Cracking formation on the surface of extruded photodegraded polypropylene plates

The cracking formation during the photodegradation of polypropylene (PP) plates (1 mm thickness), with (PPOx) and without pro-oxidant [PP), has been investigated. The plates were produced by extrusion in an industrial production line and were exposed to ultraviolet radiation in the laboratory for periods of up to 480 hr. The samples were investigated by infrared spectroscopy- FTIR, optical light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the extension of photodegradation process is more intense for PPOx than for PP samples. For both samples, cracks were formed at the surface perpendicularly to the flow-lines. However the cracks frequency was different for both samples and sides of sample. The crack frequency was correlated with chain orientation, A(110); it was shown that lower degrees of orientation resulted in lower crack frequency. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 48:365-372, 2008. (c) 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers

Comparação entre duas teorias para a determinação da tensão interfacial pelo método de fibra quebrante Comparison between two theories for determination of interfacial tension with the breaking thread method

A tensão interfacial entre polímeros fundidos é um fator chave para a predição da morfologia de blendas poliméricas. Neste trabalho, as teorias de Tomotika e Tjahjadi et al. para medir tensão interfacial entre polímeros fundidos usando o método de fibra quebrante são avaliadas e comparadas. Em particular, foram testadas ambas as teorias para o par de polímeros PP/PS à temperatura de 200 &deg;C. O valor médio de tensão interfacial calculado usando a teoria de Tomotika foi de 5,88 mN/m, e usando a teoria de Tjahjadi et al. foi de 5,66 mN/m.<br>Interfacial tension between molten polymers is a key factor that helps predicting the morphology of polymer blends. In this work, the theories of Tomotika and Tjahjadi et al. to measure interfacial tension between molten polymers using the breaking thread method are evaluated and compared. In particular, both theories were tested for PP/PS polymer pair at temperature of 200 &deg;C. The average values of interfacial tension calculated using Tomotika&acute;s theory and Tjahjadi et al.&acute;s theory are 5.88 mN/m and 5.66 mN/m, respectively

Effect of UV Radiation and Pro-Oxidant on PP Biodegradability

The effect of ultraviolet exposure on the biodegration of poly(propylene) without (PP) and with 0.3 (wt/wt) (PPOx) pro-oxidant additives, produced by extrusion was studied. After UV exposure the samples were submitted to biodegradation (weight loss) in prepared soils. The samples before and after UV exposure were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and optical microscopy. The exposure to UV radiation lead to more intense degradation of PPOx than of PP; the amount of carbonyl groups was larger for the PPOx samples than for PP, as well as the decrease in the T(m) and in the molecular weight. The samples exposed to UV radiation showed some level of fragmentation after 56 days when placed in the prepared soil; the samples which were exposed to UV for 480 h presented just a small weight loss. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 49:123-128, 2009. (C) 2008 Society of Plastics EngineersFAPESPFAPESP The State of Sao Paulo Research Funding Agenc

Influência da temperatura, da massa molar e da distribuição de massa molar na tensão superficial de PS, PP e PE: experimento e teoria

Neste trabalho a influência da temperatura, da massa molar (<IMG SRC="/img/revistas/po/v13n1/15069x34.gif" WIDTH=11 HEIGHT=11>n) e da distribuição de massa molar (MWD) na tensão superficial de poliestireno (PS) foi avaliada utilizando o método da gota pendente. A influência da temperatura na tensão superficial de polipropileno isotático (i-PP) e de polietileno de baixa densidade (PELBD) também foi estudada aqui. As teorias de Patterson-Rastogi e Dee-Sauer foram utilizadas em conjunção com a teoria de equação de estado de Flory, Orwoll, e Vrij (FOV) para prever a tensão superficial (gama) utilizando dados de pressão-volume-temperatura (PVT) dos polímeros. Ambas teorias prevêem que a tensão superficial diminui linearmente com o aumento da temperatura e aumenta com a massa molar concordando com os resultados experimentais. Entretanto, ambas teorias subestimam a mudança de entropia de formação de superfície por unidade de área a volume constante para sistemas poliméricos de baixa massa molar e polidisperso e subestimam o efeito da distribuição de massa molar na tensão superficia

Comparison of adsorbent films obtained by plasma polymerization of oxygenated organic compounds

Thin films obtained by plasma polymerization of ethyl ether, methyl or ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, acetone and 2-propanol were compared. Infrared spectroscopy (FFIR), resistance to chemicals, contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) were carried out. For all films FTIR showed high intensity for polar bonds yet the films are not resistant to polar solvents. Contact angle measurements revealed hydrophilic and organophilic surfaces and XPS pointed out a high proportion of oxygenated bonds. All films showed good step coverage and peeling was significant only with acetone and 2-propanol. All films are adsorbent for organic compounds in a large scale of polarity but acetaldehyde and 2-propanol act like a selective membrane. Also, deposition of these films on hydrophobic substrates leads to island formation. A possible model to explain the results must consider the hydrogen bridge formation on 2-propanol and acetaldehyde films. Ethyl ether, ethyl and methyl acetate showed good characteristics for development of sensor and sample pretreatment using miniaturized devices. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Photooxidative behavior of polystyrene-montmorillonite nanocomposites

The weathering behavior of polystyrene and polystyrene-montmorillonite composites containing 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 wt% of montmorillonite (MMT) was investigated. Samples were exposed to UV radiation for periods of up to similar to 12 weeks and their molecular weight, chemical changes, and mechanical properties were monitored as a function of time. The addition of MMT was shown to improve the photostability of all composites investigated, probably because of a screen effect against UV radiation and barrier effect against diffusion of oxygen promoted by the silicate layers of MMT. Scanning electron microscopy of fracture surfaces of degraded samples showed that there is a degraded layer near the surface that provided a recovery of tensile strength of the samples