Effects of molecule aggregation state on dynamic mechanical properties of chlorinated polyethylene/hindered phenol blends

The thermal properties of tetrakis [methylene-3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydrox y phenyl) propionyloxy] methane (AO-60) and the dynamic mechanical properti es of chlorinated polyethylene (CPE)/AO-60 hybrids were investigated. AO-60 is a crystalline material, but after heat-treatment AO-60 was found to pos sess two phases: a general amorphous phase and a highly ordered phase. A mi xture of CPE and non-heat-treated AO-60 showed only one transition, whereas for a hybrid of CPE/AO-60 in which some of the AO-60 molecules had dissolv ed into the CPE matrix and most of the AO-60 molecules had formed glassy AO -60-rich domains, a new transition appeared above the glass transition temp erature of CPE. This transition was thought to be due to the dissociation o f intermolecular hydrogen bonds between CPE and AO-60, and the transition c ould be controlled by the thermal treatment, which caused a change in the a ggregation state of the AO-60 molecules from amorphous to crystal state. (C ) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.