Overall modification, polymer

Overall modification is the modification that occurs in both the interior and the surface of the polymer material. A feature of this kind of modification is that performance changes uniformly. Modification of polymer materials is mostly overall modification, such as filling modification, blending modification, crosslinking modification, morphology control modification, and so forth that were mentioned previously. 

The interest in this type of copolymers is still very strong due to their large volume applications as emulsifiers and stabilizers in many different systems 43,260,261). However, little is known about the structure-property relationships of these systems 262) and the specific interactions of different segments in these copolymers with other components in a particular multicomponent system. Sometimes, minor chemical modifications in the PDMS-PEO copolymer backbone structures can lead to dramatic changes in its properties, e.g. from a foam stabilizer to an antifoam. Therefore, recent studies are usually directed towards the modification of polymer structures and block lengths in order to optimize the overall structure-property-performance characteristics of these systems 262). 

Among the various radiation-induced modifications, the EB-processing of polymers has gained special importance as it requires less energy, is simple, fast, and versatile in application. The overall properties of EB-irradiated polymeric materials are also improved compared to those induced by other ionizing radiation. 

The modification of PET with naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid and other additional comonomers is a common measure in bottle manufacturing. Copolyesters based on this compound show excellent barrier properties. Such materials can be produced by addition of the desired amount of comonomer during polymer processing or by blending PET with poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN). Additionally, PEN can also be modified by other comonomers such as isophthalic acid (IPA) to improve the flow properties and reduce the melting point. The high price of naphthalene dicarboxylic acid is the reason for its limited application. The overall cost may be reduced by using TPA or IPA as comonomers. 

For the products formed utilizing the interfacial technique in particular, the fact that high inclusion of the monomeric portion within polymer chains even for "low overall yield" systems may be due to the polymer chains being drawn, or remaining within the critical reaction zone until modification is essentially complete rather than to some neighboring group assistance - their position rather than increased chemical reactivity may be the essential aspect. The relative amount of modification of polymer chains which are in the critical reaction zone may be enhanced... 

The concentration of a small molecule reactant inside the polymer coils can be lower than outside when one uses a poor solvent for the polymer. This results in lower local and overall reaction rates. In the extreme, a poor solvent results in reaction occurring only on the surfaces of a polymer. Surface reactions are advantageous for applications requiring modification of surface properties without affecting the bulk physical properties of a polymer, such as modification of surface dyeability, biocompatibility, adhesive and frictional behavior, and coatability [Ward and McCarthy, 1989]. 

Overall, the plasma-treated samples show an improvement in terms of dispersion and tensile properties. Treatment with different plasma monomers show different levels of improvement in terms of dispersion and final vulcanizate properties due to the different levels of compatibilization in the polymer blend and, more specifically, with the different polymers used in this blend. The most important aspect for achieving an optimal balance between the properties of a filled polymer blend for a specific application is the selection of the proper monomer for the plasma modification of the silica surface, in relation to its required compatibility with a particular polymer in the blend. 

Categorization of the reactions within our three subdivisions at times was somewhat difficult. For example, with the heterocycle polymers of category (2), oftentimes the overall reactions occurred in steps with the actual heterocycle-forming reaction occurring from some precursor polymer. Technically, reactions of this sort could be classified as polymer modifications. However, since these latter reactions usually can be accomplished in the same reaction vessel, simply by elevating the temperature, we have chosen to regard them as heterocycle-forming polymerizations. 

Modifed PTFE can be used in practically all applications, where the conventional polymer is used. In addition to that, new applications are possible because of its improved flow and overall performance. In the chemical process industry, it is used for equipment linings, seals, gaskets, and other parts, where its improved resistance to creep is an asset. In semiconductor manufacturing, modified PTFE is used in fluid handling components and in wafer processing components. Typical applications in electrical and electronic industries are connectors and capacitor films. Other applications are in unlubricated bearings, laboratory equipment, seal rings for hydraulic systems, and antistick components.103... 

Chemical modification reactions continue to play a dominant role in improving the overall utilization of lignocellulosic materials [1,2]. The nature of modification may vary from mild pretreatment of wood with alkali or sulfite as used in the production of mechanical pulp fibers [3] to a variety of etherification, esterification, or copolymerization processes applied in the preparation of wood- [4], cellulose- [5] or lignin- [6] based materials. Since the modification of wood polymers is generally conducted in a heterogeneous system, the apparent reactivity would be influenced by both the chemical and the physical nature of the substrate as well as of the reactant molecules involved. 

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