Optoelectrical Properties of Transparent Conductive Films Fabricated with Ag Nanoparticle-Suspended Emulsion under Various Formulations and Coating Conditions.

Transparent conductive films (TCFs) were fabricated through bar-coating with a water-in-toluene emulsion containing Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs). Morphological changes in the self-assembled TCF networks under different emulsion formulations and coating conditions and the corresponding optoelectrical properties were investigated. In preparing various emulsions, the concentration of AgNPs and the water weight fraction were important factors for determining the size of the water droplets, which plays a decisive role in controlling the optoelectrical properties of the TCFs affected by open cells and conductive lines. An increased concentration of AgNPs and decreased water weight fraction resulted in a decreased droplet size, thus altering the optoelectrical properties. The coating conditions, such as coating thickness and drying temperature, changed the degree of water droplet coalescence due to different emulsion drying rates, which also affected the final self-assembled network structure and optoelectrical properties of the TCFs. Systematically controlling various material and process conditions, we explored a coating strategy to enhance the optoelectrical properties of TCFs, resulting in an achieved transmittance of 86 ± 0.2%, a haze of 4 ± 0.2%, and a sheet resistance of 35 ± 2.8 Ω/□. TCFs with such optimal properties can be applied to touch screen fields.

Rheological Properties and Melt Spinning Application of Controlled-Rheology Polypropylenes via Pilot-Scale Reactive Extrusion.

Based on pilot-scale twin-screw reactive extrusion, the structural and rheological properties of controlled-rheology polypropylenes (CR-PPs) are investigated, where the effects of peroxide content and extrusion conditions such as screw configuration, extrusion temperature, and screw speed are prioritized. The active chain cleavage reaction by a small peroxide content of less than 600 ppm inside the extruder gradually increases the melt index and narrows the molecular weight distribution of CR-PPs, thereby affording favorable properties that are applicable to the fiber spinning process. The mechanical properties of CR-PPs are slightly degraded owing to the generation of unsaturated chain ends during the reactive extrusion, which suppresses crystal growth. Under all extrusion conditions, the chain scission and thermal degradation of polypropylene samples occur actively in the harsh twin-screw extruder compared with those in the mild twin-screw extruder. Finally, it is confirmed that CR-PPs can be suitably applied to the melt-spinning process for staple fiber production, thereby guaranteeing a more stable spinning process window against draw resonance instability.

Effect of Material Parameter of Viscoelastic Giesekus Fluids on Extensional Properties in Spinline and Draw Resonance Instability in Isothermal Melt Spinning Process.

The draw resonance instability of viscoelastic Giesekus fluids was studied by correlating the spinline extensional features and transit times of several kinematic waves in an isothermal melt spinning process. The critical drawdown ratios were critically dependent on the Deborah number (De, the ratio of material relaxation time to process time) and a single material parameter (αG) of the Giesekus fluid. In the intermediate range of αG, the stability status changed distinctively with increasing De, i.e., the spinning system was initially stabilized and subsequently destabilized, as De increases. In this αG regime, the level of velocity and extensional-thickening rheological property in the spinline became gradually enhanced at low De and weakened at high De. The draw resonance onsets for different values of αG were determined precisely using a simple indicator composed of several kinematic waves traveling the entire spinline and period of oscillation. The change in transit times of kinematic waves for varying De adequately reflected the effect of αG on the change in stability.