Melt-Interfacial Interactions

Co-continuous polymer blends of 50/50 polyamide6/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (PA6/ABS) involving multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared by melt mixing technique in order to develop conducting composites utilizing the concept of double-percolation. To control the dispersion and to selectively restrict MWNTs in the PA6 phase of the blends, MWNTs were pre-treated with two modifiers which differ in their molecular length scales and 

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Polypropylene (PP500P, SABIC) has melt flow rate of 3.1 (2.16 kg at 230 °C) and density of 905 kg/m3 was used as matrix resin. Nano-sized synthetic ultrafine surface treated precipitated calcium carbonate (Socal 312, Solvay, France) with mean particle diameter of 70 nm used as filler phase. PP-g-MAH compatibiliser (Priex 20097, Solvay, France) with a maleic anhydride content of 0.05 wt % and MFI of 15 (2.16 kg at 230 °C) was employed to promote the interfacial interaction between nano-CaC03 and PP, and to extend the dispersion of nanoparticles in polymer matrix. Compounds used as processing materials are listed in the table 1. 

No similar results/data about functional POs and OLS have been reported, but the role of the chemistry at the interface and of specific interfacial interactions, provided by inserted functionalities, has been experimentally proved by indirect measurements the effects of the presence of polar groups and their quantity onto the final morphology development and ultimate properties of related nanocomposites have been really assessed (Ciardelli et al. 2008). Two main important effects of the presence of polar groups onto POs during the melt intercalation and after the preparation of the nanocomposites can be highlighted from results reported and discussed in the literature ... 

From the viewpoint of composite mechanics, the better performances of composites come from the effective reinforcing effect of the reinforcements and effective stress transferring from the mafiix to the reinforcements. The reinforcing LCP fibrils in in situ composites are generated during the melt processing of LCP blends, which is different fi om conventional glass or carbon fiber-reinforced composites. So the formation of LCP fibrils becomes one of the most important aspects in the preparation of in situ composites, except the common interfacial interaction in fiber-reinforced plastics. 

The crystallization of PEO was also unveiled at the level of individual lamellae in ultrathin films (278-280). It was observed that although lamellar growth rates were retarded in films thinner than 200 nm because of interfacial interactions, SFM provided the same qualitative and quantitative information as typically applied bulk characterization techniques on lamellar growth rates, lamellar thicknesses, and melting points. The Hoffman-Weeks extrapolation, the Gihhs-Thompson equation, and the Hoffman-Lauritzen theory were apphed and the results compared favorably to the corresponding hulk data. 

Diblock copolymers are known to be the most effective compatibilizers for improving the interfacial interactions between two polymers that are immiscible. This is particularly interesting for iPP, since its lack of functionality and the poor compatibility between iPP and other materials have imposed limitations for iPP applications in many areas, including polymer blends and composites. The synthesis of iPP with terminal functional groups (OH, NH2, etc.) offers a good opportunity to carry out chain extensions through simple coupling reactions with suitable polymers. These may be carried out in solution or in the polymer melt. Reactive extrusion of two chain-end reactive polymers... 

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