ABSTRACT:The relationships between the properties and structure are discussed for poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)/silica composites prepared through the sol-gel process. The composites became stiff and brittle with increasing the silica content. The properties of the composites were changed drastically at around the composition of PVA/silica ϭ 70/30 wt %. For example, there was no large change in the Young's modulus above 30 wt % of silica content (Pure PVA: 31.8 MPa, silica 30%: 52.6 MPa, silica 50%: 55.2 MPa). Consequently, it was considered that the three-dimensional network structure of silica could be formed in the composite with more than 30 wt % of silica in PVA. From this behavior, it could be considered that the crystal growth of PVA was remarkably inhibited by silica network.

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The mechanical properties of magnetic gel have been investigated. Magnetic gels, which consist of finely dispersed powder of barium ferrite ( BaFe 12 O 19) and poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), have been synthesized. The diameter of barium ferrite is less than 45 μm. The magnetic gels varying with ferrite concentration, crosslinking densities were prepared by mixing 10 wt.% PVA aqueous solution and barium ferrite using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent in the presence of HCl. The diameter of barium ferrite is large enough to have a permanent magnetic moment. We applied a 10 kOe magnetic field in order to saturate the magnetic moment of barium ferrite. After magnetization, the compressive modulus was estimated with an ultrasonic method in order to find the influence of magnetization. Ultrasonic measurements were carried out using burst waves at 10 MHz and 295.5 K. The modulus of magnetized gel was found to depend on the concentration of magnetic substance, the crosslinking density, and the degree of swelling. It was clear that the modulus of magnetized gel was higher than the gel without magnetization for all samples. The change in modulus to the initial modulus ΔM′/M′o for 10 wt.% and 15 wt.% of ferrite concentration was about 0.28% and 0.4% in a lower density region, respectively. Moreover, the change in modulus ΔM′/M′o was constant in a lower density region however it strongly depends on the density in a higher density region. When the stress direction is perpendicular to the magnetization, the change in modulus increased. On the contrary, the change in modulus decreased when the stress direction is parallel to the magnetization. As increasing the density, the distance between magnetic substances become short and therefore the magnetic interaction is more significant in a higher density region.

synopsisThe rheological properties of the molten blends between polystyrene (F'S) and styrene methacrylic acid copolymer (SMAA) or its metallic salts were determined with a Weissenberg rheogoniometer, and the mixed structure and the processability were discussed. Results were as follows. (1) The viscosities of the salts increased and the compliances decreased with increasing density of ionic crosslinkings. (2) The viscosity of the molten blend between PS and SMAA or its salt increased steeply even a t lower shear rate and the Newtonian flow region was not observed. (3) This shear-sensitivity of viscosity in low shear rate region increased with increasing temperature. (4) The effect of temperature on the viscosity of these blends deviated from the simple Arrhenius plot. (5) Some network structures are suggested for the blends between PS and SMAA salts but they may be broken eventually under high shear rate or at high temperature. Therefore, the mixed structures and the flow mechanisms of these molten blends seem to change with shear or temperature.