G.M. Mcnally

Blends of Bitumen with Polyethylenes

Blends of a 100 penetration grade bitumen with four different polyethylenes having up to 40 pph or 29% of polymer by weight were prepared using a Z-blade mixer at more than 160°C. The blends were studied by fluorescence optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The optical measurements indicated the presence of bitumen-rich and polymer-rich phases. The DSC showed that the melting point of the crystallites was lowered and within the polymer-rich phases, the extent of crystallinity reduced by the presence of the bitumen. Annealing made significant changes to crystallite size, suggested by the raising of the melting point of the polymer crystallites. The DMTA measurements show that these polymers lower the temperature at which the glass transition softens the material, but raises the temperature at which the blend undergoes viscous flow. When the polymer fraction is over 20% to 28% the flow starts only when the crystallites melt, so the polymer then provides an associating junction network.

The Effect of Polymer Properties on the Mechanical Behavior and Morphological Characteristics of Cast Polyethylene Film for Stretch and Cling Film Applications

Polyethylene films, prepared from a range of mLLDPE, LLDPE, and ULDPE resins containing 4% polyisobutylene (PIB) from a masterbatch, are manufactured using a Killion cast film extrusion system. FTIR, DSC, and mechanical analysis techniques are used to investigate the effect of comonomer type, density, and melt flow index (MFI) on the mechanical performance, orientation, and crystallinity of these films. The study established that comonomer type and MFI are the greatest factors influencing the mechanical performance and crystallinity. Crystallinity has been found to be the most influential factor governing PIB migration in these films and this in turn is related to polymer type, density, and MFI.

Modification of a Bitumen with Various Polymers for Use in Built Up Roofing Membranes

Bitumen, a mixture of aromatics, paraffins, asphaltenes and resins that remain after crude oil has been fractionally distilled, finds applications in blends with a proportion of a polymer, in built up membranes for the roofing industry. Blends of three commercially used polymers with a 100 penetration grade Nynas bitumen at levels between 9% and 29% w/w were prepared using a Z-blade mixer. The morphology, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of these blends were examined using fluorescence optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The blends prepared with these polymers displayed low temperature flexibility and an onset of flow at high temperatures. The former characteristic is required for use in cold environments the latter feature being a critical property when the membrane is manufactured and later when applied by the torching process on a roof. It may be seen how the different blends function in a manner that makes them suitable for the production of built-up roofing membranes.

The Effect of Vinyl Acetate Content and Polyisobutylene Concentration on the Properties of Metallocene Polyethylene-Ethyl Vinyl Acetate Coextruded Film for Stretch and Cling Film Applications

A range of EVA-mLLDPE-EVA coextruded films, with polyisobutylene (PIB) masterbatch content of 0-20% and vinyl acetate (VA) comonomer content of 6, 12, and 18%, is manufactured. The films are aged at 45 C for up to 28 days to enable tack (cling) development. The results show that film tack strength improves significantly with aging. Increased VA concentration in the surface layer also shows significant improvement in film tack strength. The film tensile strength, elongation, and tear properties in both machine direction (MD) and transverse direction (TD) are not significantly affected by increase in PIB concentration. Increased VA content shows slight improvement in MD mechanical performance of the films, although TD properties are relatively unaffected.

The Effect of Extrusion Processing Conditions and Polyisobutylene Concentration on the Properties of Polyethylene for Stretch and Cling Film Applications

A range of LLDPE films with polyisobutylene (PIB) content from 2-8% was manufactured using a Killion blown film extrusion system and a cast film extrusion system. The films were aged at 25, 35 and 45 C for up to 28 days, to enable tack (cling) development. The results show that tack, in both blown and cast films, improved significantly with ageing at increased storage temperatures and at higher film blow up ratios. DSC analysis showed only a slight decrease in film crystallinity with increasing PIB concentration. The film tensile modulus, elongation and tear properties in both MD and TD were not significantly affected by an increase in PIB concentration.

THE EFFECT OF PIB MOLECULAR WEIGHT ON THE CLING CHARACTERISTICS OF POLYETHYLENE-PIB FILMS FOR STRETCH AND CLING FILM APPLICATIONS*

The effect of molecular weight on the migratory characteristics of polyisobutylene (PIB) additive from the bulk to the surface of a range of monolayer and multilayer extruded polyethylene films has been analyzed by FTIR-ATR and peel cling analysis. Migration rates are shown to be higher for lower molecular weight PIB additive, and cling strength increases as the PIB molecular weight increases.

The Effect of Atmospheric Glow Discharge (APGD) Treatment on Polyetherimide, Polybutyleneterephthalate, and Polyamides

Polyamide 6, polyamide 12, polybutyleneterephthalate, and polyetherimide films are plasma treated in an APGD unit using various applied voltages, gas flow rates, frequencies, and dwell times. The results show changes in the surface chemistry (FTIR); the degree of change in dynamic contact angle is found to be dependent on the polymer type, dwell time, and electrical characteristics of the plasma.

The Blending and Coextrusion of Metallocene Catalysed Polyethylene in Blown Film Applications

As Metallocene Catalysed Polyethylenes (mPEs) become more commercially available they are finding ever increasing application in the blown film industry. However, it is becoming apparent that no two mPE resins behave in exactly the same manner. This paper examines the Theological properties of a range of mPEs with different densities and MFIs. These resins were then blended with a conventional low density polyethylene (LDPE) and extruded to form monolayer films. The mechanical properties of these films were compared to three layer coextruded films of A:B:A structure, where A is LDPE and B is mPE.

The effect of extrusion conditions and material properties on the gas permeation properties of LDPE/LLDPE silage wrap films

This study investigates the effect of extrusion processing conditions and comonomer type on the gas permeation properties of LLDPE films containing polyisobutylene (PIB). The results show improved gas barrier properties with increasing polymer density and with increases in film crystallinity and orientation as a result of extrusion processing conditions such as blow-up ratios.