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The polyaniline:nylon-6,6 (PANI:Ny-6,6) composite films were prepared by diffusion process and the oxidative polymerization of aniline within the nylon-6,6 matrix. The composite films were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as for their electrical properties. The surface electrical conductivity of the HCl (1 M) doped composite films increases with increase in the polyaniline content of the films. The study of electrical properties under isothermal conditions in the temperature range of 50–130°C showed that the composite films were stable under ambient conditions below 90°C in terms of DC electrical conductivity retention.

The effect of curing systems on the orientation and the dispersion of the layered silicates in acrylonitrile butadiene rubber nanocomposite is reported. Significant differences in X-ray diffraction pattern between peroxide curing and sulfur curing was observed. Intense X-ray scattering values in the XRD experiments from peroxide cured vulcanizates indicate an orientation of the layers in a preferred direction as evinced by transmission electron micrographs. However, sulfur cured vulcanizates show no preferential orientation of the silicate particles. Nevertheless, a closer inspection of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of peroxide and sulfur cured samples shows exfoliated silicate layers in the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) matrix. It was revealed in the prevailing study that the use of an excess amount of stearic acid in the formulation of the sulfur curing package leads to almost exfoliated type X-ray scattering pattern.

Three polyurethane blends were made from segmented polyurethanes synthesized from desaminotyrosyl tyrosine hexyl ester (DTH), an L-tyrosine based diphenolic dipeptide, as chain extender. The soft segment of these polyurethanes is either polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polycaprolactone diol (PCL) and the diisocyanate is hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). The blends were developed to investigate the effect of varying composition on the overall physical, thermal, mechanical, surface and degradation properties of the material. The characterization results show that the properties of these blended materials can be controlled by adjusting the composition. Blends with increased PEG based polyurethane exhibited more water absorption and higher degradation characteristics. With increasing PCL based polyurethane, the mechanical properties of the blends were improved although the blends were relatively more amorphous in nature. The L-tyrosine based polyurethane blends hold the potential for use in different biomaterial applications.

Dicarboxylated poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) was synthesized by reacting succinic anhydride with L-lactic acid prepolymer prepared by melt polycondensation. PLLA and epoxy resin based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) copolymers were prepared by chain extension of dicarboxylated PLLA with DGEBA. Infrared spectra confirmed the formation of dicarboxylated PLLA and PLLA/DGEBA copolymer. Influences of reaction temperature, reaction time, and the amount of DGEBA on the molecular weight and gel content of PLLA/DGEBA copolymer were studied. The viscosity average molecular weight of PLLA/DGEBA copolymer reached 87 900 when reaction temperature, reaction time, and mol ratio of dicarboxylated PLLA to DGEBA is 150°C, 30 min, and 1:1 respectively, while gel content of PLLA/DGEBA copolymer is almost zero.

Quaternary ammonium ionomers of Methacrylamidopropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride with N-substituted acrylamides were prepared at 55±1°C using azobiscyanovaleric acid (ACVA) initiator. The monomers and ionomers were characterized by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and the copolymer composition was calculated from elemental analysis data. The reduced viscosity of ionomers in methanol behaves as non-polyelectrolytes at lower mole percentage and as polyelectrolyte at higher mole percentage. The molecular weights of ionomers were found to be high and the polydispersity index values indicate termination mainly by disproportionation. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of ionomers were greater than those of the corresponding homopolymers, attributed to a reduction in segmental mobility. The initial decomposition temperature (IDT) showed that the stability of ionomers increases with increasing mole percentage of ionic content.

The photo-oxidation of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)/ layered double hydroxide (LDH) composites as well as EPDM/LDH with stabilizers is studied under accelerated UV irradiation (λ≥290 nm) at 60°C for different time intervals. The development of functional groups during oxidation was monitored by FT-IR spectroscopy. The photodegradation of the pristine polymer and composites take place and the increase in hydroxyl and carbonyl groups with irradiation times, was estimated. EPDM filled LDH showed higher degradation rate than pristine EPDM, while in acidic medium EPDM/LDH showed almost equal degradation as in isolated conditions. These results show the advantages of LDHs as a filler as well as an acid killer. The effect of stabilizers is very less because of their concentration in comparison of LDH.

Abaca fibre reinforced PP composites were fabricated with different fibre loadings (20, 30, 40, 50wt% and in some cases 35 and 45 wt%). Flax and jute fibre reinforced PP composites were also fabricated with 30 wt% fibre loading. The mechanical properties, odour emission and structure properties were investigated for those composites. Tensile, flexural and Charpy impact strengths were found to increase for fibre loadings up to 40 wt% and then decreased. Falling weight impact tests were also carried out and the same tendency was observed. Owing to the addition of coupling agent (maleated polypropylene -MAH-PP), the tensile, flexural and falling weight impact properties were found to increase in between 30 to 80% for different fibre loadings. When comparing jute and flax fibre composites with abaca fibre composites, jute fibre composites provided best tensile properties but abaca fibre polypropylene composites were shown to provide best notch Charpy and falling weight impact properties. Odours released by flax fibre composites were smaller than jute and abaca fibre composites.

Volume strain measurements were carried out on PE/CaCO₃ composites prepared with three different matrix polymers, containing various amounts of filler. The analysis of the debonding process and the various stages of void formation proved that the model developed for the prediction of the initiation of debonding is valid also for the studied PE/CaCO₃ composites. Debonding stress is determined by the strength of interfacial adhesion, particle size and the stiffness of the matrix. In thermoplastic matrices usually two competitive processes take place: debonding and the plastic deformation of the polymer. The relative magnitude of the two processes strongly influences the number and size of the voids formed. Because of this competition and due to the wide particle size distribution of commercial fillers, only a certain fraction of the particles initiate the formation of voids. The number of voids formed is inversely proportional to the stiffness of the matrix polymer. In stiff matrices almost the entire amount of filler separates from the matrix under the effect of external load, while less than 30% debond in a PE which has an initial modulus of 0.4 GPa. Further decrease of matrix stiffness may lead to the complete absence of debonding and the composite would deform exclusively by shear yielding. Voids initiated by debonding grow during the further deformation of the composite. The size of the voids also depends on the modulus of the matrix. The rate of volume increase considerably exceeds the value predicted for cross-linked rubbers. At the same deformation and filler content the number of voids is smaller and their size is larger in soft matrices than in polymers with larger inherent modulus.

The effect of bar sealing parameters on the heat seal strength of oriented polypropylene (OPP)/metallic cast polypropylene (MCPP) laminate film was investigated. Based on the results obtained from the parametric study, a bar sealing process window was developed. All points drop within the process window are combinations of platen temperature and dwell time that produce acceptable heat seal. Optimum combinations are indicated by the lower border of the window. The plateau initiation temperature, T_pi of OPP/MCPP laminate film used in the present study occurred before the final melting temperature, T_mf of the sealant material. The highest achievable heat seal strength was at the plateau region, and the corresponding failure modes were delaminating, tearing or combine failure modes (delaminating and tearing). Minimum pressure level of 1.25 bars is necessary to bring the laminate interface into intimate contact in order to effect sealing.