Mechanical and thermal properties of polyolefin thermoplastic elastomer blends

Abstract

Polyolefin thermoplastic elastomers (POEs) are a class of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) that can be easily processed. POEs have broad applications from automobiles to footwear and it is desirable to be able to alter the microstructure and properties. In this work, a systematic study of how blending and thermal processing of POEs affects mechanical and thermal properties is undertaken. Ethylene-octene copolymer POEs with different degrees of crystallinity are blended, compounded, and moulded and then slow cooled, quenched, or annealed. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results show that the blends are immiscible and that quenching suppresses crystallinity while annealing thickens crystals. More crystals of the same thickness or thicker crystals of the same amount in the blends result in a higher modulus, lower elastic recovery, and more residual strain or permanent deformation after tensile testing. Microstructural control will allow for the optimal design of elastomeric materials with anticipated properties.

A strong–weak binary solvation structure for unimpeded low-temperature ion transport in nanoporous energy storage materials

“…The melting process of the electrolyte undergoes a transition from a polycrystalline state to a liquid state. 37 However, after adding these co-solvents, all exothermic peaks show obvious shifts to below −65 °C, which may be caused by the increase in entropy in the mixture system.…”

Chromium Catalysts for Selective Ethylene Oligomerization Featuring Binuclear PNP Ligands

“…LLDPEs that contain comonomers 1-hexene or 1-octene exhibit higher tensile strength, impact resistance, tear resistance, and durability compared to those using 1-butene as a comonomer. The use of this PE resin as a high-value additive can result in the creation of thin yet highly flexible and robust LLDPE films [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Additionally, 1-hexene and 1-octene are utilized in the production of polyolefin elastomers (POE) [14].…”

Experimental and Finite Element Simulation of Polyolefin Elastomer Foams Using Real 3D Structures: Effect of Foaming Agent Content

“…They can be easily processed by injection molding, extrusion or blow molding. Because of their high mechanical characteristics (resilience and toughness) and easy processing, these materials are now widely used in several applications such as sheets, automotive components, durable products, engineering plastics modifiers, as well as wires and cables [ 12 ]. Today, low cost, weight reduction, raw material savings, thermal insulation, chemical resistance, noise reduction, sealing applications and any applications where energy absorption or flexibility is required are of interest, especially using polymer foams [ 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”