Thermoplastics ionomer

Wilson, M. S., Valerio, J. A., and Gottesfeld, S. Low platinum loading electrodes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells fabricated using thermoplastic ionomers. Electrochimica Acta 1995 40 355-363. 

The ionic attractions that result strongly influence the polymer properties. In an ionomer, the nonpolar chains are grouped together and the polar ionic groups are attracted to each other. The ionic groups would like to go off into a little comer by themselves, but since they are attached to the polymer chain, they cannot. This allows thermoplastic ionomers to act in ways similar to that of cross-linked polymers or block copolymers [101, 102]. 

Ionomer resins are produced in multiple grades to meet market needs, and prospective customers are provided with information on key processing parameters such as melt-flow index. Nominal values for many other properties are Hsted in product brochures. The ASTM test methods developed for general-purpose thermoplastic resins are appHcable to ionomers. No special methods have been introduced specifically for the ionomers. 

EPDM-Derived Ionomers. Another type of ionomer containing sulfonate, as opposed to carboxyl anions, has been obtained by sulfonating ethylene—propjlene—diene (EPDM) mbbers (59,60). Due to the strength of the cross-link, these polymers are not inherently melt-processible, but the addition of other metal salts such as zinc stearate introduces thermoplastic behavior (61,62). These interesting polymers are classified as thermoplastic elastomers (see ELASTOLffiRS,SYNTHETIC-THERMOPLASTICELASTOLffiRS). 

Butadiene—Methacrylic Acid Ionomers. Carboxyl groups can readily be introduced into butadiene elastomers by copolymerization, and the effects of partial neutralization have been reported (63—66). The ionized polymers exhibit some degree of fluidity at elevated temperatures, but are not thermoplastic elastomers, and are very deficient in key elastomer properties such as compression set resistance. 

As the author pointed out in the first edition of this book, the likelihood of discovering new important general purpose materials was remote but special purpose materials could be expected to continue to be introduced. To date this prediction has proved correct and the 1960s saw the introduction of the polysulphones, the PPO-type materials, aromatic polyesters and polyamides, the ionomers and so on. In the 1970s the new plastics were even more specialised in their uses. On the other hand in the related fields of rubbers and fibres important new materials appeared, such as the aramid fibres and the various thermoplastic rubbers. Indeed the division between rubbers and plastics became more difficult to draw, with rubbery materials being handled on standard thermoplastics-processing equipment. 

In September 1964 the Du Pont company announced materials that had characteristics of both thermoplastics and thermosetting materials. These materials, known as ionomers, are prepared by copolymerising ethylene with a small amount (1-10 % in the basic patent) of an unsaturated carboxylic acid such as acrylic acid using the high-pressure process. Such copolymers are then treated... 

It may also be argued that plasticised PVC may be considered as a thermoplastic elastomer, with the polymer being fugitively cross-linked by hydrogen bonding via the plasticiser molecules. These materials were, however, dealt with extensively in Chapter 12 and will not be considered further here. The ionomers are also sometimes considered as thermoplastic elastomers but the commercial materials are considered in this book as thermoplastics. It should, however, be kept in mind that ionic cross-linking can, and has, been used to fugitively crosslink elastomeric materials. 

Polymers can be modified by the introduction of ionic groups [I]. The ionic polymers, also called ionomers, offer great potential in a variety of applications. Ionic rubbers are mostly prepared by metal ion neutralization of acid functionalized rubbers, such as carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber, carboxylated polybutadiene rubber, and carboxylated nitrile rubber 12-5]. Ionic rubbers under ambient conditions show moderate to high tensile and tear strength and high elongation. The ionic crosslinks are thermolabile and, thus, the materials can be processed just as thermoplastics are processed [6]. 

DuPont Acetal EVA Nylon 6, 6/6, 6/12, Mineral Filled 6/6, Industrial PBT PET Polyethylene Modified Thermoplastic Elastomer Ionomer Liquid Crystal Polymer ... 

A route to compatibility involving ionomers has been described recently by Eisenberg and coworkers [250-252]. The use of ionic interactions between different polymer chains to produce new materials has gained tremendous importance. Choudhury et al. [60] reported compatibilization of NR-polyolefin blends with the use of ionomers (S-EPDM). Blending with thermoplastics and elastomers could enhance the properties of MPR. The compatibility of copolyester TPE, TPU, flexible PVC, with MPR in aU proportions, enables one to blend any combination of these plastics with MPR to cost performance balance. Myrick has reported on the effect of blending MPR with various combinations and proportions of these plastics and provided a general guideline for property enhancement [253]. 

Upaeglis A. and O Shea F.X., Thermoplastic elastomer compounds from sulfonated EPDM ionomers. Rubber Chem. TechnoL, 61, 223, 1988. 

Antony P., Bandyopadhyay S., and De S.K., Thermoplastic elastomers based on ionomeric polyblends of zinc salts of maleated polypropylene and maleated EPDM rubber, Polym. Eng. Sci., 39, 963, 1999. Weiss R.A., Sen A., Pottick L.A., and Willis C.L. Block copolymer ionomers. Thermoplastic elastomers possessing two distinct physical networks, Polym. Commun., 31, 220, 1990. 

Ionomer-type elastomers, containing small amounts (less than 5%) of metal carboxylate or sulfonate groups, have potential as a new class of thermoplastic elastomers. Carboxylic acid groups are introduced into polymers such as polybutadiene by copolymerization with a monomer such as acrylic or methacrylic acid. 

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), 9 565-566, 24 695-720 applications for, 24 709-717 based on block copolymers, 24 697t based on graft copolymers, ionomers, and structures with core-shell morphologies, 24 699 based on hard polymer/elastomer combinations, 24 699t based on silicone rubber blends, 24 700 commercial production of, 24 705-708 economic aspects of, 24 708-709 elastomer phase in, 24 703 glass-transition and crystal melting temperatures of, 24 702t hard phase in, 24 703-704 health and safety factors related to, 24 717-718... 

Co-extrusion with polyamides, polypropylene, polyethylene, EVA, thermoplastic polyester, polycarbonate, polystyrene, ionomers for packaging of fertilizers, herbicides and other chemicals. 

EMA ionomers (see Figure 4.30) are speciality thermoplastics copolymerized from ethylene and a small fraction of methacrylic acid, which is then transformed into the salt of sodium, zinc, lithium or another metal randomly distributed along the backbone. The backbone is identical to that of the polyolefins but the pendant groups are different, with a polar and ionic character. 

The stress at yield and at break are low and EMA ionomers are thermoplastic. Consequently, loading must be limited and creep moduli used for designing must be very low. 

The term ionomer was originally introduced in 1964 by Dupont to indicate a thermoplastic polymer containing both covalent and ionic bonds (5-7). By definition, ionomers are statistical thermoplastic copolymers consisting of (8) ... 

The polar groups in ionomers are suppressing the tendency of crystallization. Moreover, a ionic crosslinking is effected. Thus, both secondary valency forces and ionic forces are active. The special types of bonds effect a special toughness of the materials. However, ionomers are true thermoplastic materials. 

In contrast to most other thermoplastic materials, ionomers may serve as electrolytes. 

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