Polymer blend applications

This chapter builds on the information contained on the same subject in Chap. 13 of the first edition of the Polymer Blends Handbook by providing an overview of current applications of polymer blends and alloys with an outlook towards developing areas. A dual approach employed herein to portray the field covers both a description of polymer blend technologies directed toward solving application issues related to societal megatrends, as well as the generic performance/ testing specifications required for products in broad areas of conunerce amenable to polymer blend applications. 

It is hoped that the approach outlined above provides afresh view on polymer blend applications that builds on, and complements the presentation on the same subject in Chap. 13 of the first edition of the Polymer Blends Handbook. 

K.F. Freed, J. Dudowicz, Influence of short chain branching rai the miscibility of binary polymer blends application to polyolefin mixtures. Macromolecules 29(2), 625-636 (1996)... 

The technological definition of compatibilization, such as in the modification of NR blends, is the process that produces a desirable set of properties. These approaches can be defined and may assist the development of materials. Table 7.2 shows the various types of compatibilization techniques for several NR/polymer blended applications. 

Polycarbonates based on tetramethylbisphenol A are thermally stable and have a high Vicat softening point of 196°C. On the other hand they have lower impact and notched impact resistance than the normal polymer. Blends with styrene-based polymers were introduced in 1980, and compared with PC/ABS blends, are claimed to have improved hydrolytic resistance, lower density and higher heat deflection temperatures. Suggested applications are as dishes for microwave ovens and car headlamp reflectors. 

PBAs are designed explicitly to meet the needs of specific applications on the basis of their property-processing-cost performances. One polymer is incorporated into the matrix of other polymers to impart specific characteristics as per the requirement along with the appropriate compatibilizer to ensure stress transfer in between phases. The polymer blend constituents and composition must, therefore, be selected on the basis of the compensation of properties, considering the advantages and disadvantages associated with each phase. Table 12 indicates some of the components used as modifiers. 

As well as phenyl derivatives, other products have been prepared by hydrolysis of alkoxysilanes such as cyclohexenyl or naphthyl derivatives as well as heterocyclic compounds based on thienyl rings (Table 31, entries 28-33). Few practical applications have been reported for this type of compound, except for the styryl compound T81C6H4-A-CFI = CH2]s, and the fluorinated TslCeFsJs which have been used in polymer blending (Table 31, entries 13 and 28). ... 

On the whole, GPEC remains a technique in search for polymer/additive applications with real added value [835]. Practical applications of GPEC may be found in the analysis of polymer blends [836], laminates and packaging materials. For example, the technique can be used for determination of the impact modifier content in PS packaging material, which contains a soluble transparent rubber for transparent applications,... 

Block copolymers possess unique and novel properties for industrial applications. During the past 20 years, they have sparked much interest, and several of them have been commercialized and are available on the market. The most common uses of block copolymers are as thermoplastic elastomers, toughened thermoplastic resins, membranes, polymer blends, and surfactants. From a chemist s point of view, the most important advantage of block copolymers is the wide variability of their chemical structure. By choice of the repeating unit and the length and structure of both polymer blocks, a whole range of properties can be adjusted. 

Confocal fluorescence microscopy has been extensively used in cell biology. Single living cells can indeed be studied by this technique visualization of organelles, distribution of electrical potential, pH imaging, Ca2+ imaging, etc. (Lemasters, 1996). Interesting applications in chemistry have also been reported in the fields of colloids, liquid crystals and polymer blends. 

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