Reduction of polymer surface tension by crystallized polymer nanoparticles

Thompson, Russell B.; Park, Chul; Chen, P.

doi:10.1063/1.3493334

Cited by 13 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…SCFT is a mean field, statistical mechanical theory well suited to studying inhomogenous polymer systems [9,10] including interfaces in polymer foams [11][12][13][14]. In this paper, we calculate critical radii, nucleation barriers and relative nucleation rates in polymer bubble systems using SCFT and compare to results found using CNT for the same systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Origins of the failure of classical nucleation theory for nanocellular polymer foams

et al. 2011

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Relative nucleation rates for fluid bubbles of nanometre dimensions in polymer matrices are calculated using both classical nucleation theory and self-consistent field theory. An identical model is used for both calculations showing that classical nucleation theory predictions are off by many orders of magnitude. The main cause of the failure of classical nucleation theory can be traced to its representation of a bubble surface as a flat interface. For nanoscopic bubbles, the curvature of the bubble surface is comparable to the size of the polymer molecules. Polymers on the outside of a curved bubble surface can explore more conformations than can polymers next to a flat interface. This reduces the free energy of the curved interface which leads to a significantly smaller barrier energy to nucleation and thus a much higher nucleation rate. Also, there is a reduction of unfavorable energetic contacts between polymer and fluid molecules in the vicinity of a curved interface. Polymers on the outside of a curved interface are less likely to find a portion of themselves in the interior of the unfavorable fluid bubble. A secondary cause of the failure of classical nucleation theory is due to the collapse of the bulk region inside the bubble. As the radius of a bubble is reduced, eventually the diffuse walls collide causing increased mixing of polymer and fluid molecules everywhere. This causes a reduction of internal energy associated with the interface, leading to smaller nucleation barrier energies and, again, a reduced barrier energy to nucleation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Origins of the failure of classical nucleation theory for nanocellular polymer foams

et al. 2011

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“…Due to the importance of crystallization on surface tension through preferential adsorption of crystallized polymer particles at interfaces [15,16], the presence of any crystals in the system should be shown. Figure 2 shows isothermal differential scanning calorimetry of the PLA melt at 143 °C.…”

Section: Stability Of Polymer Melt Dropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of pressure and temperature on interfacial tension of poly lactic acid melt in supercritical carbon dioxide

et al. 2015

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“…The SCFT equations are solved numerically as described in previous work [3,6,7,11]. For any given hole volume fraction and box size, the sample pressure can be calculated using the formula…”

Section: Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The root of the qualitative nature of our predictions was that we used, for simplicity, an incompressible model of polymer foaming. This is far from realistic, but there is evidence that such an approach can be used to give reliable qualitative predictions [5,6,7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maximal cell density predictions for compressible polymer foams

Kim

Park

Chen

et al. 2013

Polymer

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Thermodynamic upper bounds for polymer foam cell densities are predicted us ing compressible self-consistent field theory. It is found that the incompressible limit always gives the highest, and therefore ultimate, upper bound. Qualitative comparisons between the compressible and incompressible cases agree, indicat ing that low temperatures and high blowing agent content should be used to achieve high cell densities. The inhomogeneous bubble structure reveals devia tions from the expected homogeneous Sanchez-Lacombe equation of state, con sistent with some experimental results. A generalized Sanchez-Lacombe equa tion of state is discussed in the context of its suitability as a simple alternative to the Simha-Somcynsky equation of state.

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Reduction of polymer surface tension by crystallized polymer nanoparticles

Cited by 13 publications

References 23 publications

Origins of the failure of classical nucleation theory for nanocellular polymer foams

Origins of the failure of classical nucleation theory for nanocellular polymer foams

Effect of pressure and temperature on interfacial tension of poly lactic acid melt in supercritical carbon dioxide

Maximal cell density predictions for compressible polymer foams

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