Dependence of montmorillonite dispersion in nanocomposites on polymer matrix and compatibilizer content, and the impact on mechanical properties

A series of polyurethane (PU)/monmorillonite (MMT) or nylon 66/MMT nanocomposite were prepared by melt-compounding method to take a close look at the MMT dispersion in the nanocomposite depending on the polymer matrix and the compatibilizer content. Cloisite 30B, the brand name, was selected as MMT, because surface was covered with methyl tallow bis-2-hydroxyethyl ammonium group and the reduced surface hydrophilicityity rendered MMT dispersed better in polymer matrix compared to bare MMT. MMT dispersion, due to the difference in hydrophilicity and the fondness of similar hydrophilicity, was better in nylon than PU. Maximum stress and tensile modulus could be increased by the control of MMT content for both nylon and PU, and the compatibilizer, when added at the same MMT content, also could increase the tensile properties of both nylon and PU. It was found from this investigation that the good dispersion of MMT in polymer matrix can improve the mechanical properties of nanocomposite.     

The characterization and effects of the alizarin series dyes grafted to polyurethane copolymers on the photoluminescence and low temperature flexibility

Alizarin-series dyes (alizarin, alizarin red S, alizarin yellow GG, or mordant orange) are grafted onto shape memory polyurethane (PU) through an allophanate bonding, and the photoluminescence and the low-temperature flexibility of the resulting PUs are tested. The PU is mainly composed of 4,4′-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) (MDI), poly (tetramethyleneglycol) (PTMG), and 1,4-butanediol (BD), and the dye is connected, through another MDI, to the carbamate moiety of the PU chain. The PUs with different dye contents are characterized, and their shape recovery and photoluminescence properties are compared. With respect to the tensile mechanical properties, the maximum stress increases up to 50 MPa, and the strain remains above 1000 % even after the dye is grafted onto the PU. The shape recovery is as high as 99 %, and the shape retention improves as the dye content increases. Finally, the photoluminescence of the PUs is demonstrated by the luminescent light emission test, and the dye-grafted PU shows excellent low-temperature flexibility compared with that of linear PU.     

Processing and characterization of polyacrylonitrile/soy protein isolate/polyurethane wet-spinning solution and fiber

Using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a solvent, the polyacrylonitrile/soy protein isolate/polyurethane (PAN/SPI/PU) blend solutions and wet-spun fibers were prepared. The rheological properties of the PAN/SPI/PU solution were investigated. Investigations of the structure and properties of the PAN/SPI/PU fibers involved Fourier transform infrared, enzymatic hydrolysis, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical properties, dye adsorption, contact angle, and moisture regain measurements. The results showed that all PAN/SPI/PU solutions possess pseudoplastic properties, and there are opposite effects of SPI and PU in the PAN/DMSO solution. The apparent viscosity, the amount of non-Newtonian fluid and the extent of structuralization of the PAN/DMSO solution increase with the addition of SPI, whereas these features all decrease with the addition of PU. The biodegrability, the absorption of acidic dye and the moisture regain increase with the proportional increase in weight of SPI in the fiber blend.     

Characterization and mechanical properties of prepolymer and polyurethane block copolymer with a shape memory effect

The prepolymer and the final polyurethane (PU) block copolymer were synthesized by reacting 4,4-methylene bis(phenylisocyanate) with poly(tetramethylene glycol) and the prepolymer with 1,4-butanediol as a chain extender, respectively, to investigate the relation between phase separation and it’s resulting properties. According to FT-IR data, the phase separation of hard and soft segments in the prepolymer and the PU block copolymer grew bigger by increasing the hard segment content, and the PU showed more dominant phase separation than the prepolymer. The heat of fusion due to soft segments decreased in both the prepolymer and the PU by increasing the hard segment content, whereas the heat of fusion due to hard segments increased in the PU did not appear in the prepolymers. The breaking stress and modulus of the prepolymer increased by increasing the hard segment content, and the elongation at break decreased gradually, and the PU showed the highest breaking stress and modulus at 58 % hard segment content. However, the best shape recovery of the PU was obtained at 47 % hard segment content due to the existence of proper interaction among the hard segments for shape memory effect. Consequently, the mechanical properties and shape memory effect of the PU were influenced by the degree of phase separation, depending on the incorporation of chain extender as well as the hard segment content.     

Effect of kiwifruit protease on the characteristics of human hair

The feasibility of using kiwifruit protease as a new cosmetic material for human hair care was investigated. The effectiveness of the kiwifruit protease treatment was assessed by optical microscope examination, amino acid analysis, tensile strength changes, and dyeability test. The activated kiwifruit protease removed impurities and dirt from the hair surface without severe changes in mechanical properties. The total amino acid content of the hair samples decreased as the duration of protease treatment increased and as the treatment temperature increased. The kiwifruit protease treatment also enhanced dye uptake due to the improvement in dye accessibility to the hair via the cell membrane complex.     

