International Polymer Science and Technology

This paper gives a general overview of analytical methods for investigating polymers and fibres. As well as methods of thermal analysis, such as DSC, TMDSC, TGA and DMA, physical measurement techniques such as wide-angle X-ray diffraction, rheometry and pycnometry are also described. A chemical testing procedure – Karl Fischer titration – is also discussed. In addition, optical investigations such as electron microscopy are presented.

The molecular and supermolecular structure and the physicomechanical properties of composite materials obtained by combined dispersion of linear polyethylene and disperse silicon, titanium, and molybdenum carbides on an eccentric vibratory mill were investigated. The correlation between the structure, hardness, softening point, and thermomechanical properties of the composite materials was established.

The possibility of controlling the properties of polymeric materials by their heat treatment was examined. It was shown how the properties of amorphous and partially crystalline polymers, and also composite materials based on them, are changed by quenching and annealing.

The paper sets out the results of studying and analysing the kinetics of change in the service characteristics of glazing models during exposure at the Gelendzhik Climatic Testing Centre (GTsKI) in comparison with results concerning artificial ageing for predicting the service life of glazing manufactured from new organic glasses of partially crosslinked structure. The main factors acting on organic glasses were found to be UV radiation and defects in the form of thermal stresses, which during ageing affect the resistance of the glasses to surface cracking (‘silver’ crack resistance) and their optical and strength properties. The correlation of change in the service characteristics of glazing models after artificial and natural atmospheric ageing was determined, making it possible to assess the design strength of models of organic glasses under artificial laboratory conditions 3–4 times more rapidly than during atmospheric ageing. On the basis of analysis of comparative data on natural atmospheric and artificial ageing of organic glasses of linear and partially crosslinked structure, the expediency of using organic glasses of partially crosslinked structure in the oriented state for aircraft glazing was shown.

The paper presents the results of synthesising acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic, which make it possible to assess the influence of the characteristics of different specimens of block styrene butadiene rubbers on the kinetics of the copolymerisation process, the viscosity characteristics of the reaction mix in time, the degree of grafting of the monomers on the rubber, and the molecular parameters of the copolymer obtained.

The dependence of the apparent density of oligomethylsiloxane–filler systems on the size of the microspheres and their bulk density was established. The acid–base method was used to determine the acid–base properties of the surface of fillers and to assess the interaction at the phase boundary.

An investigation was made of the influence of the quantity of the main and auxiliary components of the base polyurethane foam composite individually on the glass transition temperature and open porosity of rigid polyester urethane foam, the shape memory effect in which was investigated under conditions of microgravitation aboard the International Space Station. It was established that the glass transition temperature can be controlled in the widest range by varying the content of polyisocyanate and catalyst with chain extender, and the open porosity by varying the content of cell destroyer, surfactant, and catalyst with chain extender.

An investigation was made of the modifying effect of epoxy oligomer and elastifier (rubber) on the properties of epoxy anhydride binder. The boundary values of modifier content that ensure the most satisfactory combination of processing and mechanical characteristics were determined. A positive effect from modification of the binder was realised in microplastic on basalt roving.

New composite materials based on polyethylene terephthalate and superconcentrates of layered silicate nanoparticles in cyclic butylene terephthalate were developed and investigated. It was shown that the obtained concentrates of nanoparticles are sufficiently thermally stable for the modification of heat-resistant polymer matrices and increase the thermal and processing properties of the polyethylene terephthalate without lowering the molecular weight. By differential scanning calorimetry it was shown that the concentrates of layered silicate nanoparticles act as nucleators for the crystallising PET.