Proceedings International Conference On Advances In Engineering And Technology

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ADVANCED POLYMER MATERIALS IN

SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Ch. Rajyalakshmi, Asst.Prof.,
Department of Basic Sciences,
Vishnu Institute of Technology, Bhimavaram-2, W.G.Dt, A.P
Email: rajyalakshmi.ch@gmail.com

ABSTRACT---Materials

have

always

played

Key

words:

Materials,
polymers,

Engineering

applications,

thermally

conducting,

significant and defining role in human development,

Advanced

from the Stone Age to the material world of today.

photoconducting,

Materials are central to our prosperity and new

electroluminescent, electrically conducting polymers.

photonic,

composite,

materials hold the key to our future development.

Material engineers therefore have an essential role in

INTRODUCTION

developing the materials of today and the future and in

taking performance to the next level. Material related

Polymers are macromolecules having very

issues can be found in all areas of life and engineering

large chains, contain a variety of functional groups,

e.g. in biomedical, telecommunications, aeronautical,

can be blended with low and high molecular weight

construction, chemical and mechanical, and in all

materials. Polymers are becoming increasingly

aspects of a products life, from an idea or discovery to a

important in the field of drug delivery. Advances in

prototype or finished product and recycling. In the

puzzle of innovation, material engineers focus on the
application of materials, where they test, develop and
modify materials that are used in a wide range of

polymer science have led to the development of

several novel drug delivery systems. A proper
consideration of surface and bulk properties can aid

products, from jet engines and snow skis to smart

in the designing of polymers for various drug

phones and diapers. Most of the materials are prepared

delivery applications.

from polymers.

The

commercial

applications

of

polymers have increased over the years, for a wide

Polymers with good mechanical properties

variety of engineering and medical uses. The demand

have replaced conventional materials such as metals,

for polymers with engineered properties for specific end

wood or glass for structural applications

uses increased, resulting in the development of new

materials based on polymers. Such materials include

Engineeing and specialty thermo plastics

electrically thermally conducting polymers, photo

offer some remarkable properties like high thermal

conducting

stability, high flexural, tensile and impact strength,

polymers,

photonic

materials,

electroluminescent polymers, electrically conducting

and composite polymers. This paper reviewed the some
of advanced polymers and their applications in
engineering sciences.

ISBN NO: 978 - 1503304048

low creep compliance and good chemical resistance

as compared to commodity plastics like polystyrene
and polyolefines and that too with reasonable price

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Proceedings International Conference On Advances In Engineering And Technology

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tags. Hence these polymers offer in many cases a

and ABS soften close to 1000c and hence cannot be

viable alternative for metals, especially where high

used for load bearing applications. Though polymers

strength-to-weight ratio is a prime consideration, as

are stable even upto 3000c in the absence of air or

in aerospace and automotive applications.

oxygen they are susceptible to atmospheric oxidation

particularly at higher temperatures, which further

Engineering polymers generally include

reduces their usefulness at higher temperatures. The

those polymers which are used in the manufacture of

need for thermally stable polymers is growing in

premium plastic products that exhibit high impact

electrical

strength, high temperature resistance, high chemical

applications, and aerospace industries. Polymers for

resistance and such special properties. Example

high temperature applications should have high

aliphatic

Nylon66),

melting point, high degree of crystallinity and high

polysulfones, polycarbonates, Acrylonitrile butadiene

bond dissociation energy. The presence of aromatic

and styrene (ABS) resin,poly phenylene oxide resin,

rings in the polymer backbone enhances the thermal

poly p-phenylene sulfide, fluroplastics (teflon), and

stability as well as rigidity. Some of the commonly

polyesters. These engineering plastics are generally

used high temperature resistant polymers include

priced 1 to 5 times the cost of the commodity

polysiloxanes, fluoropolymers (PTFE), aromatic

plastics.

