SPE Library
The SPE Library contains thousands of papers, presentations, journal briefs and recorded webinars from the best minds in the Plastics Industry. Spanning almost two decades, this collection of published research and development work in polymer science and plastics technology is a wealth of knowledge and information for anyone involved in plastics.
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Applied Rheology
The Effect of Carbon Nanotubes on the Rheology and Electrical Resistivity of Polymer Blends
L. Zonder | A. Ophir | S. Kenig, November 2011
Different mixing protocols were used to incorporate Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) into Polyamide 12 (PA)/ High Density Polyethylene (PE) blends. At a composition of 75PA/25PE/0.75wt.% CNT, interface localization of CNT promoted by predispersing CNT in the PE phase, resulted in five decades lower resistivty compared to other mixing protocols. Melt storgae modulus (G’) was also found to be affected by interface localization in this case with over 20% higher G’ compared to the other protocols. Specific CNT localization is explained in terms of preferential interaction between PA and CNT on the one hand, and kinetic restrictions arrising from the mixing protocol on the other.
A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE IN CAPILLARY FLOW
Evan Mitsoulis | Thanasis Zisis | Mahmoud Ansari | Savvas G. Hatzikiriakos, November 2011
The capillary flow of a commercial LDPE melt was studied both experimentally and numerically. The excess pressure drop due to entry (Bagley correction), the compressibility, the effect of pressure on viscosity and the possible slip effects on the capillary data analysis have been examined. Using a series of capillary dies having different diameters, D and length-to-diameter L/D ratios, a full rheological characterization has been carried out, and the experimental data have been fitted both with a viscous model (Carreau-Yasuda) and a viscoelastic one (K-BKZ/PSM model). Particular emphasis has been given on the pressure-dependence of viscosity, with a pressure-dependent coefficient βp. For the viscous model, the viscosity is a function of both temperature and pressure. For the viscoelastic K-BKZ model, the time-temperature shifting concept has been used for the non-isothermal calculations, while the time-pressure shifting concept has been used to shift the relaxation moduli for the pressure-dependence effect. It was found that only the viscoelastic simulations were capable of reproducing the experimental data well, while any viscous modeling always underestimates the pressures, especially at the higher apparent shear rates and L/D ratios.
COMPLEX INVESTIGATION OF INJECTION MOULD FILLING
Andras Szucs | Károly Belina, November 2011
Thin wall injection moulding is a difficult process. High viscosity polymeric material is injected into a mould by high speed and high pressure. A special instrumented injection mould was designed for the investigation of the cavity filling of injection mould. Rheological measurement can be carried out with different wall thickness slit die inserts. The pressure can be measured during the filling, the packing and the cooling stages as well. The pressure drop during the filling can be used for determination the flow properties of the material. The measured cavity pressure of the injection cycle is proper for the validation if thin wall injection moulding simulation. The filling of the dies was simulated by Moldex3D software.
RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MELT MIXED PCL - MWCNT NANOCOMPOSITES PREPARED AT DIFFERENT MIXING SPEEDS
Petra Potschke | Tobias Villmow, November 2011
Composites of poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were produced by melt-mixing in a small scale compounder by varying the screw speed between 25 and 400 rpm at a constant mixing time of two minutes. By that, different levels of dispersions, as assessed by quantitative analysis of area ratio of remaining primary agglomerates from light microscopy, were achieved. With increasing screw speed the state of dispersion increases and levels off starting at about 100 rpm. Melt rheological properties were measured in frequency sweeps. Interestingly, distinct differences in the complex viscosity * and the storage modulus G’ were found in dependence on the agglomerate area ratio, whereas the loss modulus G’’ was not much influenced. The storage modulus at 0.1 rad/s initially increased with decreasing area ratios, showing that especially the storage modulus is very sensitive to the nanotubes dispersion state. It increased up to a mixing speed of about 75 rpm illustrating improved dispersion followed by a decrease when further increasing the speed. As GPC investigation showed no significant differences in the degradation of the PCL matrix depending on the rotation speed, the effect of decreasing rheological parameter was assigned to nanotube shortening. Both effects improved dispersion and nanotube shortening are also reflected in the electrical resistivity values of compression molded samples. Here, up to 75 rpm a decrease in resistivity due to the better dispersion was observed, whereas above 75 rpm, where dispersion had leveled off, again an increase was found reflecting the reduction in nanotube aspect ratio. Thus, it could be shown that rheological measurements are suitable to detect differences in the dispersion state in composites with a fixed type of CNTs and concentration but also the effect of nanotube shortening reflected in lower aspect ratios.
