Elzbieta Piesowicz

Phase Separation and Elastic Properties of Poly(Trimethylene Terephthalate)-block-poly(Ethylene Oxide) Copolymers

A series of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PTT-b-PEOT) copolymers with different compositions of rigid PTT and flexible PEOT segments were synthesized via condensation in the melt. The influence of the block length and the block ratio on the micro-separated phase structure and elastic properties of the synthesized multiblock copolymers was studied. The PEOT segments in these copolymers were kept constant at 1130, 2130 or 3130 g/mol, whereas the PTT content varied from 30 up to 50 wt %. The phase separation was assessed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The crystal structure of the synthesised block copolymers and their microstructure on the manometer scale was evaluated by using WAXS and SAXS analysis. Depending on the PTT/PEOT ratio, but also on the rigid and flexible segment length in PTT-b-PEO copolymers, four different domains were observed i.e.,: a crystalline PTT phase, a crystalline PEO phase (which exists for the whole series based on three types of PEOT segments), an amorphous PTT phase (only at 50 wt % content of PTT rigid segments) and an amorphous PEO phase. Moreover, the elastic deformability and reversibility of PTT-b-PEOT block copolymers were studied during a cyclic tensile test. Determined values of permanent set resultant from maximum attained stain (100% and 200%) for copolymers were used to evaluate their elastic properties.

Magnetic studies of 0.7(Fe2O3)/0.3(ZnO) nanocomposites in nanopowder form and dispersed in polymer matrix

Abstract Magnetic properties of 0.7(Fe2O3)/0.3(ZnO) nanocomposite synthesized by traditional wet chemistry method and containing only two phases: ZnO (nonmagnetic) and ZnFe2O4 (magnetic, with nanocrystallites of average size 12 nm, but forming large agglomerates, up to 100 nm in size) were studied by DC magnetization and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). The investigated nanocomposite was either in a form of nanopowder or dispersed at concentration of 0.1 wt.% in poly(ethylene naphthalate-block-tetramethylene oxide) PTMO-b-PEN polymer matrix. Similarities and differences in magnetic behavior of these two samples revealed by the study of static magnetization and FMR spectra have been discussed relative to different morphologies and the associated variation of interparticle interactions. Moreover, thermal and thermo-oxidative stability of the nanocomposite and the neat polymer have been studied by thermogravimetric method.

Modification of substandard EPDM with amorphous thermoplastic polyesters (PETG and PEF): microstructure and physical properties

Abstract The phase morphology, thermal behavior and mechanical properties of two series of polymer blends based on ethylene/propylene/diene rubber (EPDM) and amorphous homologues of poly(ethylene terephthalate), i.e. glycol modified poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETG) and poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), were investigated. The morphology of the blends shows a two phase structure in which the minor phase (amorphous polyester) is dispersed as domains in the major (EPDM) continuous matrix phase. Differential calorimetry studies confirmed that both systems were immiscible and exhibits two glass transitions. The melting peak area of EPDM in the blends decreased as the amount of the other component increased. The values of stress at strain of 100% were improved upon the increasing content of PETG in EPDM system, while only slight decrease of this value was observed. Moreover, the strong improvement of hardness and thermo-oxidative stability along with an increasing content of amorphous polyester phase was reported.