polymers

polyamides

(Nylon-6,

insulator,

construction,

(polyphenylene,

transport

Bisphenols

A,

polycarbonate, polyphenylenevinylene), heteroatom

Speciality polymers are usually priced at 10
times more than the commodity plastics. Examples
are

polyetherimide,

polybismaleimides,

ionic

polymers, polyphosphazines, poly aryl ether ketones,

containing polymers such as polyphenylene oxide,

polyphenylene sulphide, polysulphones, poly p
hydroxy benzoic acid, polyimides, polyamides such
as Nomex and Kevlar, etc.

polyarylates and related aromatic polyesters and ultra

high molecular weight polyethylene. These polymers

Photo conducting polymers

exhibit exclusively remarkable performance in

certain special, limited but critical applications such

The ability of certain materials to be

as in aerospace composites, membrane for gas liquid

electrically conductive on exposure to light is known

separations, fire retardant textile fabrics used by fire

as photoconductivity. Typically these materials are

fighters and race car drivers and as sutures and

good insulators in the dark but become electrically

surgical implant. Polymides represent the most

conductive when exposed to light because they are

important group of speciality polymers. This paper

capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation to

reviewed the some of advanced polymers and their

generate charge carriers and facilitate the migration

applications in engineering sciences.

of these carriers to the electrodes. Photoconducting

and charge transporting polymers are of p-type or n-

Thermally stable polymers

type depending on the majority carrier. Most of the

photoconducting polymers are p-type as thy transport

Most commonly used polymers as plastics

such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride

ISBN NO: 978 - 1503304048

only

holes.

photoconducting

An

important

polymer

is

example

of

poly(N-Vinyl

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Proceedings International Conference On Advances In Engineering And Technology

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carbazole)(PVK). PVK is an insulator in dark but

properties, ease of moulding and low water

becomes conducting on exposure to ultraviolet

absorption.

radiation. The photoconductive response of the

polymer may be extended to visible and infrared

Electroluminescent polymers

radiation by incorporating electron acceptors such as

Electroluminescence

2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone or sensitizing dyes. Other

examples of photoconducting polymers include polyp-phenylene sulphide, polyvinylpyrene and polymers
containing arylamine groups and inorganic polymers
such

as

poly {bis(2-naphthyloxy)phosphazene}.

Photo conducting polymers are of importance in laser

printers,

xerographic

copiers

and

duplicator

refers

to

the

phenomenon of production of light by electrical

excitation

as

seen

in

large

number

of

semiconductors. The process occurs as electrons from

one electrode are captured by holes at the other
electrode followed by Radiative decay of the excited
electron-hole combine (exciton).

machines.

Polymers

with

conjugated pi

electron

systems such as poly-p-phenylene vinylene (PPV)

Photonic polymers

exhibit

electroluminescence.

Electroluminescent

Polymers with non linear optical properties,

polymers have potential applications in light emitting

i.e, optical properties vary with the intensity of the

diode (LED) devices and colour pixels in ink-jet

light (glass in contrast is linear in its optical

printing.

properties) have a variety of uses such as photo

responsive sun glasses and optical processing and
storage of computer data (as in CD-ROM and
WORM devices).polymers with extended pi electron
structures exhibit non-linear optical properties when
the electrons are optically excited. Photonic materials
include 6F-polyimide and 4-methoxy-4-nitrostilbene
moiety connected by a six carbon spacer.

should have high transparency, non-scattering, low

water absorption and permeability, low stress,
stable,

tough

and

hard

surface

characteristics and should be mouldable with high

accuracy at a fast throughput. Acrylic polymers have
good optical properties but have high water
absorption

characteristics.

Genrally

polymers

including

plastics,

elastomers and fibers are regarded as insulators

because of the intrinsic property of carbon carbon
covalent bonds and were used as insulating materials
in electric wires. Polyethylene, PVC, rubber used as
insulating sheath. Under certain circumstances they

Polymers used in optical data storage discs

thermally

Electrically conducting polymers

Polycarbonate

and

transparent amorphous polyolefins have good optical

can be made to behave like a metal. Conductivity

generally increases with decreasing band gap. Metals
have zero band gaps, whereas insulators like many
polymers have large band gap which hinder electron
flow. By careful design of the chemical structure of
the polymer backbone, it may be possible to obtain
band gaps as low as 0.5 to 1ev. In becoming
electrically conductive its electron need to be free to
move. The polymer should have conjugated double
bond and the polymer has to be disturbed either by

