Czesław Ślusarczyk

The state of ion aggregation in ionomers based on copolymers of styrene and acrylic acid. 1. Small-angle X-ray scattering studies

Abstract Small-angle X-ray scattering results for random ionomers based on copolymers of styrene and acrylic acid containing ions of alkali metals are presented. A study has been made on the influence of the content and type of acrylate in styrene-based ionomers on the state of ion aggregation. The obtained results indicate that in the case of the ionomers containing caesium ion clusters of sizes ∼100 A and multiplets of sizes ∼20 A are formed. For these ionomers, the increase of the temperature causes the increase of the size of clusters. In the case of ionomers containing lithium and potassium ions, only the smaller aggregate multiplets are formed.

Phenomenological analysis of microphase separation in relation to SAXS investigations of polymer blend fibres

Based on the Takayanagi models, the phenomenological analysis of microphase separation for PE/ABS and PS/PMMA blend fibres is presented. The supermolecular structure parameters, including the value of the long period, the thickness of the transition layer between phases and the average inhomogeneity lengths, were determined by means SAXS. The changes in parameters of the supermolecular structure correspond well with conclusions drawn from phenomenological analysis.

Poly(Ethylene Oxide)/Styrene Ionomers Blends: Crystallization of Poly (Ethylene Oxide) Component Studied by Wide-Angle X-Ray Diffraction

Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to determine the morphology of crystalline phase of blends of poly(ethylene-oxide) (PEO) and styrene-acrylic acid (S-AA) copolymers neutralized with sodium ions (Na+). In this study, we investigated the effects of blend composition and the content of ionic groups in amorphous ionomers on the degree of crystallinity and the crystallite sizes. It was found that the degree of crystallinity of PEO in the blends decreases both with increasing S-ANa(6.4) content and with increasing ANa content. The sizes of PEO crystallites, measured both in the direction perpendicular and parallel to the polymer axis, are almost independent of ionic groups content in the amorphous component of the blends but they decrease with increasing S-ANa(6.4) content. For the blends containing small amounts of PEO the confined crystallization of this polymer were observed. The final crystalline morphology of these blends, observed by SEM method, is different in comparison to that formed without spatial confinement.

Study of PET fibres modified with phosphorus–silicon retardants

In this study, flame-retardant poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibres were produced using a high-temperature bath method similar to dyeing fibres with disperse dyes. A mixture of aqueous solutions of silicon and phosphorus compounds was used as the flame retardant. Samples of the modified fibres were examined by thermogravimetric analysis. The residue left after limited oxygen index test was analysed by scanning electron microscopy. Effect of the flame retardant on changing the supermolecular structure of PET fibres was evaluated using wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Mechanical properties of the modified PET fibres as compared with standard fibres were also examined.

Influence of heat‐stabilization on supermolecular structure of colored PP fibers

Investigations of supermolecular structure and tensile properties of colored heat-stabilized fibers were carried out. For fiber coloring, chosen organic pigments with differentiated nucleating properties were used. It was stated that during the fiber formation, a fibrillar–lamellar structure with α-crystals is formed. In fibers colored with a quinacridone pigment, the minimal number of β-crystals was observed. During heat-stabilization, perfecting of the supermolecular structure of the fiber occurs. Because of pigments, the process of rebuilding occurs more intensively and leads to formation of a more stable structure with higher crystallinity.

Sodium ascorbate (SA) and l-ascorbic acid (AA) as modifiers of burn affected skin – A comparative analysis

Proper functioning of living organisms requires controlling the factors which govern the level of oxidative stress in the system, that is presence of free radicals at a given, rather low, level and preventing their excess. In this work it is shown that SA and AA active antioxidants, governing the oxidative stress in the wound, modify standard serum solution as well as burn affected necrotic eschar at the molecular structure level. In the case of incubation of skin fragments in SA and AA, the following findings were reported: modification of serum, that is appearance of low molecular weight oligomer bands in AA and recreation of native serum bands in SA. In frozen serum solutions modified by AA FTIR 1759 and 1420-1053 cm-1 bands are observed, whereas in SA FTIR 1603, 1411-1054 and 536 cm-1 bands appear. In the case of modification of the burn affected necrotic eschar in SA and AA - frequency shifts in the fingerprint region 1780-1000 cm-1 can be biomarkers indicating tissue regeneration process under the influence of antioxidants. 1780-1580 cm-1 and 1418-1250 cm-1 regions on the Raman spectra are particularly rich in spectral information. Modification of samples of skin burnt with AA activates the regions of the β-sheet aggregates whereas treatment of the samples with SA ascorbate demonstrates changes which testify to reconstruction of α-helix structure (SAXS studies).

Properties and Structure of Cellulosic Membranes Obtained from Solutions in Ionic Liquids Coagulated in Primary Alcohols

Abstract This paper presents the results of studies on the preparation of cellulosic membranes, from a solution in 1-ethyl-3- methylimidazolium acetate (EMIMAc), using the phase inversion method. Initially, the membranes were obtained by coagulation of the polymer film in water and primary alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol), 1-hexanol, 1-octanol) resulting in membranes with significantly differing morphologies. Subsequently, composite membranes were produced, with the support layer being a membrane with the largest pores, and the skin layer a membrane with smaller pores. The resulting membranes were tested for physicochemical and transport properties. The morphology of the membrane surfaces and their cross-sections were investigated by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The structure of the membranes, on the other hand, was investigated by FTIR spectroscopy and WAXS structural analysis.

Study of Structure of Polypropylene Microfibres Modified with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

The paper presented is concerned with studies of a supermolecular structure and its transformation during the process of drawing new composite microfibres obtained from isotactic polypropylene (iPP) – as a matrix and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) used as the filler. The nanostructure of iPP/MWCNT microfibres as spun and after drawing at a temperature of 95°C was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods.

Crystalline and Lamellar Structure of Polypropylene Fibrillated Fibres

The effects of processing conditions on the structure of polypropylene fibrillated fibres were studied using a combination of wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering methods. In particular the impact of selected stages of processing on the crystalline and lamellar structure of PP were analyzed. It was stated that crystalline phase is built from α crystals. The crystallinity index as well as the Herman orientation factor of the crystalline phase is found to have a correlation only with the draw ratio of the PP film. The lamellar structure also changes with the draw ratio.

Looking for Positive Mixing Volume in Polyamide/Acrylic Rubber Blends with Use of Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy and Other Methods

M. D bowska, J. Pig owski , T. Suzuki, J. Rudzi ska-Girulska, Cz. lusarczyk, W. Binia 4 1 Institute of Experimental Physics, University of Wroc aw, PL 50-204 Wroc aw, pl. M. Borna 9, Poland, debowska@ifd.uni.wroc.pl 2 Institute of Organic and Polymer Technology, Wroc aw University of Technology, Wybrze e Wyspia skiego 27, PL 50-370 Wroc aw, Poland, piglowski@itots.ch.pwr.wroc.pl 3 Radiation Science Center, KEK, Oho 1-1, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-0801,Japan, 4 University of Bielsko-Bia a, Willowa Street 2, PL 43-309 Bielsko-Bia a, Poland