ABSTRACT:The peel characteristics of sealed low-density polyethylene/isotactic polybutene-1 (PE-LD/iPB-1) films, with different contents of iPB-1 up to 20 m.-% (mass percentage), were evaluated and simulated in dependence on the iPB-1 content, and in dependence on the peel rate. Sealing involves close contact and localized melting of two films for a few seconds. The required force, to separate the local adhered films, is the peel force, which is influenced, among others, by the content of iPB-1. The peel force decreases exponentially with increasing iPB-1 content. Transmission electron microscopy studies reveal a favorable dispersion of the iPB-1 particles within the seal area, for iPB-1 concentrations !6 m.-%. Here, the iPB-1 particles form continuous belt-like structures, which lead to a stable and reproducible peel process. The investigation of the peel rate-dependency on the peel characteristics is of important interest for practical applications. The peel force increases with increasing peel rate by an exponential law. A numerical simulation of the present material system proves to be useful to comprehend the peel process, and to understand the peel behavior in further detail. Peel tests of different peel samples were simulated, using a two-dimensional finite element model, including cohesive zone elements. The established finite element model of the peel process was used to simulate the influence of the modulus of elasticity on the peel behavior. The peel force is independent of the modulus of elasticity, however, the peel initiation value increases with increasing modulus of elasticity.
The effect of polymorphism of isotactic polybutene-1 (iPB-1) on the peel behavior of the specific peel system low-density polyethylene/polybutene-1 (LDPE/iPB-1) was investigated using wide-angle X-ray scattering, calorimetry, and the T-peel test. Melt-crystallization of iPB-1, initially, yields tetragonal form II crystals which transform as a function of time to trigonal form I crystals. The kinetics of transformation at ambient temperature follows an exponential function, and is completed after about 50-75 h. The presence of LDPE in the peel system does not affect the transformation kinetics. The structure of the crystalline phase of iPB-1 controls the peel force which decreases by about 25% during the crystal-crystal transformation in a blend with 20 m% iPB-1. The reduction of the peel force depends linearly on the mass fraction of iPB-1 crystals in the peel system which further evidences the correlation between the crystalcrystal transformation of iPB-1 and the peel-characteristics of LDPE/iPB-1 blends. Isothermal reorganization of crystals of LDPE is excluded as reason for the change of the peel-performance of LDPE/iPB-1 blends, since it is 5 to 10 times faster than the decrease of the peel force, and crystal-crystal transformation of iPB-1, respectively.
Summary:The environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) enables in situ analyses of non-conducting samples such as polymers, thus allowing microscopic phenomena to be correlated to macroscopic measurement data. Unfortunately, irradiation of polymers with electrons always causes beam damage [1] and it is unclear whether this damage could influence the outcome of the experiments. The amount of beam damage in polymers is mainly determined by the electron dose, which is a function of the probe current, the irradiation time, the irradiated area and the type of imaging gas used. The beam damage during in situ tensile tests of peel films was assessed using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The band at 965 cm À1 turned out to be significant for the estimation of beam damage in this material, which was verified by long-term measurements. The measurements were performed in an ESEM Quanta 600 FEG at parameters comparable to the prior in situ tensile tests. Additional measurements were performed in a Quanta 200 at parameters typical of in situ investigations. Again, the out-of-plane trans ¼C-H wag at 965 cm À1 turned out to be significant for beam damage and was used as an indicator for beam damage (dehydrogenation) for this type of material.
Total reconstruction of the auricle requires a skilful surgical technique and an appropriate material for the shape-supporting frame. Up to now, there is no such material apart from autologous rib cartilage. The combination of chronic microtraumatisation of adjacent tissue caused by the mobility of an implant bed such as the auricle and the foreign-body reaction to currently available artificial polymers frequently results in extrusion. In our animal model (rats), polymers of different elasticity were implanted in a moving implant bed to analyse differences in foreign-body reaction related to implant elasticity. The results were significantly better for a rather stiff control material (porous polyethylene). A contributing factor may be better fixation of the implant material by tissue ingrowth into its micropores.
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