Glass transition temperatures continued

Conformational relaxation of polymers at temperatures below their glass transition temperature is retarded by lack of segmental motions. The conformation and free volume at the glass transition temperature continues at lower temperatures since equilibrium cannot be attained over typical experimental times. Cooperative relaxation towards conformational equilibrium depends upon temperatures, relaxation time spectrum, and the disparity between the actual and equilibrium states. The approach of the vitrified polymer to equilibrium is called thermal aging. Aging is both non-linear and nonexponential and several descriptions and models have been proposed. One model is based on a concept of temporary networks where the viscoelastic... 

Glass transition temperature Continuous-use temperature UL relative temperature index Vicat softening temperature Heat capacity Resistivity, volume Resistivity, surface... 

Gel Dyeing. Continuous methods exist for dyeing wet-spun acryhc yams while they are stiU in thek swollen nonaligned state. The advantage of these methods is that they are extremely rapid, and the rate of uptake of dye is not dependent on glass-transition temperature so reducing the constraints on dyestuff selection. 

Thermal Properties. Thermal properties include heat-deflection temperature (HDT), specific heat, continuous use temperature, thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion, and flammability ratings. Heat-deflection temperature is a measure of the minimum temperature that results in a specified deformation of a plastic beam under loads of 1.82 or 0.46 N/mm (264 or 67 psi, respectively). Eor an unreinforced plastic, this is typically ca 20°C below the glass-transition temperature, T, at which the molecular mobility is altered. Sometimes confused with HDT is the UL Thermal Index, which Underwriters Laboratories estabflshed as a safe continuous operation temperature for apparatus made of plastics (37). Typically, UL temperature indexes are significantly lower than HDTs. Specific heat and thermal conductivity relate to insulating properties. The coefficient of thermal expansion is an important component of mold shrinkage and must be considered when designing composite stmctures. 

Urethane structural adhesives have a morphology that is inverse to the toughened epoxy just described. The urethanes have a rubber continuous phase, with glass transition temperatures of approximately —50°C. This phase is referred to as the .soft segment . Often, a discontinuous plastic phase forms within the soft segment, and that plastic phase may even be partially crystalline. This is referred to as the hard segment . A representation of the morphology is shown in Fig. 3 [34]. 

Strict control of the fusion process is imperative. In addition to thickness, hardness, continuity and adhesion checks, correct cure may be assessed by differential scanning calorimetry techniques, which are designed to measure any difference in the glass transition temperature of a laboratory-cured powder and the cured coating taken from the factory-coated pipe. 

Alloys can be classified as either homogeneous or heterogeneous. The former can be depicted as a solution with a single phase or single glass-transition temperature (7 ). A heterogeneous alloy has both continuous... 

In contrast to the applications previously described in which alkanesulfonates are used in polymers with a high glass transition temperature (PVC, polystyrene, and ABS), in antistatic-modified polyethylene articles the antistatic agent is able to continue migrating to the surface over a long period of time. Thus, a more permanent antistatic effect is achieved. 

Temperature has a complex effect on crystallization rate. Initially, as the temperature falls below the equilibrium melting temperature, the crystallization rate increases because nucleation is favored. However, as the temperature continues to fall, the polymer s viscosity increases, which hampers crystallization. As a rule of thumb, a polymer crystallizes fastest at a temperature approximately mid-way between its glass transition temperature and its equilibrium melting temperature. 

Indeed, it has been observed that the onset of yielding of isotropic polymers is approximately constant, 0.02< [<0.025, which implies that 0.04shear yield strain, the plastic shear deformation of the domain satisfies a plastic shear law. For temperatures below the glass transition temperature, the continuous chain model enables the calculation of the tensile curve of a polymer fibre up to about 10% strain [6]. Figure 7 shows the observed stress-strain curves of PpPTA fibres with different moduli compared to the calculated curves. 

In view of the development of the continuous chain model for the tensile deformation of polymer fibres, we consider the assumptions on which the Coleman model is based as too simple. For example, we have shown that the resolved shear stress governs the tensile deformation of the fibre, and that the initial orientation distribution of the chains is the most important structural characteristic determining the tensile extension below the glass transition temperature. These elements have to be incorporated in a new model. 

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