Enhanced mechanical and dielectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/polyurethane/multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanocomposites with the polymer matrix composed of blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and polyurethane (PU) were prepared via functionalization of 3,4,5-triflouroaniline (TFA) on MWNTs. The MWNTs/polymer nanocomposites showed a dominantly enhanced elongation due to incorporation of PU molecules in PVDF matrix and the improved MWNTs dispersion in the polymer matrix resulting from functionalization of MWNTs with TFA. The functionalization of TFA on MWNTs was confirmed by the measurements of Raman, FT-IR spectra, SEM, and TEM images. In addition, the dielectric constant of nanocomposites increased with an increase of TFA-functionalized MWNTs in PVDF/PU/MWNTs nanocomposites. The polymer blend nanocomposites incorporating MWNTs may be available as an alternative potential route for the actuator materials.     

Shape memory effects of polyurethane block copolymers cross-linked by celite

The shape memory polyurethane (PU) copolymers cross-linked by celite, a porous inorganic material with enormous surface area and hydroxyl groups on the surface, were prepared to see if the shape memory effect and the mechanical properties were improved. The PU copolymers with different celite contents were compared and characterized by IR, DSC, DMA, and UTM. The melting temperatures of PU soft segment were around 20 oC independent of celite content. The shape memory effect and mechanical properties were dependent on the celite content, and the celite addition into the reaction mixture should be made in the middle of polymerization to get the best shape memory and mechanical properties. The best mechanical properties were found at 0.2 wt% celite content and its shape retention rate went up to 98 %. The inclusion of celite as a cross-linker increased both shape memory effect and mechanical properties. The reasons underlining the improvements by adopting celite as a cross-linker are discussed in this paper.     

Preparation and acid dye adsorption behavior of polyurethane/chitosan composite foams

We prepared a series of polyurethane(PU)/chitosan composite foams with different chitosan content of 5∼20 wt% and investigated their adsorption performance of acid dye (Acid Violet 48) in aqueous solutions with various dye concentrations and pH values. It was observed that PU/chitosan composite foams exhibited well-developed open cell structures. Dye adsorption capacities of the composite foams increased with the increment of chitosan content in composite foams, because amine groups of chitosan serve as the binding sites for sulfonic ions of acid dyes in aqueous solutions. In addition, dye adsorption capacities of composite foams were found to increase with decreasing the pH value, which stems from the fact that the enhanced chemisorption between protonated amine groups of chitosan and sulfonic ions of acid dye is available in acidic solutions. The dye adsoption kinetics and equilibrium isotherm of the composite foams were well described with the pseudo-second order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity (q _max) for the PU/chitosan composite foams with 20 wt% chitosan content is evaluated to be ca. 30 mg/g.     

Fly ash/polyurethane thin film for the adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air

Polyurethane (PU) films containing different amounts of fly ash particles (FAPs) were prepared by simple solution casting method. The morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties of the composite films were investigated by several characterization methods. Results show that sufficient amounts (up to 40 wt%) of FAPs can be incorporated throughout the film. The presence of FAPs within PU film not only acts as filler to increase the mechanical strength of the film but also increases its volatile organic compounds (VOCs) adsorption capacity. The VOCs adsorption capacity of FAPs/PU composite films were investigated on three different compounds (chloroform, toluene, and benzene). It showed consistent trend in the order of toluene > benzene > chloroform for all the samples. The VOCs adsorption capacity of PU film was found to be increased by two fold when 20 wt% of FA was incorporated through it. The present results suggest the potential use of FAPs as filler materials for PU films with improved VOCs adsorption from outdoor and indoor air.     

Glucose cross-linking of polyurethane copolymer and its impact on the elevation of mechanical properties and shape memory effect

Effect of glucose cross-linking on the shape memory and mechanical properties of polyurethane (PU) block copolymer was investigated. Glucose was selected due to its large number of free hydroxyl groups, easy availability, miscibility with other reactants, and cyclic structure. The glycerol cross-linking did not affect the molecular interaction and phase separation of hard and soft segments in polyurethane structure as judged from IR and DSC analysis. Viscosity of glucose cross-linked PU increased after cross-linking due to the cross-linked structure. Maximum stress drastically improved with the adoption of glucose as a cross-linker together with a slight increase in strain at break. Shape recovery also increased with the adoption of glucose as a cross-linker, and shape recovery was not diminished after four cyclic shape recovery tests. In contrast, shape retention significantly decreased if glucose was included for two different hard segment contents. Finally, glucose cross-linking was compared with other cross-linkers used in shape memory polymer and the advantage of glucose cross-linking was discussed.     

