Synergies among the self-assembled β-nucleating agent and the sheared isotactic polypropylene matrix
Abstract The impacts of both shear temperature and shear rate on both the self-assembled β-nucleating agent (β-NA) in the hosting isotactic polypropylene (iPP) matrix and the subsequent crystallization of the hosting iPP matrix were investigated by polarized optical microscopy (POM) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, respectively. Under static condition, β-NA could self-assemble into snowflake-like aggregate. Once shear was applied, three kinds of self-assembled aggregates could be developed prior to the crystallization of matrix depending on the applied shear temperatures, that is, snowflake-like self-assembled aggregate at 200 °C, deformed snowflake-like one with smaller branches at 180 °C, tiny and dense needle-like one if shear temperature was further decreased to 160 °C. Since β-NA with various self-assembled aggregates can act as nucleating templates for the subsequent nucleation of iPP matrix, it is conceivable that the crystallization behavior of the iPP matrix can be altered. As expected, β-phase crystallinity, long period and lamellar thickness are steadily dependent on the shear temperature and shear rate. That is, when shear was applied at 200 °C, β-phase crystallinity, long period and lamellar thickness keeps almost constant regardless of the shear rate. If melt was sheared at 180 °C, β-phase crystallinity was decreased while long period and lamellar thickness remained unchanged with elevating shear rate. At lower shear temperature (i.e., 160 °C), β-phase crystallinity, long period and lamellar thickness were further decreased with increasing the shear rate. These results are of practical significance to understand the long-term ignored issue: apart from the loading of β-NA, different self-assembled aggregates formed in flow field are another crucial factor in determining the microstructure development of matrix.
Strain effects on physical gelation of crystallizing isotactic polypropylene
Early stages of crystallization of polymers may be viewed as thermoreversible physical gelation in which molecular connectivity is introduced by crystallization. Effects of shear strain on the early stages of crystallization of a commercial isotactic polypropylene are studied by dynamic mechanical experiments. Shear creep with large strains (up to γ = 300) on the undercooled melt for short times (the time did not exceed 100 s) was followed by small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) at a strain amplitude (γ a = 0.01) for gel-point detection. The imposed shear strongly accelerates gelation; gel times decrease in a power law with increasing strain. Strain applied during the crystal growth stage enhances gelation much stronger than strain applied in the earlier nucleation stage. For rapid gelation, frequency sweeps are not possible and new methods for gel-point detection need to be explored; here, we propose to estimate the gel point from the storage modulus growth at a single frequency. A value of 10% of the total growth of G' was found to be a good estimate for the gel point. High strain experiments show the complexity of underlying mechanisms of strain-enhanced crystallization and reveal at least two sequential stages in the structure development under shear: at the first stage, crystalline regions connect molecules into a loose network; at the second, stage-intense crystallinity growth within the network proceeds. Results have industrial importance in predicting/tuning structure development and connectivity growth during nonisothermal processing. Morphological study of the early stages of crystallization under strain is underway to explore molecular mechanisms, which govern the gelation process.
Arc flash hazard assessment in the mining industry
When it comes to electrical safety in the workplace, arc flash has become the most prominent topic over the past decade. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, including state chapters) is the only government body that recognizes NFPA-70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. However, OSHA does not have jurisdiction in mining operations. Electrical safety for the metal and nonmetal surface mining industry is covered by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 30, Part 56, Subpart K (Electricity). The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is responsible for enforcing electrical safety in mining operations. CFR Title 30 does not reference personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect electrical workers against arc flash hazards. This paper provides maintenance and safety personnel in surface Metal/Nonmetal mining operations with a step by step guide to implementing an electrical safety program that meets the requirements of MSHA, CFR Title 30 and NFPA-70E.