Please read the abstract in the section, 00front, of this document / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

Polymer films are often pre-treated to alter surface properties resulting in improved adhesion and wettability. The objective of the present work was to demonstrate the applicability of surface-sensitive techniques in the analysis of polymer films coated with thin overlayers. The surface or interphase region of sodium oleate coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films was studied by angle dependent x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The effect of corona discharge pre-treatment on sodium oleate coating adhesion was of particular interest. The PET films were analyzed at five separate stages of production; between forward drawing of the PET and corona discharge pre-treatment, both prior to and after sodium oleate coating, after biaxially drawing of the coated film, and, as a final film, after annealing. A comparison was made between corona discharge pre-treated films and otherwise experimentally identical films, which has not been pre-treated. It was determined that corona discharge pre-treatment causes increased surface oxygen on the PET films. This effect disappears with time until XPS analysis shows no difference between treated and untreated films. However, PET films which had been forward drawn, corona discharge pre-treated, immediately coated with sodium oleate, biaxially drawn and then annealed, showed the enhanced surface oxygen after several months of storage. It has been proposed that the mechanism for this phenomenon includes the ionic interaction between the sodium of sodium oleate and the surface oxygen groups, as well as, the increased crystallinity of the PET brought about by the annealing process. Corona discharge processing of polymer films such as PET or polyethylene has been used previously as a means of enhancing adhesion minutes before an adhesion promoter was required. The process described above now allows long-term storage of films with enhanced adhesion properties which in turn makes these films more versatile and practical commercially. / M.S.

This study of nonequilibrium behavior in-network and pseudo network polymeric glasses has focused on linear and network epoxy systems, semicrystalline PET, and SBS and PC-PSX block copolymers. The aging behavior of polymers within each of these three classes was compared, and certain relationships between structure and aging behavior were found. These relationships will now be discussed with respect to each of the three classes of materials. / Master of Science

An experimental investigation was undertaken to determine the effects of marine environmental exposure on the mechanical properties of vinylester resins (VE510A and VE8084) and carbon fiber/VE510A vinylester composites. The effect of carbon fiber sizing on the composite strengths was also examined. Neat resins were exposed to marine environments until moisture content reached a point of saturation after which they were tested in tension, compression and shear. Compared to the baseline dry specimens, specimens subjected to moisture showed overall increased ductility and a reduction in strength. Dry and moisture saturated composite specimens were tested in tension and compression in different orientations. Longitudinal specimens were tested in in-plane shear and interlaminar shear. Composites with F-sized carbon fibers displayed overall higher strength than those with G-sized fibers at both dry and moisture saturated conditions. An analysis of moisture absorption of the composites was performed which vii shows that the moisture up-take is dominated by the fiber/matrix region which absorbs up to 90% of the moisture. The composites experienced reduced strength after moisture absorption. The results revealed that the fiber sizing has stronger effect on the fiber/matrix interface dominated strengths than moisture up-take. / by Alexander M. Figlionini. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Durability of the composite materials in marine environments has been investigated experimentally and with analytical and numerical methods. The main focus of this study is on the integrity of the fiber/matrix interface under seawater exposure. A single-fiber compression test specimen called the Outwater-Murphy (OM) test has been analyzed using mechanics of materials principles and linear elastic fracture mechanics. Sizing of the OM specimen was conducted so that debonding of the fiber from the interface should be achieved prior to yielding of the matrix and global instability failure. Stress analysis of the OM specimen has been conducted from theory of elasticity and finite element analysis. A superelement technique was developed for detailed analysis of the stress state at the fiber/matrix interface. The interface stress state at the debond site in the OM specimen, i.e. at the hole edge, was identified as biaxial tension at the fiber/matrix interface. Characterization of cure and post-cure of 8084 and 510A vinlyester resins has been performed using cure shrinkage tests based on dynamic mechanical analysis and coated beam experiments. In addition, moisture absorption, swelling and the influence of moisture on the mechanical properties of the resins were determined. Testing of OM specimens consisting of a single carbon or glass fiber embedded in vinylester resin at dry conditions and after seawater exposure revealed that the debond toughness was substantially reduced after exposure of the OM specimen to seawater. C(F) did not debond. Macroscopic carbon/vinylester woven composites where the fibers were sized with F sizing were tested in shear at dry conditions and after four weeks of seawater exposure. The shear strength was very little affected after the short immersion time. / by Muhammad Umar Farooq. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