Synthesis and application of ramie fiber soft modifier comprised of carboxylate-containing polymer

In effort to improve the soft properties of ramie fiber, we synthesized a carboxylate-containing polymer for use as a modifying agent, and successfully modified the ramie fiber in a strong base with the carboxylate-containing polymer. We applied Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the structures of the raw and modified ramie fibers, and further investigated the mechanical and dyeing properties of the raw and modified ramie fibers. The results showed that the surface of the ramie fiber underwent significant changes due to the grafting reaction of the carboxylate-containing polymer and fiber. After the chemical modification, the flexural strength and initial modulus of the modified ramie fiber decreased while tensile strength increased, indicating that the softness of the modified ramie fiber increased though its tensile resistance remained high. In addition, the fixation of reactive dyes on the modified ramie fiber was larger than that of the reactive dyes on the raw ramie fiber. Our observations of mechanical properties and dye fixation indicated that the carboxylate-containing polymer is an effective and efficient soft modifier.     

Fabrication and properties of dope-dyed Poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) fibers via wet spinning

Poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) fibers play an irreplaceable role in the area of high-temperature resistance. It is usually difficult to dye PMIA fibers due to their rigid molecular structure and high crystallinity. In this study, the dope-dyed PMIA fibers with different amounts of pigment were fabricated by wet spinning. The properties of the pigment were analyzed, including size distribution and dispersive properties. The results showed that the pigment was easy to disperse in the fibers when the average diameter of the pigment was smaller than 500 nm. The color fastness of the colored PMIA fibers was tested, and their thermal properties and mechanical properties were also analyzed. The results of thermal gravity analysis (TGA) indicated that the colored PMIA fibers maintained good thermal performance. Compared to uncolored PMIA fibers, the colored PMIA fibers became lighter after exposing to simulated sunlight for 50 h. The breaking tenacity of fibers exceeded 2.0 cN/dtex, and the retentivity was above 80 % after being exposed to simulated sunlight for 50 h. These suggested the good mechanical performance of colored PMIA fibers. Dope-dyed PMIA fibers with good mechanical properties and thermal performance were successfully developed.     

Restoring important hair properties with wool keratin proteins and peptides

In this work the effect on hair of two types of keratin samples obtained from wool, was investigated. Fiber surface changes were evaluated by contact angle measurements. The effectiveness of these keratin ingredients to restore the mechanical properties and the moisture content of the fibers was also determined. Modifications of hair properties due to some conventional chemical treatments were demonstrated with lower values of contact angle and detrimental effects on the mechanical properties. Application of keratin peptides and proteins to pretreated hair improved the fibers’ moisture content and their mechanical properties.     

Incorporation of surface modified graphene nanoplatelets for development of shape memory PLA nanocomposite

In this study, a temperature sensitive shape memory polymer (SMP) system based on polylactic acid (PLA) has been developed and the effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on the shape memory properties was evaluated. Dispersion of GNPs in PLA was improved with the aid of a zwitterionic surfactant. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the surface modified graphene nanoplatelets (SMGNPs) were exfoliated and homogenously dispersed in the PLA matrix due to enhancement of the polymer-graphene interaction. Mechanical properties of the samples namely stiffness and elasticity were increased upon incorporation of graphene nanoplatelets accompanied by their good dispersion in the PLA matrix. Furthermore, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that the nucleation effect of graphene promote the crystallization and noticeably enhanced the degree of crystallinity. Finally, prominent mechanical properties along with high degree of crystallization due to fine dispersion of surface modified graphenes, resulted in drastic improvement in shape memory performance.     

The grafting of recycled polyol from waste polyurethane foam onto new polyurethane and its impact on shape recovery and water vapor permeation

Recycled polyols from waste polyurethane (PU) foams were grafted onto PU to improve the properties such as tensile strength, shape recovery, low-temperature flexibility, and water compatibility. The recycled polyol was either purified by column chromatography before grafting or was used directly for grafting. The soft segment melting temperature of PU did not notably increase with the addition of polyol, whereas the glass transition temperature increased with increased polyol content. The tensile strength sharply increased at low polyol content and decreased at high polyol content, while the strain at break did not significantly change with an increase in polyol content. The shape recovery at 10 oC notably improved compared with unmodified PU and remained high after four cyclic tests. Polyol-grafted PU demonstrated better lowtemperature flexibility and reduced the water vapor permeability of PU membranes. Overall, grafting recycled polyol onto PU significantly improved the tensile stress, shape recovery, and low-temperature flexibility of PU.     

