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Miscibility and Structure-Property Relationships in Some Novel Polyolefins

Kamdar, Akshay R.

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2009, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Macromolecular Science and Engineering.

In the first chapter, miscibility of homogeneous propylene/ethylene (P/E) copolymers of relatively narrow molecular weight distribution was studied as a function of constituent comonomer content. Polymers with up to 31 mol% ethylene were blended in pairs in order to vary the comonomer content difference. Copolymers of molecular weight about 200 kg/mol were miscible if the difference in ethylene content was less than about 18 mol%, and immiscible if the ethylene content difference was greater than about 20 mol%. Blends with constituent composition difference in the range of 18 20 mol% exhibited partial miscibility in the melt.

In the second chapter, the effect of chain microstructure on the miscibility and phase behavior of ethylene-octene (EO) copolymer blends was studied. Binary blends of two statistical copolymers (EO/EO blends) that differed in comonomer content were compared with blends of an EO with an olefinic blocky ethylene-octene copolymer, OBC (EO/OBC blends). Two EOs of molecular weight about 100 kg/mol were miscible if the difference in octene content was less than about 10 mol% and immiscible if the octene content difference was greater than about 13 mol%. The blocky nature of the OBCs reduced the miscibility and broadened the partial miscibility window of EO/OBC blends compared to EO/EO blends. The EO/OBC blends were miscible if the octene content difference was less than 7 mol% and immiscible above 13 mol% octene content difference.

In the third chapter, the adhesion of some ethylene-octene copolymers to polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) was studied in order to evaluate their suitability as compatibilizers for PP/HDPE blends. A one-dimensional model of the compatibilized blend was fabricated by layer-multiplying coextrusion. The microlayered tapes consisted of many alternating layers of PP and HDPE with a thin tie-layer inserted at each interface. The thickness of the tie-layer varied from 0.1 to 14 microns, which included thicknesses comparable to those of the interfacial layer in a compatibilized blend. A blocky copolymer (OBC) consistently exhibited better adhesion to PP than statistical copolymers (EO). Inspection of the crack-tip damage zone revealed a change from a continuous plastic damage zone in tie-layers 2 microns or thicker to a highly fibrillated damage zone in thinner tie-layers.

Eric Baer, PhD (Committee Chair)
Anne Hiltner, PhD (Advisor)
LaShanda Korley, PhD (Committee Member)
James Anderson, PhD (Committee Member)
159 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kamdar, A. R. (2009). Miscibility and Structure-Property Relationships in Some Novel Polyolefins [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1234451598

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kamdar, Akshay. Miscibility and Structure-Property Relationships in Some Novel Polyolefins. 2009. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1234451598.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kamdar, Akshay. "Miscibility and Structure-Property Relationships in Some Novel Polyolefins." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1234451598

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)