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Grafting of maleic anhydride (MA) onto isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was carried out by thermal decomposition of dicumylperoxide (DCP) using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a solvent and swelling fluid. Provided that the initial concentration of anhydride dissolved in scCO2 is higher than 1% w/w, the grafting occurs without significant molecular weight modification of the polymer, and with a proper selection of the operative conditions, a grafting level higher than 0.5% w/w with respect to the polymer mass was obtained. The amount of grafted MA was determined by FT-IR spectroscopy and polymer degradation was monitored by dynamic mechanical tests in the melt state. The effect of MA and DCP concentration, of the scCO2 density, and of the reaction time on the grafting yield and on the melt flow behavior was studied. Maleic anhydride homopolymerization during the grafting is suggested by FTIR spectra. The home-synthesized maleated iPP was used as effective compatibilizing agent in the preparation of iPP/Nylon-6 blends.

The γ-ray-initiated batch polymerization of vinylidene fluoride (VF2) has been investigated in dense carbon dioxide under relatively mild operative conditions (T ≤ 40 °C and P < 25 MPa). When the initial VF2 molar concentration was increased from 3.4 to 6.4 mol/L, monomer conversion increased from 20 to 73%; a similar trend was observed for the number-average molecular weight and the molecular complexity of synthesized poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) as determined from rheological measurements. Under all adopted experimental conditions, a synthesized PVDF polymer was collected in the form of a white powder. Despite the inherent heterogeneous character of the polymerization process, a homogeneous free-radical chain kinetics model can be used to fit kinetic data collected at 30 °C and 3.4 mol/L VF2 loading, with evidence of heterogeneous-phase polymerization being constituted by the onset of an acceleration period.

Abstract: The functionalization of α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-dl-aspartamide (PHEA) with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) gives rise to a water-soluble copolymer PHEA-GMA (PHG) containing double bonds and ester groups in the side chain. Aqueous solutions of PHG alone or in combination with N,N′ methylenbisacrylamide (BIS) have been exposed to a γ-ray source at different irradiation doses in order to obtain polymeric networks. All samples have been prepared both as water-swellable microparticles and as gel systems. Microparticles have been characterized by FT-IR spectrophotometry and swelling measurements in aqueous media mimicking biological fluids. The effect of irradiation dose and BIS presence on rheological behavior of the gel systems had also been investigated. All prepared hydrogels are able to incorporate, during γ-irradiation, 5-Fluorouracil, (5-FU) chosen as a model drug and to release it in simulated biological fluids, as confirmed by the in vitro drug release studies at pH 1 and pH 7.4. Gels of PHG containing 5-FU, obtained in the presence or in the absence of BIS, are able to release this drug in a prolonged way, more slowly than a commercial ointment, as confirmed by in vitro studies at pH 5.5 and pH 7.4 using a Franz diffusion cell system and a synthetic membrane.

In this work dynamic rheological and peel strength measurements on laminates of polyamide and several modified polyolefins were made to evaluate the interfacial compatibilization phenomena. The polyolefins used were a low-density polyethylene, without any treatment and γ-ray irradiated in air, and two copolymers, an ethylene–tert-butyl acrylate–acrylic acid terpolymer and a partially neutralized ethylene–methacrylic acid copolymer containing sodium cations. Multilayer structures containing different amounts of both interfacial surface and volume fraction were studied. Relationships between viscoelastic functions and composition were used to analyze the effect of bulk and surface modification in the polyolefins at the interface with the polyamide. The results show that dynamic rheological measurements of stratified polymers can be used as a tool to investigate interfacial activity in multiphase systems.

The molecular modifications induced in an isotactic polypropylene gamma-irradiated in vacuum under a complete set of experimental conditions were studied by means of calorimetric analysis. In a previous paper [1], the influence of the irradiation parameters, the total absorbed dose, D, and the dose rate, I, was analyzed and a simple kinetic model based on the rates of the main reactions occurring during irradiation, i.e. β-scission, addition to double bonds and termination, was also discussed. It is now shown how thermal analysis confirms the model forecasts and in particular the existence of the 'inversion conditions': below them the main effect is molecular degradation, while above them the main effects are chain-branching and cross linking.

In this work the curing kinetics behaviour of a rubber modified epoxy amine system is investigated through calorimetric analysis. This study is part of a wider investigation on new epoxy formulations to be used as matrices of composite materials. The aim is to enhance both the processing behaviour and the mechanical properties of the matrix in order to obtain higher performance composites for more demanding applications. The epoxy system is blended with a high molecular mass rubber containing functional groups reactive towards the epoxies. The formation of a rubber/epoxy network can be achieved by means of a 'pre-reaction' between the epoxy monomers and the rubber functional groups, carried out in the presence of a suitable catalyst and before the resin is cured with the amino hardener. In this work the influence of both the rubber and the catalyst on the resin cure kinetics is analysed.

Herein, we report the use of ionizing radiation to induce a dispersion polymerization reaction in dense CO2. As a model system, the polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of poly(dimethylsiloxane) stabilizers was investigated. It was demonstrated that the dose plays the key role in the progress of the reaction and in the morphology of the resulting polymer. Dispersion polymerization carried out in the presence of mono- and bifunctionalized surfactants gave differently structured polymers. The polymers obtained have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, solubility tests, and gel permeation chromatography, and the molecular structure has been related to dynamic mechanical behavior in the melt state.

Growth impairment and growth hormone (GH) deficiency have been reported in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). We have studied growth and GH secretion in a group of 50 patients, affected by ALL, during a 2- to 5-year period after diagnosis, and in 12 “long-term-survivors”. We observed a significant decrease in growth velocity during the 1st year (in particular during the first 6 months) of therapy and a catch-up growth after the end of therapy. “Longterm survivors” did not exhibit a significant reduction of height standard deviation score (SDS), as compared to height SDS at diagnosis. None of the patients showed GH deficiency. Our data indicate that chemotherapy significantly affects growth of patients treated for ALL, whereas radiotherapy-at the doses used in this study-does not induce GH deficiency, at least not within 9 years after diagnosis.

a, ß-polyasparthydrazide (PAHy) was crosslinked by glutaraldehyde to form water-swellable materials possessing a three-dimensional molecular network. Different crosslinking degrees were prepared varying glutaraldehyde/PAHy ratio and samples containing 5-fluorouracil were obtained by incorporating the drug into the polymer networks during the crosslinking reaction. All samples were characterized by swelling tests, thermal, x-ray and SEM analysis. Their microstructure was observed through scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, for samples containing the anticancer drug,in vitro release studies were performed in pH 7.4 buffer solution.

The synthesis of a new crosslinked polymer by reaction of a, ß-polyasparthydrazide and glutaraldehyde is reported. Different crosslinking degrees were obtained by varying the ratio between the aldehyde and the starting polymer. The crosslinked polymer was characterized by water swelling tests and thermal analysis. In particular, the crosslinking density and its effects on the glass transition temperature of the material were studied. Finally, the microstructure of the obtained polymer was observed using scanning electron microscopy.

Stress-strain and dynamic-mechanical tests were performed on two ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers (Eval E and Eval F, with about 45% and 25% of ethylene respectively) irradiated in air.