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Low-loss off-chip interconnects are required for energy-efficient communication in dense microprocessors. To meet these needs, air cavity parallel plate and microstrip lines with copper conductors were fabricated on an FR-4 epoxy-fiberglass substrate using conventional microelectronics manufacturing techniques. Copper transmission lines were separated by a composite dielectric of air and Avatrel 2000P and by a dielectric layer of air only. The composite dielectric lines were characterized to 10 GHz while the all air dielectric lines were characterized to 40 GHz. The transmission line structures showed loss as low 1.5 dB/cm at 40 GHz with an effective dielectric constant below 1.4. These novel structures show low loss in the dielectric due to the reduced relative permittivity and loss tangent introduced by the air cavity. Transmission line structures with a composite dielectric were built by coating the sacrificial polymer poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) over a copper signal line, encapsulating with an overcoat polymer, electroplating a ground line, and decomposing PPC to form an air cavity. The signal and ground wires were separated by a layer of 15 µm of air and 20 µm of Avatrel 2000P. Air cavity formation reduced dielectric constant more than 30 percent and loss of less than 0.5 dB/cm was measured at 10 GHz. Residue from PPC decomposition was observed in the cavity of composite dielectric structures and the decomposition characteristics of PPC were evaluated to characterize the residue and understand its formation. Analysis of PPC decomposition based on molecular weight, molecular backbone structure, photoacid concentration and vapor pressure, casting solvent, and decomposition environment was performed using thermogravimetric analysis and extracting kinetic parameters. Novel interaction of copper and PPC was observed and characterized for the self-patterning of PPC on copper. Copper is dissolved from the surface during PPC spincoating and interacts with the polymer chains to improve stability. The improved thermal stability allows selective patterning of PPC on copper. Decomposition characteristics, residual metals analysis, and diffusion profile were analyzed. The unique interaction could simplify air-gap processing for transmission lines. Inorganic-organic hybrid polymers were characterized for use as overcoat materials. Curing characteristics of the monomers and mechanical properties of the polymer films were analyzed and compared with commercially available overcoat materials. The modulus and hardness of these polymers was too low for use as an air-gap overcoat, but may be valuable as a barrier layer for some applications. The knowledge gained from building transmission line structures with a composite dielectric, analyzing PPC decomposition, interaction with copper, and comparison of hybrid polymers with commercial overcoats was used to build air-gap structures with improved electrical design. The ground metal was separated from the signal only by air. The signal wire was supported from above using 60 µm of Avatrel 8000P as an overcoat. Structures showed loss of less than 1.5 dB/cm at 40 GHz, the lowest reported value for a fully encapsulated transmission line structure.

