Search

Featured Application: We describe the use of terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy to characterize the dispersion of graphene nanoflakes, within a multiblock copolyester matrix. This method probes the dielectric properties of the sample in an almost cm2 cross-section beam path, thereby providing "global" information regarding the dispersion of graphene and its in-situ electronic quality. Because it is a non-destructive testing method, THz time-domain spectroscopy holds great potential for monitoring any nanofiller dispersion in a polymer matrix throughout the product development chain: After polymer nanocomposite synthesis, following processing into a given prototype, and even after product testing. The terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) technique has been used to obtain transmission THz-radiation spectra of polymer nanocomposites containing a controlled amount of exfoliated graphene. Graphene nanocomposites (1 wt%) that were used in this work were based on poly(ethylene terephthalate-ethylene dilinoleate) (PET-DLA) matrix and were prepared via a kilo-scale (suitable for research and development, and prototyping) in-situ polymerization. This was followed by compression molding into 0.3-mm-thick and 0.9-mm-thick foils. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman studies were used to confirm that the graphene nanoflakes dispersed in a polymer matrix consisted of a few-layer graphene. The THz-radiation transients were generated and detected using a low-temperature–grown GaAs photoconductive emitter and detector, both excited by 100-fs-wide, 800-nm-wavelength optical pulses, generated at a 76-MHz repetition rate by a Ti:Sapphire laser. Time-domain signals transmitted through the nitrogen, neat polymer reference, and 1-wt% graphene-polymer nanocomposite samples were recorded and subsequently converted into the spectral domain by means of a fast Fourier transformation. The spectral range of our spectrometer was up to 4 THz, and measurements were taken at room temperature in a dry nitrogen environment. We collected a family of spectra and, based on Fresnel equations, performed a numerical analysis, that allowed us to extract the THz-frequency-range refractive index and absorption coefficient and their dependences on the sample composition and graphene content. Using the Clausius-Mossotti relation, we also managed to estimate the graphene effective dielectric constant to be equal to ~7 ± 2. Finally, we extracted from our experimental data complex conductivity spectra of graphene nanocomposites and successfully fitted them to the Drude-Smith model, demonstrating that our graphene nanoflakes were isolated in their polymer matrix and exhibited highly localized electron backscattering with a femtosecond relaxation time. Our results shed new light on how the incorporation of exfoliated graphene nanoflakes modifies polymer electrical properties in the THz-frequency range. Importantly, they demonstrate that the complex conductivity analysis is a very efficient, macroscopic and non-destructive (contrary to TEM) tool for the characterization of the dispersion of a graphene nanofiller within a copolyester matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Chitosan derivatives with a series of fatty acids (FA) have been developed using simultaneous N- and O-acylation reaction by the combination of two ways of conducting the reaction, i.e. a carbodiimide catalysis and ionic amino group protection. The chemical structure of chitosan derivatives as well as the characterization of the FA substitution degree were done by the IR spectra analysis. The correlation between the substitution of the chitosan functional groups as well as the saturation of FA and the changes of structural and thermal properties of the derivatives has been presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A linear triblock copolymer, poly(styrene-b-etylene/butylene-b-styrene)(SEBS) thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) grafted with maleic anhydride was used for compatibilization of PP/PBT blends. PP/PBT blends of different mass ratios 60/40, 50/50, 40/60 were mixed with 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 wt.% of SEBS copolymer in a twin screw extruder. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis were performed to defi ne the phase structure of PP/PBT blends. TPE with a rubbery mid-block shifted the glass transition of PP/PBT blend towards lower temperatures, and signifi cant decrease the crystallization temperature of a crystalline phase of PP component was observed. The influence of the amount of compatibilizer and the blend composition on the mechanical properties (tensile and fl exural strengths, toughness and moduli) was determined. Addition of 5 wt.% of a triblock TPE led to a three-fold increase of PP/PBT toughness. A signifi cant increase of impact properties was observed for all materials compatibilized with the highest amount of SEBS copolymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, uniform thin chitosan coatings were spin coated onto copolyester substrate. The use of high concentration acetic acid (50 wt.%) as the chitosan solvent increased the protonation of chitosan amino groups, allowing for greater interactions between the solution and the surface of the substrate. Further, surface oxidation was used to incorporate additional functional groups in the copolyester surface, facilitating solution/substrate interactions. The interfacial interactions between the chitosan solution and copolyester substrate were evaluated by the contact angle measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)