Influence of the melt extrusion process on the mechanical behavior and the thermal properties of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer by applying the successive self-nucleation and annealing thermal fractionation

Ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer was processed three times in a twin-screw extrusion pilot plant in order to reproduce the processing steps required to obtain EVOH nanocomposites. Thin film of the extruded EVOH was prepared by using a cast-film line. The melt flow index and rheological behavior of t...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Franco Urquiza, Edgar A., Santana Pérez, Orlando Onofre|||0000-0003-3040-6848, Maspoch Rulduà, M. Lluïsa|||0000-0002-4813-6412
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/366978
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/366978
https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12221-021-0386-2
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Copolymers
Copolímers
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria dels materials
Descripción
Sumario:Ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer was processed three times in a twin-screw extrusion pilot plant in order to reproduce the processing steps required to obtain EVOH nanocomposites. Thin film of the extruded EVOH was prepared by using a cast-film line. The melt flow index and rheological behavior of the film were determined. Viscoelastic parameters were evaluated in a dynamic mechanical testing instrument that revealed the presence of two signals, one attributed to the glass transition temperature and the other one related to the structural modifications associated to interlamellar separation. Thermal properties were evaluated in a differential scanning calorimetry by applying a standard evaluation and successive self-nucleation and annealing approach, finding structural modifications influenced by the melt extrusion process, although the overall percentage of crystallinity degree remains similar. Based on the structural results, the mechanical properties were evaluated considering the ethylene content and resulting on distinct mechanical behavior. Lower ethylene content allows the chain orientation induced during the processing of the film that favors the mechanical performance. Higher ethylene content promotes different deformation mechanisms and a relevant ductility