Mechanical shearing

Within this category, the greases are divided into those based on simple soaps and those based on complex soaps. The latter generally have better high temperature and structural stability properties under high mechanical shear they also have higher resistance to water than their simple soap-based counterparts. 

Shearing causes polymer chains to break, therefore a decrease in molecular weight and, consequently, in thickening power. It has been shown that the higher its molecular weight, the more the polymer is sensitive to mechanical shearing (Brlant et al., 1985). 

AH distortions of the nematic phase may be decomposed into three basic curvatures of the director, as depicted in Figure 6. Liquid crystals are unusual fluids in that such elastic curvatures may be sustained. Molecules of a tme Hquid would immediately reorient to flow out of an imposed mechanical shear. The force constants characterizing these distortions are very weak, making the material exceedingly sensitive and easy to perturb. 

Many different combinations of surfactant and protective coUoid are used in emulsion polymerizations of vinyl acetate as stabilizers. The properties of the emulsion and the polymeric film depend to a large extent on the identity and quantity of the stabilizers. The choice of stabilizer affects the mean and distribution of particle size which affects the rheology and film formation. The stabilizer system also impacts the stabiUty of the emulsion to mechanical shear, temperature change, and compounding. Characteristics of the coalesced resin affected by the stabilizer include tack, smoothness, opacity, water resistance, and film strength (41,42). 

StabiHty (dilution, mechanical, shear, freeze—thaw, heat, bacterial) compatibiHty (plasticizers, thickeners, pigments, extenders, coalescing agents) rheological character... 

Emulsion Polymerization. Poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl acetate) copolymer latexes prepared in the presence of PVA find wide appHcations in adhesives, paints, textile finishes, and coatings. The emulsions show exceUent stabiHty to mechanical shear as weU as to the addition of electrolytes, and possess exceUent machining characteristics. 

The morphological variance appears more important with chrysotile than with amphiboles. The intrinsic stmcture of chrysotile, its higher flexibiUty, and interfibnl adhesion (10) allow a variety of intermediate shapes when fiber aggregates are subjected to mechanical shear. Amphibole fibers are generally more britde and accommodate less morphological deformation during mechanical treatment. 

Agglomeration a process where precipitation particles grow by coUision with other particles. Pigment agglomerates can be broken into smaller primary particles with the aid of mechanical shear. 

Latex Types. Latexes are differentiated both by the nature of the coUoidal system and by the type of polymer present. Nearly aU of the coUoidal systems are similar to those used in the manufacture of dry types. That is, they are anionic and contain either a sodium or potassium salt of a rosin acid or derivative. In addition, they may also contain a strong acid soap to provide additional stabUity. Those having polymer soUds around 60% contain a very finely tuned soap system to avoid excessive emulsion viscosity during polymeri2ation (162—164). Du Pont also offers a carboxylated nonionic latex stabili2ed with poly(vinyl alcohol). This latex type is especiaUy resistant to flocculation by electrolytes, heat, and mechanical shear, surviving conditions which would easUy flocculate ionic latexes. The differences between anionic and nonionic latexes are outlined in Table 11. 

The oxidation of hydrocarbons, including hydrocarbon polymers, takes the form of a free-radical chain reaction. As a result of mechanical shearing, exposure of ultraviolet radiation, attack by metal ions such as those of copper and manganese as well as other possible mechanisms, a hydrocarbon molecule breaks down into two radicals... 

Natural rubber displays the phenomenon known as natural tack. When two clean surfaces of masticated rubber (rubber whose molecular weight has been reduced by mechanical shearing) are brought into contact the two surfaces become strongly attached to each other. This is a consequence of interpenetration of molecular ends followed by crystallisation. Amorphous rubbers such as SBR do not exhibit such tack and it is necessary to add tackifiers such as rosin derivatives and polyterpenes. Several other miscellaneous materials such as factice, pine tar, coumarone-indene resins (see Chapter 17) and bitumens (see Chapter 30) are also used as processing aids. 

Elastomer-plastic blends without vulcanization were prepared either in a two roll mill or Banbury mixer. Depending on the nature of plastic and rubber the mixing temperature was changed. Usually the plastic was fed into the two roll mill or an internal mixer after preheating the mixer to a temperature above the melting temperature of the plastic phase. The plastic phase was then added and the required melt viscosity was attained by applying a mechanical shear. The rubber phase was then added and the mixture was then melt mixed for an additional 1 to 3 min when other rubber additives, such as filler, activator, and lubricants or softeners, were added. Mixing was then carried out with controlled shear rate... 

Accentuate the direct mechanical shearing action of the mixing impeller upon the fluid. 

One problem mentioned earlier is that certain animal cells are anchorage-dependent. Also, plant and animal cells are easily raptured by mechanical shear. Bioreactors for handhng such cells must be designed so that the contents of the reactor can be mixed without disrupting the cells. A similar problem exists in the design of systems to transfer the cells from one vessel to another. 

If the char formed by the burning of the elastomer is not strong, it wdl easily erode due to mechanical shear forces, thermal stresses, and internal pressure generated by the hot volatile gases [98]. Therefore, mbber should be properly reinforced so that the char can withstand both mechanical... 

Extrusion texturization is a process that uses mechanical shear, heat, and pressure generated in the food extruder to change the structures of food components, including proteins (Harper, 1986). Protein texturization creates filamentous structures, crumbly surfaces, or other physical formations by restructuring or realigning folded or tightly wound globular structures into stretched, layered, or cross-linked mass (Kinsella and Franzen, 1978). 

Reactive macroalkyl radicals are formed during stress-initiated scission of the polymer backbone occassioned by the application of mechanical shear during industrial processing of thermoplastic polymers. These radicals undergo further reactions with other species or reactive sites, most important of which is molecular oxygen (dissolved or trapped in the polymer feed), with deleterious consequences. 

Oxidative degradation of polymers is initiated by radicals (R ) generated in the polymer by heat or mechanical shear during processing or by exposure to UV light. These radicals, in turn, react with 02 to form peroxy and hydroperoxide radicals that promote radical reactions. 

In cold mastication of rubber, a substance which prevents the recombination of the free radicals produced by the mechanical shearing forces. See Cold Mastication, Free Radical and Mechano-Chemical. 

Agglomerates are broken down through mechanical shearing forces Particle size reduction Desagglomeration. 

The basic principle is somewhat similar to cast film extrusion but the flow of the polymer is obtained by dissolving it in a solvent instead of heating it during mechanical shearing in an extruder. 

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