The correlation of the molecular structure of polyolefins with environmental stress cracking resistance

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorVan Reenen, Albert J.
dc.contributor.authorShebani, Anour Nasseren_ZA
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Chemistry and Polymer Science.
dc.date.accessioned2008-07-29T09:11:08Zen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2010-06-01T08:57:26Z
dc.date.available2008-07-29T09:11:08Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2010-06-01T08:57:26Z
dc.date.issued2006-12en_ZA
dc.descriptionThesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
dc.description.abstractThis study concerns the phenomenon of environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) in three impact polypropylene copolymers (IPPCs). The main purpose was to correlate the ESCR with their properties such as microstructure, molecular weight (MW), molecular weight distribution (MWD), crystallinity and morphology. Initially the selection of a suitable test method and an active stress cracking agent (SCA) were the preliminary concerns. The Bell telephone test was used to evaluate SCAs, while a published procedure for determining ESCR of ethylene based plastics was adapted for the purpose of this study. Isopropanol was selected as SCA. Polymers were fully characterized by FTIR, 13C NMR, DSC and high temperature GPC. Optical microscopy was used to investigate craze formation and crack growth, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the morphology of the polymers. Since IPPCs are known to have multi-fraction copolymeric structures and each of these fractions has significantly different average properties, fractions were selectively removed from the materials, either by solvent extraction at room temperature, or by TREF fractionation. The effect of removing these fractions on the ESCR was determined. The effect of the molecular composition of the three IPPCs on the ESCR of these materials, as well as the effect of the removal of the selected molecular fractions on the ESCR, morphology and molecular characteristics are discussed and compared. Conclusions are drawn as to the factors controlling ESCR in these materials.en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2751
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
dc.rights.holderUniversity of Stellenbosch
dc.subjectEnvironmental stress cracking (ESR)en_ZA
dc.subjectImpact polypropylene copolymeren_ZA
dc.subjectEnvironmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR)en_ZA
dc.subjectDissertations -- Polymer scienceen_ZA
dc.subjectTheses -- Polymer scienceen_ZA
dc.subject.otherChemistry and Polymer Scienceen_ZA
dc.titleThe correlation of the molecular structure of polyolefins with environmental stress cracking resistanceen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
shebani_correlation_2006.pdf
Size:
5.19 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters Degrees (Chemistry and Polymer Science)