The influence of carbon-containing, magnetic and nano-dispersed additions on structure and electrophysical properties of polypropylene-based composite monofibers

There were PP- and iron-containing, fibrous, carbon- and nanodispersed-addition-based composite fibers prepared. There were addition content equals of 5.0%mass. There were blend of isotactic PP and addition homogenized in melt with one-screw lab extruder. There were zonal temperature on extruder equals of 230-250 o C. There were strangs receiving in bath of water and threated with knife granulation. Then, there were granules drying on air during 5h, and, then in thermal vacuum oven at 80±5 o C during 3h. Then, there are monofiber of 1 mm’s diameter formed on lab stand. Then, from one formed those others monofibers of different values of spinneret drawing (Фв, %). There were Фв for monofibers equals of 300 and 500%. Then, there were formed monofibers threated with thermoorientational drawing process at 150 oC. Then, there were monofibers of Фв value, which equals of 300%, drawn till draw degree λ=6, but, those others of Фв value, which equals of 500% - to λ=4. It is succeed, for composite monofibers, that orientational drawing process has had realized, until to the same value, as well as for one of virgin PP. But, when at formation and thermoorientational drawing processes, there were placing much number of breaks, as compared with monofiber of pure PP. When studying the structure with SEM technique, there was revealed microfibrillar structure of composite monofiber. When using optical microscopy, then there was determined irregularity for distribution of addition’s particles, leading to disproportional distribution of tension values at loading. It is revealed, for composite monofiber, at given value for content of addition, that electrical conductivity phenomenon is absent here. There are real ε’and imaginal ε’’ parts of complex dielectrical permittivity phenomenon, on frequency of 9 GHz, equals of 2.1 and 0.2, accordingly. It is established, that pure, non-drawn and composite monofiber itrinsically have satisfactory magnetic properties (σs=0.5 Gs∙cm3/g, Hc= 695 E). There are real μ’ and imaginal μ’’ parts of complex magnetical permittivity phenomenon equals of 1.1 and 0.02, accordingly.

Extruded-Calendered Sheets of Fully Recycled PP/Opaque PET Blends: Mechanical and Fracture Behaviour

This work presents the experimental results of the mechanical and fracture behaviour of three polymeric blends prepared from two recycled plastics, namely polypropylene and opaque poly (ethylene terephthalate), where the second one acted as a reinforcement phase. The raw materials were two commercial degrees of recycled post-consumer waste, i.e., rPP and rPET-O. Sheets were manufactured by a semi-industrial extrusion-calendering process. The mechanical and fracture behaviours of manufactured sheets were analyzed via tensile tests and the essential work of fracture approach. SEM micrographics of cryofractured sheets revelated the development of in situ rPP/rPET-O microfibrillar composites when 30 wt.% of rPET-O was added. It was observed that the yield stress was not affected with the addition of rPET-O. However, the microfibrillar structure increased the Young’s modulus by more than a third compared with rPP, fulfilling the longitudinal value predicted by the additive rule of mixtures. Regarding the EWF analysis, the resistance to crack initiation was highly influenced by the resistance to its propagation owing to morphology-related instabilities during tearing. To analyze the initiation stage, a partition energy method was successfully applied by splitting the total work of fracture into two specific energetic contributions, namely initiation and propagation. The results revelated that the specific essential initiation-related work of fracture was mainly affected by rPET-O phase. Remarkably, its value was significantly improved by a factor of three with the microfibrillar structure of rPET-O phase. The results allowed the exploration of the potential ability of manufacturing in situ MFCs without a “precursor” morphology, providing an economical way to promote the recycling rate of PET-O, as this material is being discarded from current recycling processes.