Resíduos poliméricos, quando destinados em ambientes inadequados, associados a sua resistência à degradação, podem promover poluição ambiental. Desta forma, estudos que possibilitam favorecer a degradação de alguns polímeros vêm crescendo e são considerados como alternativa para os atuais problemas de poluição ambiental. Outra alternativa que possibilita alterar características de interesse dos polímeros é por meio do desenvolvimento de misturas poliméricas, sendo que suas propriedades físicas e químicas podem ser alteradas para uma vasta gama de aplicações, proporcionando desempenho desejável ao produto final. Neste trabalho foi desenvolvida misturas poliméricas entre o polipropileno (PP), polímero sintético, e o poli(ácido lático) (PLA), polímero biodegradável com e sem a presença de agente compatibilizante (AC) a base de PP modificado com anidrido maleico. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar as propriedades da mistura de PLA e PP sem e com a presença de agente compatibilizante, bem como a ação de 10 fungos asidiomicetos isolados dos biomas mata atlântica e pampa na degradação individualmente dos polímeros e da mistura de PLA/PP. As misturas poliméricas foram produzidas por processo de extrusão e injeção e verificadas as propriedades morfológicas, térmicas, químicas e mecânicas. Para o processo de degradação biológica em cultivo sólido in vitro foram produzidos filmes de PP, PLA e suas misturas, por moldagem por compressão. Os polímeros puros foram submetidos à exposição aos 10 fungos por períodos de 14, 28 e 75 dias a 28°C sendo os fungos Trametes villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6, Schizophyllum cf. commune (Fr.) 85E.16 e Auricularia bull Ex. Juss. 551.9B os que proporcionaram indícios de degradação nos filmes de PLA e o fungo T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6 nos filmes de PP. A mistura de PLA/AC/PP (75/3/25) selecionada por apresentar maior caráter hidrofílico, foi submetida à exposição ao fungo T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6 por 14, 28 e 60 dias a 28°C. Após o período avaliado, foram verificadas as propriedades físicas (perda de massa), morfológicas (microscopia ótica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura) e características químicas (espectroscopia no infravermelho com transformada de Fourier). Como resultados das propriedades das misturas, estas mostraram-se imiscíveis e as propriedades mecânicas foram inferiores as do PLA, sem alteração da estabilidade térmica e mudança da hidrofilia com o aumento de PP. O PLA diminuiu sua cristalinidade após o processamento e o PP aumentou. Foram produzidos extratos em cultivo líquido do PLA com os fungos T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6, S. cf. commune (Fr.) 85E.16 e A. bull Ex. Juss. 551.9B e do PP com o fungo T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6, contudo as enzimas não foram eficientes quanto a degradação biológica nos caldos. Os fungos que apresentaram maior potencial de degradação em cultivo sólido do PLA foram o T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6, S. cf. commune (Fr.) 85E.16 e A. bull Ex. Juss 551.9B e para o PP foi o fungo T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6; evidenciado na colonização da superfície com remoção de material após 28 e 75 dias de incubação. O fungo T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6 utilizado no processo de degradação em cultivo sólido da mistura PLA/AC/PP (75/3/25) propiciou que fosse identificado indícios de degradação nos períodos estudados. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2015-02-20T16:07:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Morgana Menegotto.pdf: 4833989 bytes, checksum: 9e911dfa8cf78af6b06ea5d15a320088 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-20T16:07:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Morgana Menegotto.pdf: 4833989 bytes, checksum: 9e911dfa8cf78af6b06ea5d15a320088 (MD5) / Bolsa de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico e Inovação / Polymeric wastes when intended improperly, associated with its resistance to degradation may promote environmental pollution. Therefore, studies involving the degradation of some polymers are considered as an alternative to current environmental pollution problems. Another alternative that allows changing the characteristics of interest of the polymers is through the development of polyblends, and their physical and chemical properties can be changed to a wide range of applications, providing desirable performance to the final product. In this work were used polypropylene (PP), synthetic polymer, and polylactic acid (PLA), biodegradable polymer with and without the presence of compatibilizer (AC) based maleic anhydride modified PP. The objective of this study was to evaluate the properties of the blend of PLA and PP with and without the presence of compatibilizer as well the action of 10 basidiomycete fungi isolated from biomes, rainforest and pampa in as individually degradation polymers and the blends of PLA/PP. Polyblends of PP and PLA with and without the presence of a compatibilizer were produced by extrusion and injection process and morphological analysis, thermal, chemical and mechanical properties. For the process of biological degradation in solid culture in vitro were produced films of PP, PLA and their blend by compression molding. The pure polymers were subjected to exposure to the ten basidiomycete fungi for a period of 14, 28 and 75 days at 28°C, being the fungi Trametes villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6, Schizophyllum cf. commune (Fr.) 85E.16 and Auricularia bull Ex. Juss. 551.9B those who have provided evidence of degradation in the films of PLA and the fungus T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6 in the films of PP. A blend of PLA/AC/PP 75/3/25 selected due to its higher hydrophilic character, was subjected to exposure to the fungus T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6 during 14, 28 and 60 days at 28°C. After the evaluation period the physical properties (weight loss), morphological (light microscopy and scanning lectron microscopy) and chemical characteristics (infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transform) were observed. As a result of the properties of the blends, these proved to be immiscible, and the mechanical properties were lower than those of the PLA, without change in thermal stability and change in hydrophilicity with PP increasing. PLA decreased crystallinity after processing and PP increased. The solutions produced in liquid culture of the PLA with fungi T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6, S. cf. commune (Fr.) 85E.16 and A. bull Ex Juss. 551.9B and PP with the fungus T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6, however, the enzymes were not as efficient biological degradation in the broth. The fungi that showed higher degradation potential in solid culture of PLA were the T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6, S. cf. commune (Fr.) 85E.16 and A. bull Ex. Juss 551.9B below those reported in the literature time and the PP, the fungus T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6.; it promoted surface changes with removal of material after 28 and 75 days of incubation. The fungus T. villosa (Sw.) Kreisel 82I.6 used in the process of degradation in solid culture blend PLA/AC/PP (75/3/25), was identified that provided evidence of degradation during periods of exposure this study.