Disperse Poly fibers

The dispersion of fibers in polymer latex to prepare composite has been reported for poly(6-hydroxyoctanoate) (PHO) [101, 102], polyvinylchloride (PVC) [103], waterborne epoxy [104] and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) [94]. Most of the works focus on the use of non-polar, non-water-sensitive polymers, while keeping an aqueous media for the processing of the films to preserve the dispersion of the nanoparticles. In their pioneering work, Favier et al [94] adopted the technique of solvent casting using a synthetic latex obtained by the copolymerization between styrene (35 wt%) and butyl-acrylate (65 wt%) (poly(S-co-BuA)). Nanowhiskers were dispersed in the latex and evaporated. The nanocomposite films were obtained by water evaporation and particle coalescence at room temperature, that is at a temperature higher than Tg of poly(S-co-BuA), around 0 C. 

Adhesives for paper tubes, paperboard, cormgated paperboard, and laminated fiber board are made from dispersions of clays suspended with fully hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol). Addition of boric acid improves wet tack and reduces penetration into porous surfaces (312,313). The tackified grades have higher solution viscosity than unmodified PVA and must be maintained at pH 4.6—4.9 for optimum wet adhesion. 

Many substances show carrier behavior, and some have found more acceptance than others for various reasons, eg, availabiUty, cost, environmental concerns, ease of handling, odor, etc. Most carriers are aromatic compounds, and have similar solubiUty parameters to the poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers and to some disperse dyes (3). 

Kawabata Y., Kamichika T., Imasaka T., Ishibashi N., Fiber-optic sensor for carbon dioxide with a pH indicator dispersed in a poly(ethylene glycol) membrane, Anal. Chim. Acta 1989 219 223. 

Earlier we found that the addition of alkyl-modified poly(propylene imine) dendrimers to polypropylene leads to fibers which can be dyed in conventional acid or disperse dyeing processes [3]. The alkyl chains make the additive compatible with the polypropylene matrix, while the polar core of the dendrimer can act as a receptor for the dye molecules. This host-guest behavior is analogous to the principle of the dendritic box as described by Meijer et al. [30] and elaborated by Baars et al. for dye extraction processes [31]. 

Poly (vinyl chloride) fibers (PVC) [96, pp. 642-645], are characterized by their flame retardance. They are dyed preferably with disperse dyes [50, p. 404], [6, pp. 611], As with modacrylic fibers, high temperatures must not be used because of shrinkage of the PVC fiber. Hence, some fibers are dyed at 60-65 °C with dyeing accelerants. Other PVC fibers can be dyed at 100°C without a carrier and a few even at 110°C. Dyes must be selected with regard to the lightfastness desired. 

Poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) is a semi-crystalline polymer, which is already widely used for various applications, either under the form of films or fibers. Compared to other polymers, as it is water-soluble at high temperature, it is easy to process from aqueous solutions. Carbon nanotubes can also be dispersed or solubilized in water via different functionalization approaches. It was quite natural for researchers to try to mix carbon nanotubes and PVA to improve the properties of the neat polymer. In this chapter, we will first examine the different methods that have been used to process CNT/PVA composites. The structures and the particular interaction between the polymer and the nanotube surface have been characterized in several works. Then we will consider the composite mechanical properties, which have been extensively investigated in the literature. Despite the number of publications in the field, we will see that a lot of work is still to be done for achieving the most of the exceptional reinforcement potential of carbon nanotubes. 

Materials. The dispersed phase of the dispersions contained, by weight 98.07% acrylic polymer beads, 0.8% benzoyl peroxide (98% active), 1% red acetate fibers, 0.03% red pigments, and 0.1% Ti02 pigment. The acrylic polymer beads were a 50/50 wt/wt blend of two suspension polymerized poly (methyl methacrylate) polymers with solution molecular weights of 160,000 and 950,000. Additives to the dispersed phase were those described above. The polymers were each reduced 1 vol % on the total dispersion volume to compensate for the additives. 

If the melt viscosities of polypropylene and poly(ethylene terephthalate) polymers are reasonably matched under extrusion conditions, a finely dispersed blend may be produced in fiber form. Orientation of such fibers yields strong filaments in which microfibrils of the two partially crystallized polymers are intertwined and unable to separate. Similar fibers with a sheath of one polymer surrounding a core of the other have no mechanical integrity [27]. 

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibers containing Ag nanoparticles were synthesized by radical-mediated dispersion polymerization. UV-visible spectroscopic analysis indicated that the Ag nanoparticles were continually released from the polymer nanofiber in aqueous solution [47]. In another study, the electrospinning conditions for PMMA were studied [48]. In this work, conductivity of the polymer solution containing Ag nanoparticles and its effect on fiber diameter were also studied. As the results showed, the maximum concentration for the electrospinning of PMMA was found to be 18 wt%, and the ratio of DMF to THF was 7 3 (v/v). The diameter of nanolibers obtained was found to be 100-400 nm when the PMMA solution contained 1,000 ppm of Ag nanoparticles [48]. 

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