Susana Alcira Liberman

The effects of ultrasound on organoclay dispersion in the PP matrix.

PP/MMT nanocomposites were prepared by solution intercalation using sonication and quiescent conditions, and the effects on the morphological, thermal and mechanical properties were evaluated by WAXD, TEM, DMA, TGA and DSC analyses. The present study aims to clarify the effects of ultrasound use on the organoclay surface with different amounts of organic modifiers and on the exfoliation processes. The sonication process decreased around of 200 nm the aspect ratio of C15A organoclay. Besides, the effectiveness of the ultrasound process was only achieved with the C15A system because there is a small energetic barrier between their layers (clay with larger d 001). The sonication process increased the exfoliation and distribution of the C15A platelets in the PP matrix, increasing by 5% its reinforcement capacity. However, for I44P system, the use of ultrasound did not show any significant effect on the morphology and consequently on the final properties of the PP matrix. The T(c) temperature and the thermal stability of the PP nanocomposites were increased, independent of the clay type or of the ultrasound use.

Structural evaluation of copolymers of ethylene and 1-octadecene by using the temperature rising elution fractionation technique

Three samples of ethylene-octadecene copolymers having different quantitative composition were analyzed structurally and in terms of their thermal behavior. The samples were fractionated by temperature rising elution fractionation, presenting different chemical composition distributions (CCD) that are essentially the result of the proportion of incorporated octadecene. The CCD profiles were relatively wide for samples generated by metallocene catalysts. The analyses of the fractions showed that the melting and crystallization temperatures decrease with increasing comonomer incorporation, but this relation is affected by the average molecular weight of the chains. The melting thermograms of those fractions having higher proportions of octadecene may be divided into two characteristic regions: the first one, at a higher temperature, originates from the melting of the least modified chains, which crystallize more perfectly. The second one is formed by the melting of chains having a high degree of comonomer incorporation, which melt in a diffuse manner over a wide range of temperatures. It is probable that the morphology of the crystals formed in this region does not follow the folded chain model, and are better represented by a model involving the alignment of chain segments (bundling).

Evaluation of foaming polypropylene modified with ramified polymer

Polypropylene foams have great industrial interest because of balanced physical and mechanical properties, recyclability as well as low material cost. During the foaming process, the elongational forces applied to produce the expanded polymer are strong enough to rupture cell walls. As a result, final foam has a high amount of coalesced as well as opened cells which decreases mechanical and also physical properties. To increase melt strength and also avoid the coalescence effect, one of the current solution is blend PP with ramified polymers as well as branched polypropylene (LCBPP) or ethylene-octene copolymer (POE). In this research to provide extensional properties and achieve uniform cellular structures of expanded PP, 20 phr of LCBPP or POE was added into PP matrix. The blend of PP with ramified polymers was prepared by twin-screw extrusion. Injection molding process was used to produce PP foams using azodicarbonamide (ACA) as chemical blowing agent. The morphological results of the expanded PP displ...

Adsorption of ionic liquid onto halloysite nanotubes : thermal and mechanical properties of heterophasic PE-PP copolymer nanocomposites

The surface adsorption of inorganic clays with ionic liquids has attracted much attention due to improve the interaction of hydrophilic clay with the hydrophobic polymers. However, successful organic adsorption strongly depends on the characteristics of ionic liquid (anion, chain size and concentration), and the reaction conditions (as polarity of solvent). In this study, such factors were analyzed and correlated with morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. The heterophasic ethylene-propylene copolymer nanocomposites were prepared by melt intercalation method in a twin screw co-rotating extruder. The halloysite nanotubes (HNT) was used as filler – natural and modified with different ionic liquids. The results showed that a better distribution and dispersion of the nanoparticles was achieved in the samples with modified HNT (m-HNT) and was more significant when the ionic liquid adsorption was conducted in a less polar solvent. The thermal stability of the nanocomposites with m- HNT was higher compared to the neat CP. Additionally, the better balance in the mechanical properties was obtained by the use of the more hydrophobic ionic liquid and higher concentration with improve of 27% in the Young Modulus without loss in the impact properties at room temperature. These superior behaviors of ionic liquid adsorption products exhibit properties suitable for many industrial applications.

HIGH-IMPACT PP NANOCOMPOSITES: INFLUENCE OF CLAY CONTENT ON MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES

The preparation of high-impact polypropylene nanocomposites with different organo-montmorillonite (O-MMT) contents by means of meltprocessing was investigated. The nanocomposite properties were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), flexural modulus, izod impact strength, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was noticed that the PP/O-MMT nanocomposites properties were affected by clay content. Exceptional improvements in impact strength were obtained (maximum of 185%) by the use of low O-MMT content. The results showed that higher enhancement on mechanical/thermal properties was obtained by 3 wt.% of O-MMT instead of higher quantities.

Síntese e caracterização de copolímeros de propeno com 1-hexeno e 1,5-hexadieno

Copolimeros de propeno com 1-hexeno e 1,5-hexadieno, contendo diferentes teores de comonomeros, foram obtidos utilizando tecnicas de polimerizacao em lama e em massa com catalisadores Ziegler-Natta heterogeneos de alta atividade. Foram avaliadas densidade, propriedades termicas e mecânicas finais e estrutura do polimero. Os estudos mostraram que a densidade dos polimeros, temperaturas de transicao (fusao e cristalizacao), modulo de rigidez, massa molar media e a cristalinidade diminuem com a incorporacao do comonomero, uma vez que as cadeias laterais reduzem a organizacao da estrutura do copolimero. Os efeitos de densidade sao mais apreciaveis no material que contem 1,5-hexadieno, enquanto que a reducao na solubilidade em xileno (XS) e os efeitos termicos sao mais evidentes nas amostras com 1-hexeno. Os resultados de ressonância nuclear magnetica demonstram que a incorporacao do 1,5-hexadieno leva a formacao de estruturas ciclicas na cadeia polimerica e que o aumento dos teores de dieno levam a reticulacao das cadeias, resultando na producao de material insoluvel nos solventes orgânicos usuais.