Abstract Aromatic polyamides have properties of industrial relevance. However, the industrial and technological advancement has followed the trend of sustainability by seeking renewable source materials. In this work, polyamides were synthetized using 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid with p-phenylene diamine, triphenyl phosphite and two solvents (NMP and DMAc). To evaluate the influence of solvents on the reaction, a kinetic study of degradation was carried out by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and viscometric analysis. The viscosity value was in the range 70-80 mL/g. The TGA showed a higher thermal stability and activation energy for sample prepared with DMAc than the NMP. The XRD analysis showed that the PAFDMAc presents more defined crystalline forms due to its higher solvation capability. The crystalline form can be correlated with the differences of Ea, because the crystalline orientation and the number of hydrogens bonds in sample PAFNMP may be lower than the structure attributed to PAFDMAc.

Abstract The influence of three nucleating agents from different generations on the crystallization behavior of propylene homopolymer was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The amount of nucleating agent used varied between 1000 and 2200 ppm. The new generation nucleating agent, Hyperform® HPN-68L, accelerates the crystallization more efficiently than the other nucleating agents tested. It was also possible to verify the effects of agglomeration and negative interaction between calcium stearate and sodium benzoate. Furthermore, AFM images allowed to differentiate the crystals generated by Millad® 3988 through the observation of a fibrillar intertwining network structure, with characteristic spacing and length of crystals, justifying its excellent performance to improve polypropylene optical properties.

Atualmente, cargas nanométricas são utilizadas para desenvolver novos materiais poliméricos com melhor desempenho mecânico. Neste trabalho, foi empregada uma mistura de borracha termoplástica de poli(estireno-b-butadieno-b-estireno) (SBS) e de argila Montmorilonita (Cloisite 10A) via intercalação por fusão. Uma suspensão de Cloisite 10A em ciclohexano foi adicionada a SBS em solução. Para maior compatibilidade entre a argila e a borracha termoplástica utilizou-se uma borracha termoplástica epoxidada como agente compatibilizante. Neste estudo, a proporção argila compatibilizante foi de 0,6 até 3,0 para verificar a influência desta proporção nas propriedades mecânicas dos nanocompósitos. As propriedades morfológicas e mecânicas dos nanocompósitos foram avaliadas através da difração de raios X, microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, ensaio de tração, análise dinâmico-mecânica (DMA) e avaliação do torque final da mistura. A combinação de argila/conpatibilizante favoreceu a formação de estruturas mais alongadas de argila que promoveram o ganho de módulo e tensão com pequena redução de alongamento.

Nanoscale fillers have been used to develop new polymeric materials with better mechanical performance. In this study, a mixture of thermoplastic rubber, poly (styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS), and Montmorillonite (Cloisite 10A) was obtained via the melt intercalation. A suspension of Cloisite 10A in cyclohexane was added to SBS in solution. To increase the compatibility between the clay and the thermoplastic rubber an epoxidized rubber was used as coupling agent. The proportion of clay and compatibilizer was changed from 0.6 to 3.0 to probe the influence of this ratio on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. The morphological and mechanical properties were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, tensile testing, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and evaluation of the final torque of the mixture. The combination of clay /compatibilizer favored the formation of elongated structures, leading to an increased modulus and strength with a small reduction in elongation.

Nanocompósitos de polipropileno PP/OMMT foram preparados com o uso de duas argilas modificadas organofilicamente (C-15A e I-44P) e de um compatibilizante (PP-g-MA) pelo método em solução utilizando-se um banho de ultrassom. O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender a morfologia dos nanocompósitos, ou seja, o grau de dispersão destas argilas na matriz de polipropileno, e consequentemente, correlacioná-la com as propriedades finais obtidas. A morfologia dos nanocompósitos foi avaliada por Difração de Raios X (DRX) e Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão (MET). As propriedades mecânico-dinâmicas e térmicas dos nanocompósitos foram avaliadas por Análise Mecânico-Dinâmica (DMA) e Calorimetria Diferencial de Varredura (DSC). Análises estatísticas das imagens de transmissão foram realizadas possibilitando a obtenção da razão de aspecto (comprimento/espessura) das partículas de argila.

Polypropylene nanocomposites PP/OMMT were prepared using two modified organic clays (C-15A and I-44P) and (PP-g-MA) as compatibilizer in the solution method using an ultrasound bath. The objective of this study was to understand the morphology of the nanocomposites and degree of clay dispersion in the polypropylene matrix, which are then correlated with the final properties. The morphology of nanocomposites was evaluated by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The dynamic mechanical properties and thermal properties were measured by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Statistical analyses of the transmission images were made in order to obtain the aspect ratio (length/thickness) of the clay particles.

The viscoelastic, mechanical and morphological properties of polypropylene/exfoliated graphite nanocomposites with different contents of nanofiller were investigated. According to transmission electron microscopy results, the nanofiller particles were homogeneously dispersed in the matrix. The rheological properties indicated that incorporation of graphite improved the matrix stiffness and had a reinforcing effect. Exfoliated graphite had a weak interaction with the polypropylene. The behavior of the nanocomposites was similar to that of polypropylene in terms of the interfacial detachment inferred from the transmission electron microscopy images and of their G' (storage) and G'' (loss) moduli, and viscosity. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites compared to the matrix improved significantly for the flexural and storage moduli with little loss of impact strength.

In this study, epoxy nanocomposites containing different fractions of n-phenylaminopropyl (POSS) were prepared. The nanocomposites were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), gel content, dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The parameters for Avrami's equation were calculated from the degradation curves. The dispersions used to form the nanocomposites were effective above 5 wt % of POSS, and the gel content increased with the addition of POSS. The DMA analysis exhibited an increase in the storage modulus (E') and a shifting of Tg to higher temperatures upon POSS incorporation. The weight loss indicated that the POSS promoted an increase in thermal stability of the epoxy resin. The Avrami parameters demonstrated that the addition of POSS decreased the Avrami constant (k'), increased the half-life (t1/2) of degradation and promoted changes in the Avrami exponent (n). These results suggest that the increase in the glass transition temperature and thermal stability depend on the reactive groups in the POSS nanoparticles.

The preparation of oat-reinforced polypropylene nanocomposites with different fiber contents by means of melt-processing was investigated. Composite properties were evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Flexural Modulus, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Findings confirmed that the oat composite properties were affected by fiber type and content. Improvements in mechanical properties were obtained using fiber contents < 20% w.t.

The broad variety of hydrogenation methods of polydienes is presented. Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis are reviewed emphasizing also hydrogen transfer from donor compounds.