EFFECT OF COMMON STABILIZERS IN THE LONG-TERM HEAT AGEING PERFORMANCE OF POLYETHERIMIDES
M. Navarro de Castro, November 2011
A fast method was develop to predict the macroscopic properties of molded resin specimens tested in the Underwriting Laboratories (UL®) Relative Thermal Index (RTI) test (tensile strength retention) with microscopic properties that can be easily measured (molecular weight). By using higher temperatures than employed in the UL RTI protocol, accelerated ageing can be achieved in pellets. Polyetherimide (PEI) resin was spiked during extrusion with common stabilizers. The analysis focused on melt stability, rheology and long-term heat ageing performance. Hindered phenol stabilizers were detrimental under accelerated thermo-oxidative ageing of PEI. The use of new stabilizers should be carefully considered.
Enhancing Properties of PP-Impact Copolymers by Chemical Modification
Peter Neuteboom, November 2011
Polypropylene impact copolymers are widely used in automotive applications. They are required to comply with many criteria. Customers demand high-performance materials which also exhibit good aesthetical properties. The challenge is to balance properties as high impact strength, good flow ability and absence of surface defects, like tiger stripes. It is known that peroxide modification whilst increasing the flow ability of polypropylene impact copolymers deteriorates the basic mechanical and aesthetical properties. Work was performed in which a PP-impact copolymer was subjected to peroxide aided chain-scission under simultaneous presence of the co-agent 1,4- butanedioldimethacrylate (1,4-BDDMA). Results show that samples made with 1,4- BDDMA exhibit superior cold impact resistance and tiger stripe performance compared to the materials made with only peroxide. In addition, morphology, molecular weight distribution, and rheological behaviour of the continuous and dispersed phases of the modified PP impact copolymer were studied.
Clay's location affects flammability of polypropylene
Yajun Chen, Zhenghong Guo, Zhengping Fang, October 2011
A synergistic effect between flame retardant and clay depends on the clay being situated within the polymer matrix.
Blend membranes for ionic polymer-metal composite actuators
Bonk-sik Kang, JongOh Park, Varij Panwar, Sukho Park, August 2011
Larger actuation displacements and blocking forces at 2.5 and 3.0 DC voltages render the new composites superior to Nafion and useful for many applications.
Entangling additives enhance polypropylene foam quality
Amit Chaudhary, Krishnamurthy Jayaraman, July 2011
Combining clay and compatibilizer additives with linear polypropylene forms nanocomposites with a densely entangled inner structure able to produce quality foams upon extrusion.
Dynamic mechanical analysis of natural rubber crosslinking reaction kinetics
Claudia Isabel Mendosa Puente Eng, Luis Francisco Ramos de Valle, Falipe Avalos Belmontes, Jose Carlos Ortiz-Cisneros, July 2011
The reaction order and rate constant for the crosslinking of natural rubber have been determined by modeling and compared to experimental results.
Thin film nano-indentation: an elastic foundation model
Davide Tranchida, July 2011
Atomic force microscopy and theoretical modeling were combined to measure Young's modulus of a thin (<100nm) polymeric film.
Toughness of hydrogels
H. J. Kwon, July 2011
Combining digital image correlation with the essential-work-of-fracture technique offers a plausible alternative to conventional means of measuring the robustness of soft materials.
