Xue-Gang Tang

The β Phase of Isotactic Polypropylene in TPVs Based on PP/EPDM

β‐Nucleating agent was added into maleic anhydride (MAH) compatiblized isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) blend systems, dynamically vulcanized by dicumyl peroxide (DCP). The β phase of iPP formed in TPVs was investigated by means of WAXD, and the effect of DCP content, MAH content and system viscosity on the β phase of iPP was also studied. With increasing DCP content, the MFR values of blend systems increased a little and then decreased, indicating that the DCP content showed a remarkable effect on the system viscosity. Also, with increasing MFR, the β phase content increased first and then decreased, while with increasing MAH content, the β phase content decreased sharply.

Poly(vinylidene Fluoride)/Microcrystalline Cellulose Nanocomposites with Enhanced Compatibility and Properties

Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) nanocomposites were prepared by ultrasonic treatment and magnetic stir. Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-graft-maleic anhydride (PVDF-g-MAH) was added to promote matrix–filler compatibility. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that the diameter of the MCC was decreased to several tens nanometers by the treatment of ultrasonic and magnetic stir. The results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the peak crystallisation temperatures (Tc) and the crystallisation enthalpy ΔHc increased with the addition of MCC, and the melting enthalpy ΔHm increased. With the addition of the compatibilizer (PVDF-g-MAH), peak crystallisation temperatures increased further, while without further increase of the ΔHc. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) showed that the addition of MCC induced β-phase PVDF, and the addition of PVDF-g-MAH can induce more β-phase PVDF. Mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were evaluated and the results showed that the addition of MCC did not increase the Young’s modulus, while the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased.

Rheological Behaviors of Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride)/“Bud-Branched” Nanotubes Nanocomposites

Bud-branched nanotubes, fabricated by growing metal particles on the surfaces of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), were used to prepare poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based nanocomposites. The melt viscoelastic behaviors of PVDF and its nanocomposites were characterized. The results showed that the introduction of both the MWCNTs and bud-branched nanotubes (MWCNTs-B) increased the storage modulus, loss modulus, and complex viscosity of the nanocomposites. However, the bud-branched nanotubes were more efficient to increase the elasticity than the MWCNTs that have relatively smooth surfaces. In particular, it was observed that the bud-branched nanotubes caused an increase of normal force and crossover modulus, while for MWCNTs, no variation in the normal force and a decrease of the crossover modulus were observed.

Increase the Mechanical Performance of Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and PVDF/Organo-modified layered silicates (OMLSs) nano-composites were prepared by phase inversion technique. Maleic anhydride grafted PVDF (PVDF-MAH), were used to fine tune the interface. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used to characterize the nanocomposites. Elastic modulus and creep resistance of the PVDF nanocomposites were evaluated according to ASTM D-638. The results showed that both CNTs and OMLSs were good candidates to reinforce the PVDF and the addition of PVDF-MAH enhanced the interface between nanoparticles and PVDF, leading to further increase of mechanical property.

Effect of nano-filler network on the rheological behaviours of poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposites

A nano-filler network constructed by layered silicates and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been prepared. The structure of the network was confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic rheological test. The results showed that a plateau in the storage modulus at low frequency occurred, which indicated the pseudo solid-like behaviour for the sample with nano-filler network, and the jamming effect due to the nano-filler network dominated the viscoelatic behaviour at low frequency. This effect was sensitive to the frequency and decreased quickly with the increase of frequency. At the same time, the introduction of nanofillers and the presence of nano-filler network affected the complex viscosity and shear thinning too, especially at low frequency.

Hierarchical Distribution of β-Phase in Compression- and Injection-Molded, Polypropylene-Based TPV

The distribution of the β-phase crystals of polypropylene (PP) in different zones of compression and injection moldings molded from PP-based dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer (TPV) in the presence of a β-nucleating agent (β-NA) was investigated. The influence of shear and cooling conditions and the addition of β-NA on the development of β-phase was examined and discussed based on the one-dimensional heat conduction behaviors with phase change. A hierarchical distribution of β-phase was observed in both compression- and injection-molded TPV/β-NA specimens. For the compression-molded TPV/β-NA specimens, the hierarchical distribution of β-phase induced by β-NA is dominated by the cooling conditions. For the injection-molded TPV/β-NA specimens, the occurrence of β-phase is also mainly induced by the addition of β-NA; the effect of shear on the relative content of β-phase can hardly be observed and the cooling conditions control the hierarchical distribution of β-phase. Both in compression and injection-molded TPV/β-NA specimens, the relative content of β-phase increases from the skin to the core zones, owing to the cooling rate decreasing from the skin to the core zones.