Natural Polymer Alloy

Due to increased awareness of biodegradable plastic, polymer blends with lignin from cellulose as one of the constituents has been developed. When synthetic polymers are used as constituents of polymer blend, it results in an increase in recycling 

Alkali lignin is used as a binding agent in the cellulose industry to prepare hard-board made from wood and cellulose. It is used as a stabilizer in asphalt emulsion. 

A patent from Germany [12] describes a method for producing construction materials made from a polymer blend. The blend consists of alkali lignin and protein. The product is used to house electrical and electronic devices. Polylactide with high impact strength is used. Chitin or natural starch may also be used. 

The dope composition consists of two polymer components and two solvent components for each polymer, respectively. Polyether sulfone (PES) and PEO are selected as the two polymer components. Glycerin can serve as a solvent for one of 

FIGURE 8.1 Phase diagram of quaternay blend of PES/PEO/glycerin/nonsolvent blend. 

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Use of compatibilizer in polymer alloys PC/ABS alloys Nylon/ABS alloys PVC/ABS alloys PE-based alloys Natural polymer alloys... 

Polymer Alloys A class of polymer blends, heterogeneous in nature with modified, controlled interfacial properties or morphology. 

Detailed analytical and numerical studies of the above questions are in progress, and a very rich and nonadditive dependence of the phase behavior on the precise nature of the attractive potentials, single chain architecture, and thermodynamic state is found [67, 72]. A full understanding of these issues would provide a scientific basis for the rational molecular design of polymeric alloys. The influence of asymmetries on the spinodal phase boundary of simple model polymer alloys using analytic PRISM theory with molecular closures has been derived by Schweizer [67]. In this section a few of these results are briefly discussed. 

Hydrophilic/hydrophobic force balance of polymers may be varied by incorporation of a hydrophilic polymer in a bulk of a hydrophobic polymer (grafting of a hydrophilic monomer would be such a case). Also different block copolymers and polymer alloys are prepared with the aim to ensure the desired properties of the polymer. All these procedures alter the nature of the polymer, changing the magnitude of its long and short range forces. 

D IR spectroscopy has been applied extensively to studies of polymeric materials. A recent review of 2D IR spectroscopy cites numerous applications in the study of polymers by this technique [6]. In this section, some representative examples of 2D IR analysis of polymers are presented. We will start our discussion with a simple homogeneous amorphous polymer then move to more complex multiphase systems, such as semicrystalline polymers. Alloys and blends consisting of more than one polymer components are of great scientific and technical importance. Both immiscible and miscible polymer blend systems may be studied by 2D IR spectroscopy. Analysis of microphase-separated block copolymers is also possible. Finally, the possible application of 2D IR spectroscopy to the studies of natural polymers of biological origin is explored. 

Polymer alloys using natural polymers can be prepared. Lignin and protein can form interesting blends. An isotropic porous membrane can be prepared using a quaternary blend taking advantage of the LCST/UCST behavior. 

What are the differences in the properties of polymer alloys made from synthetic polymers and from polymer alloys made from natural polymers ... 

Polymer alloy is a commercial polymer blend with improvement in property balance with the use of compatibilizer(s). PVC/SAN blends were found to be miscible and not compatible at certain AN compositions. Miscible and compatible PVC/SAN blends with better properties can be prepared with a different AN composition. PC and LDPE can be blended with each other with EPDM as the compatibilizer. LDPP and PC can be blended together and ABS used as the modifier for the alloy. Polymer alloys using natural polymers can be prepared. Lignin and protein can form interesting blends. 

Tjong SC, li RKY, Xie X (2000) Properties of in situ composites based on stanillexible thermotropic liquid crystalline copolyesttaamide and polyamide 66 blends. Polym J 32(11) 907-914 Utracki LA, Favis BD (1989) Handbook of polymer science and technology. In Cheremisinoff NP (ed) Polymer alloys and blends. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, pp 121-201 Vollrath F, Knight DP (2001) Liquid crystalline spinning of spider silk. Nature 410 (6828) 541-548... 

Polymers, as a component of assemblies, polymer blends, alloys, and composites, have been studied by mixing them with different species. However, in these instances, the structures and properties are statistical in nature. Polymers have numerous structural potentials in the main chains and side chains. If polymers can be used as guest molecules, the resultant complexes could provide new structures and functions. Polymeric inclusion compounds are thought to be a typical example of nanoscale composites—molecular level composites made by bottom-up approaches. Urea, thiourea, and per-hydrotriphenylene have been extensively studied as host molecules for the formation of inclusion compounds with various polymers. 

Noncrystalline aromatic polycarbonates (qv) and polyesters (polyarylates) and alloys of polycarbonate with other thermoplastics are considered elsewhere, as are aHphatic polyesters derived from natural or biological sources such as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), poly(glycoHde), or poly(lactide) these, too, are separately covered (see Polymers, environmentally degradable Sutures). Thermoplastic elastomers derived from poly(ester—ether) block copolymers such as PBT/PTMEG-T [82662-36-0] and known by commercial names such as Hytrel and Riteflex are included here in the section on poly(butylene terephthalate). Specific polymers are dealt with largely in order of volume, which puts PET first by virtue of its enormous market volume in bottie resin. 

Chattopadhyay S., Chaki T.K., and Bhowmick A.K., New thermoplastic elastomers from poly(ethyle-neoctene) (engage), poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) and low-density polyethylene by electron beam technology structural characterization and mechanical properties. Rubber Chem. TechnoL, 74, 815, 2001. Roy Choudhury N. and Dutta N.K., Thermoplastic elastomeric natural rubber-polypropylene blends with reference to interaction between the components. Advances in Polymer Blends and Alloys Technology, Vol. 5 (K. Finlayson, ed.), Technomic Publishers, Pensylvania, 1994, 161. 

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