Abstract The reuse of plastic polymers is one of the ways to reduce the negative environmental impact caused by these products. This work presents a study of mechanical and morphological properties of ABS and PCTG residue blend using SBS as compatibilizing agent to make copolyester recycling process feasible. It was observed that the incorporation of SBS in the mixture decreased the stiffness and increased the impact resistance compared to the results obtained in the non-compatible mixture, indicating that the SBS acted as a toughening agent in the mixture. Additionally, according to the results obtained by DSC and SEM, the blends obtained can be considered partially miscible, since two glass transition temperatures were evidenced shifted by a few degrees from neat components. Micrograph suggests that there are SBS small domain inclusions dispersed in the PCTG matrix and partial compatibility occurred by partial interaction of the SBS in the interface.

Abstract The effect of adding ionomer as a compatibilizing agent in ABS/recycled PCTG blend was the objective of this study. Design of experiments using extreme vertices was used, to obtain a mathematical equation to predict the result of the impact resistance of blends, within a pre-established interval. The sample that obtained the highest impact resistance was the 79/20/1 (ABS/PCTG/Ionomer) and was analyzed by DSC and SEM. The results showed partial compatibility. Through the analysis of the fracture surface of the Charpy test specimen, it was verified that the PCTG, as a dispersed phase, presented itself in the form of fibers and the ionomer acted as an emulsifier. All results showed that it is possible to reuse PCTG industrial waste by mixing it with ABS and Ionomer as compatibilizing agent.

The crystallization kinetics of ceramics composed by Bi2O3-ZnO-Nb2O5 (BZN) was studied using non-isothermal method. The BZN samples were prepared by the polymeric precursors method. Phase evolution was evaluated by X ray diffraction and the thermal events were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallization of BZN occurs from 500 to 700 °C, which corresponds to a secondary event in DSC curves. The principal exothermic event in these curves is related to the decomposition of organic material and was isolated from the crystallization peak by deconvolution into two Gaussian curves. Those related to crystallization processes were evaluated in terms of crystallized fraction. Kinetic parameters were determined from Ligero (E = 242 ± 7) kJ.mol-1 and Kissinger (E = 241 ± 24) kJ.mol-1 methodologies and they are very close. The activation energy Ea = (241 ± 24) kJ.mol-1 and (242 ± 7) kJ.mol-1 (by the Kissinger and Ligero methodology, respectively), frequency factor k0 =10(13).s-1 and exponent of Avrami n = (1.3 ± 0.1) were determined. The n value indicates that the crystallization is diffusion controlled, with decreasing nucleation rate. Scanning electronic microscopy showed the presence of nanoparticulated powder.

O objetivo deste trabalho é o estudo do efeito higrotérmico em pré-impregnados (prepreg) não curados de fibra de vidro-resina epoxídica usando a técnica de espectroscopia eletrônica de luminescência em modo estacionário. O método de fluorescência extrínseca foi empregado utilizando-se a sonda 9- ácido antróico (9-AA), cujo comportamento fotofísico depende fortemente da polaridade do meio. As amostras foram submetidas a umidades relativas de 6 e 84% por meio da utilização de soluções aquosas saturadas de hidróxido de sódio a 34,5 °C e cloreto de potássio a 20,0 °C, em recipientes fechados, pelos períodos de tempo de 1 semana, 15 dias e 1 mês. As amostras submetidas à umidade relativa de 6% apresentaram aumento significativo das intensidades relativas dos espectros de fluorescência em relação à amostra referência. Este comportamento fotofísico foi atribuído à presença da forma protonada do 9-AA no meio devido à reticulação da matriz polimérica. Após 1 mês, o espectro de emissão apresenta uma diminuição da intensidade em seu máximo. Isto ocorreu provavelmente devido ao processo de plastificação da matriz polimérica promovido pela presença de água na matriz, confirmado pela análise gravimétrica. Os espectros de fluorescência extrínseca das amostras submetidas à umidade relativa de 84% apresentaram as seguintes modificações espectrais: a) decaimento da intensidade de emissão das curvas b e d; b) deslocamento da banda de emissão para a região do azul devido ao aumento do teor de água; e c) aparecimento de um ombro na banda de emissão em 424 e 472 nm. Este comportamento fotofísico foi atribuído ao deslocamento do equilíbrio químico da forma protonada para a forma ionizada do 9-AA, promovido pela entrada de umidade no material.

The work is aimed at studying hygrothermal effects on uncured glass-epoxy fiber prepreg (F-161 - Hexcel Co.) using luminescence spectroscopy under steady-state conditions. The fluorescence extrinsic method was employed using the 9-anthroic acid probe, whose photophysical behavior is strongly dependent on the polarity of the medium. The samples were submitted to relative humidity of 6 and 84% using saturated aqueous solutions of NaOH at 34.5 °C and KCl at 20.0 °C in closed recipients, for periods of time of 1 week, 15 days and 1 month. The samples submitted to the relative humidity of 6% showed a significant increase in the relative intensity of the fluorescence spectra in relation to the reference sample. This photophysical behavior was attributed to the 9-AA protonated form in the medium due to the polymeric matrix cross-linking process. After 1 month, the emission spectrum showed a decreased maximum intensity, which could be related to the polymeric matrix plasticization caused by water absorption, which was confirmed by gravimetric analysis. The extrinsic fluorescence spectra of the samples submitted to relative humidity of 84% showed the following spectral modifications: a) emission intensity decrease in curves b and d; b) blue shift in the emission band due to the humidity content; e c) appearance of a shoulder in the emission band at 424 and 472 nm. This photophysical behavior was attributed to the chemical equilibrium between protonated and ionized forms of 9-AA in the medium, promoted by absorption of water in the material.

This work involved the application of luminescence spectroscopy under steady-state conditions to study the curing process of the epoxy resin diglycidyl-ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) using the curing agents 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS). Two fluorescence methods were employed: the intrinsic method related to the polymeric matrix and the extrinsic method, using the molecular probe 9-anthroic acid (9-AA). Stoichiometric mixtures, with and without 9-AA, were heated to 120 °C at a 5 °C/min heating rate. These samples were then cured at 120 °C for a further 2 hours and allowed to cool to room temperature for 20 minutes. The results obtained by the two methods indicate that the cross-linking reaction can be monitored by analyzing the spectral changes of the emission bands of DGEBA, curing agents and 9-AA.