Rheology copolymer blends

Dharmarajan et al. [1995] have prepared com-patibilized blends of PO/PP/styrene copolymer. Blends of 100-0 parts PP, 0-100 parts SMA, 0-15 parts EP-g-l° amine (0.3 mol % amine), and 0-5 parts PP-2° amine (0.4 wt% amine) were combined in an internal mixer at 220°C. Blends were characterized by FTIR, DMTA, TEM, rheology, mechanical properties, lap shear adhesion, and paint adhesion. Properties were compared for blends containing either of the two amine-functionalized polymers alone. 

We will focus in this paper on the rheological properties, at room temperature, of styrene-isoprene block copolymers, particularly Triblock [SISj-Diblock [SI] copolymer blends. We will describe the effect of the molecular parameters of the copolymers on the rheological behavior, and wiU propose, on the basis of molecular dynamics models derived from the reptation concept and the analysis of the dynamic behavior of the blend [SIS-SI], a model which allows calculation of the variation of the complex shear modulus as a function of frequency. Different types of macromolecules have been designed from calculations using this molecular model in order to improve the processing and end-user properties of the full formulations (HMPSAs). 

M.A. Cowan, European Patent Application 095,299, 30 Nov 1983, to Intercpolyethylene blends, Ph.D. thesis. School of Molecular Sciences, Victoria University, Australia, 2004 A.L.N. Da Silva, M.C.G. Rocha, F.M.B. Coutinho, R.E.S. Bretas, C. Scuracchio, Rheological, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of polypropylene/ethyloie-octene copolymer blends. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 75, 692-704 (2000)... 

In this chapter we consider the properties of synthetic polymers. First, the main techniques of polymer synthesis are outlined (Section 2.2). Then the conformation of polymer molecules is discussed in Section 2.3. We move on to a summary of the main methods for characterization of polymeric materials in Section 2.4. Then the distinct features of the main classes of polymer are considered, i.e. solutions (Section 2.5), melts (and glasses) (Section 2.6) and crystals (Section 2.7). Then the important properties of plastics (Section 2.8), rubber (Section 2.9) and polymer fibres (Section 2.10) are related to microscopic structure and to rheology. Polymer blends and block copolymers form varied structures due to phase separation, and this is compared and contrasted for the two types of system in Section 2.11. Section 2.12 is concerned with dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers. Section 2.13 and 2.14 deal with polyelectrolytes and (opto)electronic polymers respectively. 

Block (Star) Arrangement. The known star polymers, like their linear counterparts, exhibit microphase separation. In general, they exhibit higher viscosities in the melt than their analogous linear materials. Their rheological behavior is reminiscent of network materials rather than linear block copolymers (58). Although they have been used as compatibiUzers in polymer blends, they are not as effective at property enhancements as linear diblocks... 

Antony, P., Puskas, J.E., and Kontopoulou, M. The Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Blends Based on Polystyrene-Polyisobutylene-Polystyrene Triblock Copolymer and Polystyrene. Proceedings of MODEST, International Symposium on Polymer Modification, Degradation and Stabilization, Budapest, Hungary, 2002. 

Short fiber reinforcement of TPEs has recently opened up a new era in the field of polymer technology. Vajrasthira et al. [22] studied the fiber-matrix interactions in short aramid fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites. Campbell and Goettler [23] reported the reinforcement of TPE matrix by Santoweb fibers, whereas Akhtar et al. [24] reported the reinforcement of a TPE matrix by short silk fiber. The reinforcement of thermoplastic co-polyester and TPU by short aramid fiber was reported by Watson and Prances [25]. Roy and coworkers [26-28] studied the rheological, hysteresis, mechanical, and dynamic mechanical behavior of short carbon fiber-filled styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) block copolymers and TPEs derived from NR and high-density polyethylene (HOPE) blends. 

Hong, B. K. and Jo, W. H. (2000) Effects of molecular weight of SEBS triblock copolymer on the morphology, impact strength, and rheological property of syndiotactic polystyrene/ ethylene-propylene rubber blends. Polymer, 41, 2069-2079. 

Other NAD microspheres are composed of styrene, MMA, hydroxyethyl acrylate, acrylic acid and acrylonitrile and are blended with acrylic copolymers and melamine/formaldehyde resins [341,342]. Particles of this polymer are used as rheology modifiers to prevent sagging in automotive coatings and for controlling the orientation of metal flake pigments. 

Blends of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer with metallocene-catalysed elastomeric ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer were investigated and were found to be immiscible in the melt and solid state but mechanically compatible. The morphology (SEM), thermal (DSC), rheological (viscosity), mechanical (including tensile, shear thinning and elastic behaviour) and optical properties of EVA-rich and ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer-rich blends were studied and the results are discussed in terms of processibility in film applications. 24 refs. 

An important group of surface-active nonionic synthetic polymers (nonionic emulsifiers) are ethylene oxide (block) (co)polymers. They have been widely researched and some interesting results on their behavior in water have been obtained [33]. Amphiphilic PEO copolymers are currently of interest in such applications as polymer emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, drug carriers, polymer blend compatibilizers, and phase transfer catalysts. Examples are block copolymers of EO and styrene, graft or block copolymers with PEO branches anchored to a hydrophilic backbone, and star-shaped macromolecules with PEO arms attached to a hydrophobic core. One of the most interesting findings is that some block micelle systems in fact exists in two populations, i.e., a bimodal size distribution. 

In this paper, we first present a model study on blending a a,co-3,5-dinitrobenzoate PDMS and free 9H-carbazole-9-ethanol, in order to check whether the recently proposed 1 1 stoechiometry between carbazole and dinitrobenzoate molecules indeed applies (Scheme 1). [26] Then, we describe the preparation of triblock copolymers, poly[2-(N-carbazolyl)ethyl methacrylate]-fc-PDMS-fc-poly[2-(N-carbazolyl)ethyl methacrylate] (P(CzEMA)-fe-PDMS-fc-P(CzEMA)), using Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP), and their blending with the acceptor-functionalized PDMS. In both studies, the physical association and thermal reversibility of these were followed by different techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, DSC or Rheology. 

This chapter deals almost exclusively with neat, or pure, diblock copolymer melts. Polymer blends are discussed in Chapter 9, micellar solutions in Chapter 12, and stabilized suspensions in Chapter 6. In the following, Section 13.2 briefly reviews the thermodynamics of block copolymers, and Section 13.3 describes the rheological properties and flow alignment of lamellae, cylinders, and sphere-forming mesophases of block copolymers. More thorough reviews of the thermodynamics and dynamics of block copolymers in the liquid state have been written by Bates and Fredrickson (1990 Fredrickson and Bates 1996). The processing of block copolymers and mechanical properties of the solid-state structures formed by them are covered in Folkes (1985). Biological applications are discussed in Alexandridis (1996). 

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