Electrospun nanostructures based on polyurethane/MWCNTs for strain sensing applications

Electrically conductive nanofibers were fabricated from elastic polyurethane (PU) and PU/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposite by electrospinning method. The nanocomposites were electrospun at various MWCNTs loading. Electron microscopy was used to investigate nanofibers morphology and dispersion of MWCNTs in the electrospun nanofibers. The results showed that the presence of the MWCNTs promoted the creation of fibrous structures in comparison with the PU without MWCNTs. On the other hand, increasing the MWCNTs content resulted in a slight increase in the average fiber diameter. TEM micrographs and mechanical properties of the electrospun mats indicated that the homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs throughout PU matrix is responsible for the considerable enhancement of mechanical properties of the nanofiber mats. Electrical behavior of the conductive mats was also studied, in view of possible sensor applications. Cyclic experiments were conducted to establish whether the electrical properties were reversible, which is an important requirement for sensor materials.     

Investigation of stain-resistant cationic dyeable nylon 6 modified with sodium salt of 5-sulfoisophthalic acid and polyethylene glycol

Nylon 6 can be dyed with acid dyes and therefore it can also be stained by natural or artificial acid dyes existing in some foods and drinks when they are spilled on nylon fabrics. In this study, cationic dyeable polyamide (CD-PA6) was synthesized with sodium salt from 5-sulfoisophthalic acid (5-SSIPA) and easily cationic dyeable polyamide (ECD-PA6) was prepared with 5-SSIAP and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The influence of the chemical modification to CD-PA6 and ECD-PA6 on the resultant structures were characterized by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and their thermal properties were tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The effects of varying 5-SSIPA content on the cationic dye uptake and acid dye resistance rate were also investigated, as well as mechanical properties of the modified PA6. Incorporating PEG not only destroyed the regularity of molecular chain arrangement and created more amorphous regions in the ECD-PA6 samples, but also changed the nylon 6 from α-form to γ-form. Results revealed a considerable improvement in cationic dye uptake and acid dye resistance rate in the modified fibers compared with unmodified fibers.     

Durability study of a ramie-fiber reinforced phenolic composite subjected to water immersion

In the present paper, ramie fiber reinforced polymer (RFRP) plates prepared by hot compression process were subjected to water immersion at 20 oC and 40 oC for four weeks, and the variation of water uptake and mechanical properties with immersion time were investigated. It was found that the saturated water content and the coefficient of diffusion in RFRP were much higher than those in synthetic fiber based composites, due to the strong hydrophilic characteristic of the ramie fiber. After fully drying of the immersed samples, mass loss from 1.6 % to 3.6 % was found, indicating occurrence of a serious hydrolysis of the resin and the ramie fibers. After a short term of immersion (i.e., 1 day), RFRP showed a remarkable deterioration in the flexural and short beam shear properties. Further increase of the immersion time, the degradation rate of the mechanical properties was much reduced. After fully drying, the mechanical properties of the samples can be recovered to some extent, but still much less than the original values. The variation of mechanical property as a function of the water uptake content exhibits three stages (i.e., dramatic reduction, leveling off and quick decrease again). This may be due to the sequent occurrence of the degradation of natural fibers, fiber debonding and hydrolysis of the fiber and resin during immersion.     

Synthesis and properties of shape memory polyurethane nanocomposites reinforced with poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-grafted carbon nanotubes

Nanocomposites of polyurethane (PU) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared via in-situ polymerization of poly(ɛ-caprolactone)diol (PCL)-grafted-MWNTs, 4,4′-methylene bis(phenyl isocyanate), and 1,4-butanediol. The grafting of PCL onto MWNTs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanocomposites showed more improved mechanical properties compared to conventional nanocomposites with the same MWNT loading. The thermo-responsive shape recovery as measured in a cyclic tensile test was observed to be approximately 80 % for in-situ nanocomposites, though it showed a reduced trend as the wt% of MWNTs increased. X-ray diffraction investigation also showed that the addition of MWNTs into the polyurethane increased the crystallinity. Scanning electron microscopy and TEM measurements showed better dispersion of MWNTs in the nanocomposites synthesized using in-situ method. Consequently, the presence of PCL-g-MWNTs made an important contribution to the enhancement of the mechanical and shape memory properties of polyurethane.     

Dyeing properties of mixture of ultrafine nylon and polyurethane with different types of dye

The dyeing and color fastness properties of levelling type acid dye, milling type acid dye, metal complex dye and reactive dye on ultrafine nylon, polyurethane fiber/film and their mixtures were investigated. Ultrafine nylon was dyed well with four types of dye at pH 3-6, but levelling type acid dye showed low washing fastness. Amine-rich polyurethane fiber exhibited enhanced dyeability due to amino groups which acted as dyeing sites, compared to regular polyurethane fiber. In simultaneous dyeing with milling type acid dye and metal complex dye, amine-rich polyurethane fiber absorbed more dye molecules than ultrafine nylon, the color difference between two fibers were apparent. Polyurethane-impregnated ultrafine nylon was also prepared and its build-up properties were determined. It was found that polyurethane whose soft segment was composed of polytetramethylene glycol (PTMG) and polypropylene glycol (PPG) showed improved dyeing property and subsequently high color strength.