethyl methacrylate) is described to obtain monodisperse colloids for the preparation of artificial polymer opals. The experimental results are in agreement with a model, in which seed particles are formed very early during the polymerization process. The particles are formed very early during the polymerization process. The particles grow afterwards into the colloids until all monomer is consumed. This gives rise to a linear relationship between the volume of the colloids and the ratio of monomer to water in the reaction batch. T…
Carbanions on Tap – Living Anionic Polymerization in a Microstructured Reactor
2008
The paper describes the living anionic polymerization of styrenes to homo- and diblock copolymers in continuous flow, using a microstructured mixing set-up ("microreactor"). Reaction times and experimental effort are significantly reduced compared to classical batch methods that often require stringent reaction conditions and strict drying of the apparatus by "break-seal" and "high vacuum" techniques. In continuous flow, residual impurities can be removed by purging the reactor with monomer and initiator solution before polymer samples are collected at the device outlet on a scale of up to 200 g.h -1 . Facile molecular weight adjustment is achieved by variation of the flow rates of initiato…