ISBN NO: 978 - 1503304048

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Proceedings International Conference On Advances In Engineering And Technology

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removing electron from oxidation or inserting

These are used in telecommunication systems (LED),

electron on reduction of polymer. The process is

in electromagnetic screening materials, in electronic

known as doping. Extrinsically conducting polymers

devices such as transistors and diodes, in wiring in

are polymers whose conductivity is due to externally

aircrafts and aerospace components, in solar cells

added ingredients. They are conductive element filled

and used as biosensors in metabolic reactions and

polymers and blended conducting polymers. In case

drug delivery system for human body, in photo

of

the

voltaic devices, in non linear optical material, and in

conducting materials like carbon black, metal oxides,

molecular wires and molecular switches. Conducting

etc. are added to the polymers. In case of blended

polymers such as polyfuran and polythiophene have

conducting polymers, the conducting polymers are

profound uses in humidity sensors and as radiation

mixed with conventional polymer.

detectors as well as gas sensors.

Conductive

element

filled

polymers,

Some important electrically conducting

Composites

polymers are poly sulphur nitrile PSN, Polyacetylene

PA,

Poly-p-phenylene

PPP,

polypyrrole

A composite is multiphase material that

PPY,

exhibits a significant proportion of the properties of

polythiophene PTh, polyaniline PAni, etc.

both
Conducting polymers have many uses

the constituent

engineers

haves

materials.

designed

Scientists and

various

composite

because they are light weight, easy to process and

materials by the combination of metals, ceramics and

have good mechanical properties. They are used in

polymers

chargeable light weight batteries based on perchlorate

extraordinary materials having combination of

doped polyacetylene lithium systems. These are

superior

approximately 10 times lighter than conventional

toughness, stiffness and high temperature strength.

lead storage batteries. They have flexibility to fit into

Fibre reinforced composites are those composites in

different designs. In optical display devices, based on

which the dispersed phase is in the form of fibre.

polythiophene and polyaniline. When the structure is

Technologically these composistes are very important

electrically biased, the optical density of the film

as they provide high strength and stiffness are their

changes and its colour changes. Such electrochromic

high specific strength and high specific modulus.

systems

faster

Fibre glass composites are widely used in automotive

switching time and better viewing than conventional

parts, marine bodies, storage tanks, plastic pipes and

liquid display device. Polyaniline, due to redox

industrial floorings. Fibre glass reinforced plastics are

activity in conducting state, is green; under reducing

extensively used in transportation industries to reduce

condition, it is in yellow colour, and oxidizing

vehicle weight and boost fuel efficient. Carbon fibers

condition, it apprears blue. A LED consists of a

have much higher specific modulus than glass fibers

semiconductive polymer in the middle and at the

and possess better resistance to temperature and

other end a thin metal foil as electrode. When a

corrosive chemicals. However, carbon fibres are

voltage is applied between the electrodes, the

more expensive and have only limited short fiber

semiconductive polymer will start emitting light.

utilization. The aircraft industry is currently using

produce

ISBN NO: 978 - 1503304048

colour

displays

with

to

produce

mechanical

new

generation

characteristics

such

of

as

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Proceedings International Conference On Advances In Engineering And Technology

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carbon reinforced composites. Composite materials

haves evolved as sophisticated materials. The extent
of mechanical properties that can be attained with
carbon fibres depends on crystallinity and the
structure which in turn depend upon the quality and
composition of the starting material and on the
production

technology.

Reinforcing

fibers

are

relatively new entrants in industry.

CONCLUSION
Advanced

Polymes

offers

range

of materials designed for use across a broad spectrum

of products and industries. Advanced polymer
products can improve strength and durability; impart
water, stain and chemical resistance; enhance color,
increase gloss, reduce dust and dirt pick-up, promote
adhesion and more. Further technological innovations
and cost reduction is likely to extend their
applications to weight savings in automobiles and
components for light weight engines, robots and
various other machineries.

ISBN NO: 978 - 1503304048

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