Practical Rheology and its Role in Polymer Processing
Timothy W. Womer, June 2011
Powerpoint Presentation at Polyolefin Conference 2011
Practical Rheology and its Role in Polymer Processing
Timothy W. Wormer, June 2011
Rheology is the science of material flow behavior, which is a very complex and multi-dimensional science. Even though it is complex, it also is quintessential to understand in order to optimize the processing of polymers. Knowing the difference between amorphous and crystalline polymers, what Melt Index really tells, and the effects of melt temperature on melt fracture are all important elements in the understanding of rheology. A simple understanding of what polymer rheology is and how shear and temperature can affect the flow characteristic of a polymer may make a big difference in the P & L of a company.
Macroscopic evaluation of nanofiller dispersion
Antonio Greco, Anna Cavallo, Carola Esposito Corcione, Alfonso Maffezzoli, May 2011
The degree of dispersion of lamellar nanofillers in a polymeric matrix is evaluated by rheological, mechanical, and permeability analysis.
SHEAR & EXTENSIONAL RHEOLOGY OF C18-CNT/LDPE NANOCOMPOSITES
Ibnelwaleed, Sarfraz Abbasi, May 2011
Nanocomposites of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and C18 modified multi wall carbon nanotubes (C18-CNT) were prepared by melt blending. Previous research has shown that addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) increase the dynamic viscosity and reduce the extensional viscosity with increasing loading. This research work shows that C-18 modification of CNTs helps to keep low values of dynamic viscosity, maintain extensional viscosity and does not increase strain hardening even at 5.0 weight % loading.
PROCESS DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECTILE INJECTION TECHNIQUE (PIT)
Christian Hopmann, Walter Michaeli, Moritz Grundler, Oliver Gronlund, Andreas Neuss, May 2011
The projectile injection technique is a new powerful process variant of the well established fluid injection technique for the production of hollow shaped polymer parts. For suitable part designs the PIT allows to increase the economical efficiency and process capability significantly. First research results show that it is possible to reproducibly form hollow shaped geometries independent from the rheological properties of the used polymers.
HYDROLYSIS RESISTANT - HIGH IMPACT POLYETHERIMIDE RESIN BLENDS
Mark Sanner, Robert Gallucci, Andy May, May 2011
Injection moldable hydrolytically stable transparent thermoplastic Polyetherimide resin blends with high impact and thermal resistance have been developed for healthcare applications. The two-phase resin blends are capable of withstanding 2,500 autoclave cycles at 134 C and 50 ppm morpholine while maintaining clarity and ductility. Injection molding of the new steam resistant blends as well as their rheological and material properties are compared to polyetherimide.
RHEOLOGICAL STUDIES ON A NOVEL LIQUID CRYSTALLINE EPOXY THERMOSET
Pihui Pi, Weicheng Wang, Yinling Liu, Zhi-qi Cai, Xiufang Wen, Jiang Cheng, Zhuoru Yang, May 2011
Liquid crystalline epoxy thermosets were prepared by adding 3,3',5,5'-Tetramethylbiphenyl-4,4'-diyl bis(4-(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)benzoate) (M1) into diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)/ 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM) blends. Rheological tests with constant temperature and time tests under constant mechanical shear load conditions were performed by using rheometry instrument.
SELF-NUCLEATED CRYSTALLIZATION OF A BRANCHED POLYPROPYLENE
Dhwaihi Alotaibi, Ankit Patel, Horst Winter, May 2011
Long chain branched polypropylene (LCBPP) crystallizes rapidly and with high nucleation density. The origin of this fast crystallization process of is not well understood. It has been attributed to its complicated molecular architecture. In this research, we explore isothermal crystallization of LCBPP through rheological, thermal, and optical measurements. The time resolved mechanical spectroscopy technique was used to predict the liquid-to-solid transition (gel point) of LCBPP.
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