Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and starch copolymers are obtained by reactive blending -varying the starch compositions from 0 to 60%. PLA is functionalized with maleic anhydride (MA), obtaining PLA-g-MA copolymers using dicumyl peroxide as an initiator of grafting in order to improve the compatibility and interfacial adhesion between the constituents. PLA þ starch blends without a compatibilizer do not have sufficient interfacial adhesion. Decomposition temperature of PLA is not affected by grafting. Glass transition temperatures and dynamic mechanical properties are affected since MA has a plasticizing effect. Along with an increasing starch content friction decreases while wear loss volume in pin-on-disk tribometry has a minimum at nominal 15% wt. starch but increases at higher starch concentrations. The residual depth in scratching and sliding wear testing has a maximum at 15% starch; there is a minimum of storage modulus E 0 determined in dynamic mechanical testing at the same concentration. Microhardness results also reflect the plasticization by MA.
Two silane coupling agents were used for hydrolysis-condensation reaction modification of nanosilica surfaces. The surface characteristics were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The vulcanization kinetics of natural rubber (NR) + silica composites was studied and compared to behavior of the neat NR using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the dynamic scan mode. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was performed to evaluate the effects of the surface modification. Activation energy E(a) values for the reaction are obtained. The presence of silica, modified or otherwise, inhibits the vulcanization reaction of NR. The neat silica containing system has the lowest cure rate index and the highest activation energy for the vulcanization reaction. The coupling agent with longer chains causes more swelling and moves the glass transition temperature T(g) downwards. Below the glass transition region, silica causes a lowering of the dynamic storage modulus G', a result of hindering the cure reaction. Above the glass transition, silica-again modified or otherwise-provides the expected reinforcement effect.
For a number of polymers with a variety of chemical structures and different properties, we have performed scratch-resistance tests and investigated the profiles of the grooves formed using a profilometer. Three main kinds of material response are seen: plowing; cutting; and densification. The cross-sectional areas of the grooves include the groove and side top-ridge areas. The latter are smaller than the former, an indication of densification at the bottom and the sides of the groove; the effect can be connected to molecular dynamics simulations of scratch testing. The sum of the groove and top-ridge areas is the highest for Teflon, thus providing another measure of its poor scratch resistance. The Vickers hardness of the polymers was also determined. An approximate relationship exists between the hardness and the groove area. An unequivocal relationship between the hardness and the total cross-sectional area of the material displaced by the indenter is found. The resulting curve can be represented by an exponential decay function.
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