Poly -modified strengths

The next significant strength improvement followed the 1950 Du Pont (19) discovery of monoamine and quaternary ammonium modifiers, which, when added to the viscose, prolonged the life of the ziac cellulose xanthate gel, and enabled even higher stretch levels to be used. Modifiers have proliferated siace they were first patented and the Hst now iacludes many poly(alkylene oxide) derivatives (20), polyhydroxypolyamines (21—23), and dithiocarbamates (24). 

Fully modified yams had smooth, all-skin cross sections, a stmcture made up of numerous small crystaUites of cellulose, and filament strengths around 0.4 N/tex (4.5 gf/den). They were generally known as the Super tire yams. Improved Super yams (0.44—0.53 N/tex (5—6 gf/den)) were made by mixing modifiers, and one of the best combiaations was found to be dimethylamine with poly-(oxyethylene) glycol of about 1500 mol wt (25). Ethoxjlated fatty acid amines have now largely replaced dimethylamine because they are easier to handle and cost less. 

Polyester sheet products may be produced from amorphous poly(ethylene terephalate) (PET) or partiaHy crystallized PET. Acid-modified (PETA) and glycol modified (PETG) resins are used to make ultraclear sheet for packaging. Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) has also been used in sheet form. Liquid-crystal polyester resins are recent entries into the market for specialty sheet. They exhibit great strength, dimensional stabHity, and inertness at temperatures above 250°C (see Polyesters,thermoplastic). 

Heat resistance is an important characteristic of the bond. The strength of typical abrasive stmctures is tested at RT and at 300°C. Flexural strengths are between 24.1 and 34.4 MPa (3500—5000 psi). An unmodified phenoHc resin bond loses about one-third of its room temperature strength at 298°C. Novolak phenoHc resins are used almost exclusively because these offer heat resistance and because the moisture given off during the cure of resole resins results in undesirable porosity. Some novolaks modified with epoxy or poly(vinyl butyral) resin are used for softer grinding action. 

Poly(vinyl chloride). PVC is one of the most important and versatile commodity polymers (Table 4). It is inherently flame retardant and chemically resistant and has found numerous and varied appHcations, principally because of its low price and capacity for being modified. Without modification, processibiUty, heat stabiUty, impact strength, and appearance all are poor. Thermal stabilizers, lubricants, plasticizers, impact modifiers, and other additives transform PVC into a very versatile polymer (257,258). 

Pyrotechnic mixtures may also contain additional components that are added to modify the bum rate, enhance the pyrotechnic effect, or serve as a binder to maintain the homogeneity of the blended mixture and provide mechanical strength when the composition is pressed or consoHdated into a tube or other container. These additional components may also function as oxidizers or fuels in the composition, and it can be anticipated that the heat output, bum rate, and ignition sensitivity may all be affected by the addition of another component to a pyrotechnic composition. An example of an additional component is the use of a catalyst, such as iron oxide, to enhance the decomposition rate of ammonium perchlorate. Diatomaceous earth or coarse sawdust may be used to slow up the bum rate of a composition, or magnesium carbonate (an acid neutralizer) may be added to help stabilize mixtures that contain an acid-sensitive component such as potassium chlorate. Binders include such materials as dextrin (partially hydrolyzed starch), various gums, and assorted polymers such as poly(vinyl alcohol), epoxies, and polyesters. Polybutadiene mbber binders are widely used as fuels and binders in the soHd propellant industry. The production of colored flames is enhanced by the presence of chlorine atoms in the pyrotechnic flame, so chlorine donors such as poly(vinyl chloride) or chlorinated mbber are often added to color-producing compositions, where they also serve as fuels. 

Siding. The resin most used for siding is poly(vinyl chloride) homopolymer, compounded with modifiers, stabilizers, and pigments. Modifiers are most often acryhc esters, followed by chlorinated polyethylene or ethylene—vinyl acetate, used at 6—8 phr (parts per hundred resin). The modifier increases the impact strength of the rigid PVC. 

Blends of ABS with polycarbonates have been available for several years (e.g. Bayblend by Bayer and Cycoloy by Borg-Wamer). In many respects these polymers have properties intermediate to the parent plastics materials with heat distortion temperatures up to 130°C. They also show good impact strength, particularly at low temperatures. Self-extinguishing and flame retarding grades have been made available. The materials thus provide possible alternatives to modified poly(phenylene oxides) of the Noryl type described in Chapter 21. (See also sections 16.16 and 20.8.)... 

An example of this improvement in toughness can be demonstrated by the addition of Vamac B-124, an ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymer from DuPont, to ethyl cyanoacrylate [24-26]. Three model instant adhesive formulations, a control without any polymeric additive (A), a formulation with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (B), and a formulation with Vamac B-124 (C), are shown in Table 4. The formulation with PMMA, a thermoplastic which is added to modify viscosity, was included to determine if the addition of any polymer, not only rubbers, could improve the toughness properties of an alkyl cyanoacrylate instant adhesive. To demonstrate an improvement in toughness, the three formulations were tested for impact strength, 180° peel strength, and lapshear adhesive strength on steel specimens, before and after thermal exposure at 121°C. 

In a partially crystalline homopolymer, nylon 6, property enhancement has been achieved by blending with a poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) or its salt form ionomer [24]. Both additives proved to be effective impact modifiers for nylon 6. For the blends of the acid copolymer with nylon 6, maximum impact performance was obtained by addition of about 10 wt% of the modifier and the impact strength was further enhanced by increasing the acrylic acid content from 3.5 to 6%. However, blends prepared using the salt form ionomer (Sur-lyn 9950-Zn salt) instead of the acid, led to the highest impact strength, with the least reduction in tensile... 

The variation of mechanical parameters correlates with variation of AH sudden drop of tensile and impact strength with a thin modifier layer, then increase of strength with increase of poly(urethane urea) film — a minor increase of strength but a tangible one for specific impact strength. 

Plasticizers are very high-boiling liquids that when mixed with polymers like poly(vinyl chloride) modify the properties of the polymer to produce a material with added flexibility without losing other desirable properties such as strength. They are commonly made by reacting phthahc anhydride with a long-chain alcohol (typically eight carbons). 

Figure 14.9 Effect of various impact modifiers (25wt%) on the notched Izod impact strength of recycled PET (as moulded and annealed at 150°C for 16 h) E-GMA, glycidyl-methacrylate-functionalized ethylene copolymer E-EA-GMA, ethylene-ethyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (72/20/8) terpolymer E-EA, ethylene-ethyl acrylate EPR, ethylene propylene rubber MA-GPR, maleic anhydride grafted ethylene propylene rubber MBS, poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(butadiene/styrene) BuA-C/S, poly(butyl acrylate-g-poly(methyl methacrylate) core/shell rubber. Data taken from Akkapeddi etal. [26]...

Actually, ABS can be considered as an impact modifier for PC. PC/ABS blends have been compatibilized with both maleic anhydride (MA)-grafted poly(propylene) (PP) and a solid epoxy resin of the bisphenol A type. Both compatibilizers are effective for formulations of an ABS content up to 30%. The the impact strength of the compatibilized blends was close to that of PC. However, above 40% ABS content, the impact strength decreases significantly (19). 

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