TUTORIAL 4 UGPA1143 CHEMISTRY FOR PETROCHEMICAL ENGINEERING

1. Consider the following statements: Degree of crystallinity of a semi crystalline polymer is dependent of interchain bonding. The melting of a semi crystalline polymer is related to the destruction of crystalline region. Using polyamide as an example, discuss the relevance of both statements. Support your answer with suitable diagrams. (10 marks) 2. In general, the glass transition temperature, Tg depends on the polymers molecular architecture and other several factors influencing its transition. Discuss briefly how the characteristic given below affect the T g of polymers. Give appropriate examples to support your discussion. Chain length Side groups Branching Crosslinking (3 marks) (3 marks) (3 marks) (3 marks)

3. Explain and compare with the log Etemperature plot the existence/non-existence of the thermal transition temperatures in the following polymers: (i) (ii) Attatic polystyrene polymer exposed to low heating rate Attatic polystyrene exposed to high heating rate (9 marks)