Formation of microfibrillar structure of polypropylene/copolyamide blends in the presence of nanoparticles of metal oxides

The influence of nanoparticles made of ifferent metals oxides (ZnO, Al2O3, TiO2, and ZnO/Al2O3) on the in situ formation of microfibrils by the components of a dispersed phase was studied in a thermodynamically incompatible blend of polypropylene/copolyamide (PP/CPA). The viscosity of the melts was determined by capillary viscometry method. Elastic properties were evaluated by the degree of extrudate swelling. The morphology of the compositions was studied by optical polarization microscopy. The method of image analysis was used to quantify the structural characteristics of the blends. It was established that the introduction of 1.0 wt.% of nanoparticles of the studied oxides made from different metals allows tuning the microstructure of the melt of the PP/CPA blend, which is realized in the course of extrusion. More perfect morphology is formed in nanofilled systems: the average diameter of PP microfibrils decreases and their mass fraction increases. The modifying effect of oxide nanoparticles is manifested due to their influence on interfacial phenomena and rheological properties of nanofilled PP melt. The viscosity of the PP melts increases and their elasticity decreases in the presence of nanoparticles of the studied metal oxides. The values of the ratio of the viscoelastic characteristics of the dispersed phase and the matrix in nanofilled systems depend on the nature of oxide and indirectly correlate with the microstructure of the extrudate. As these ratios approach unity, the diameter of PP microfibrils decreases and their share increases. The efficiency of the studied oxides to improve the microfibrillar structure increases in the following series: ZnO, Al2O3, TiO2, ZnO/Al2O3. The obtained results demonstrate the possibility to create the microfiber textile and filter materials with improved consumer characteristics by adjusting the phase morphology of the blends.

Bacterial Cellulose and Pullulan from Simple and Low Cost Production Media

In this study, the production rate of both water-insoluble EPS, bacterial cellulose, and water-soluble EPS, P, was improved through сultivation of their producers on a nutrient media containing industrial wastes, and their material properties were analyzed. The growth rate and productivity of Gluconoacetobacter xylinus C3 strain on media with industrial wastes was investigated. An optimal nutrient medium based on molasses was selected for the bacterial cellulose producer. The nutrient medium contains 2% molasses, 1% yeast extract and peptone in a 1: 1 ratio, 0.3% sodium hydrogen phosphate, 0.1% citric acid and 1% ethanol. Cultivation of Gluconoacetobacter xylinus C3 strain on this medium for 7 days at 25–30 °С ensures its high productivity – 8.21 g/L. The composition of the optimized medium with molasses provides high mechanical properties (tensile strength – 37.12 MPa and relative elongation at break – 3.28%) of bacterial cellulose and does not affect the polymer microfibrillar structure. A modified Czapek-Dox medium with 10% molasses and 1% peptone is preferable for the exopolysaccharide accumulation by A. pullulans C8 strain. The optimized media has an advantage over the traditionally used media in terms of the efficiency of exopolysaccharide accumulation and cost reduction. The pullulan yield in media was 10.08 g/l, that is 1.5 times higher than in a standard Czapek-Dox medium. The surface morphology and microstructure of the pullulan samples obtained on different media showed minor changes. Therefore, the replacement of carbon source for molasses in a Czapek-Dox media for pullulan production did not alter the polymer content and viscosity.

The properties, morphology and structure of BPDA/ PPD/ BOA polyimide fibers

A family of random copoly(amic acid)s (coPAAs) containing the 2-(4- aminophenyl)-5-aminobenzoxazole (BOA) moiety were synthesized in DMAc, followed by dry-jet wet spinning process into as-spun PAA fibers. The modified polyimide (PI) fibers were obtained from PAA fibers after imidized and drawn in a furnace. The mechanical properties of fibers were improved by incorporating BOA into BPDA/PPD backbone. SEM photo showed that the cross-section of each stage fibers was round and voids free. Besides, the “skin-core” and microfibrillar structure were not observed. The thermal properties of PI fibers were also investigated. The results showed that the PI fibers owned excellent thermal stability, moreover, the dimensional stability and the microphase separation of fibers were improved by heat-drawn stage. The Tg were found to be around 290°C by TMA and DMA. The X-ray (WAXD and SAXS) experiments indicated that the longitudinal stacks, the molecular orientation and the structural homogeneity of PI fiber were improved in the preparation process of fibers.