Composites glass transitions

Table II. Molecular weight of PMMA segments, composition, glass transition temperatures, tensile strength, and elongation at break of PMMA- -PIB- -PMMA block copolymers (precursor difunctional PIB with M = 17,5(K))...

Kimura and Porter [116] have investigated blends of PET/0.6PHB with PBT homopolymer. This may be expected to be a blend with good properties because miscibility between PET and PBT homopolymers has already been reported [125], and a single composition glass transition observed in the amorphous phase of the blend of the homopolymers. As already mentioned, PBT has a lower Tg and than PET homopolymer due to its longer, flexible spacer unit and when blended... 

The thermal and thermomechanical properties of the polymer/HAp composites (glass transition temperature, melting and crystallization behaviour, thermal stability, crosslinking effects, phase composition, modulus, etc.) can be evaluated by thermal analysis methods, like TG, DSC and DMA. Recently, a modulated temperature DSC (MTDSC) technique has been developed that offers extended temperature profile capabilities by, for example, a sinusoidal wave superimposed on the normal linear temperature ramp [326]. The new capabilities of the MTDSC method in comparison with conventional DSC include separation of reversible and non-reversible thermal events, improved resolution of closely occurring and overlapping transitions, and increased sensitivity ofheat capacity measurements [92,327]. 

Homogeneous alloys have a single glass transition temperature which is determined by the ratio of the components. The physical properties of these alloys are averages based on the composition of the alloy. 

Table 1 shows that most acryflcs have low glass-transition temperatures. Therefore, in copolymers they tend to soften and flexibHize the overall composition. Plasticizers also lower the transition temperature. However, unlike incorporated acryflc comonomers, they can be lost through volatilization or extraction. 

Solution Polymers. Acryflc solution polymers are usually characterized by their composition, solids content, viscosity, molecular weight, glass-transition temperature, and solvent. The compositions of acryflc polymers are most readily determined by physicochemical methods such as spectroscopy, pyrolytic gas—liquid chromatography, and refractive index measurements (97,158). The solids content of acryflc polymers is determined by dilution followed by solvent evaporation to constant weight. Viscosities are most conveniently determined with a Brookfield viscometer, molecular weight by intrinsic viscosity (158), and glass-transition temperature by calorimetry. 

Additional information on elastomer and SAN microstmcture is provided by C-nmr analysis (100). Rubber particle composition may be inferred from glass-transition data provided by thermal or mechanochemical analysis. Rubber particle morphology as obtained by transmission or scanning electron microscopy (101) is indicative of the ABS manufacturing process (77). (See Figs. 1 and 2.)... 

The unusual resiHence of ionomers combined with ease of processing have resulted in widespread replacement of balata mbber as golf-ball covers. In order to obtain desirable backspin characteristics, low glass-transition ionomer compositions have been developed (10). Transparent coatings on bowling pins promote both longer life and improved playing performance. 

Most Kaminsky catalysts contain only one type of active center. They produce ethylene—a-olefin copolymers with uniform compositional distributions and quite narrow MWDs which, at their limit, can be characterized by M.Jratios of about 2.0 and MFR of about 15. These features of the catalysts determine their first appHcations in the specialty resin area, to be used in the synthesis of either uniformly branched VLDPE resins or completely amorphous PE plastomers. Kaminsky catalysts have been gradually replacing Ziegler catalysts in the manufacture of certain commodity LLDPE products. They also faciUtate the copolymerization of ethylene with cycHc dienes such as cyclopentene and norhornene (33,34). These copolymers are compositionaHy uniform and can be used as LLDPE resins with special properties. Ethylene—norhornene copolymers are resistant to chemicals and heat, have high glass transitions, and very high transparency which makes them suitable for polymer optical fibers (34). 

Since successful commercialization of Kapton by Du Pont Company in the 1960s (10), numerous compositions of polyimide and various new methods of syntheses have been described in the Hterature (1—5). A successful result for each method depends on the nature of the chemical components involved in the system, including monomers, intermediates, solvents, and the polyimide products, as well as on physical conditions during the synthesis. Properties such as monomer reactivity and solubiHty, and the glass-transition temperature,T, crystallinity, T, and melt viscosity of the polyimide products ultimately determine the effectiveness of each process. Accordingly, proper selection of synthetic method is often critical for preparation of polyimides of a given chemical composition. 

Relatively few processible polyimides, particularly at a reasonable cost and iu rehable supply, are available commercially. Users of polyimides may have to produce iutractable polyimides by themselves in situ according to methods discussed earlier, or synthesize polyimides of unique compositions iu order to meet property requirements such as thermal and thermoxidative stabilities, mechanical and electrical properties, physical properties such as glass-transition temperature, crystalline melting temperature, density, solubility, optical properties, etc. It is, therefore, essential to thoroughly understand the stmcture—property relationships of polyimide systems, and excellent review articles are available (1—5,92). 

The highly polar nature of the TGMDA—DDS system results in high moisture absorption. The plasticization of epoxy matrices by absorbed water and its effect on composite properties have been well documented. As can be seen from Table 4, the TGMDA system can absorb as much as 6.5% (by weight) water (4). This absorbed water results in a dramatic drop in both the glass transition temperature and hot—wet flexural modulus (4—6). 

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