Mat E-350 Homework #1 Name:

Multiple choice, choose one or more answers. Circle ALL that apply.
Partial correct answer will be given partial credit. (2 points each)

1. Which of the following is (are) TRUE (10 points)?

a. Celluloid is made by mixing nitrocellulose with camphor, where camphor is an oil molecule that
acts as a plasticizer
b. Celluloid was an excellent ivory replacement, however, could easily catch fire
c. Four primary functions of packaging are safety, aseptic, convenience and good-looking
d. Polymers are used for packaging because they are cheap
e. A simple plastic water bottles may contain more than 6 polymers

2. Which of the following about crystallinity (are) TRUE (10 points)?

a. In a fringed-micelle model, crystalline phase is dispersed in the amorphous phase
b. A crystalline region can only be formed by a single polymer chain
c. One same polymer chain can go into both crystalline region and amorphous region
d. In a semi-crystalline polymer, longer the macromolecules, the more effective the pinning of
crystalline and amorphous regions
e. Narrower molecular weight distribution will lead to higher crystallinity

3. Which of the following about PE is (are) TRUE (10 points)?

a. The only key difference between HDPE and LDPE is the molecular weight, because the
molecular weight determines the density.
b. LDPE is more branched than the HDPE
c. LDPE is usually more opaque than HDPE
d. LDPE (compared with HDPE) is a good material for manufacturing Fuel Tanks
e. The major intermolecular force of PE is weak van der Waals, that is why PE cannot be used for
implant device demands high wear resistance.

4. Many commercially-used polymers are actually blends of two or more different molecular weights. If
an equal molar of polymers A, B, and C (below) are blended, what are the new Mn, Mw, and PDI of
the blend (10 points)?
Mn (g/mol)
Polymer A: 200,000
Polymer B: 350,000
Polymer C: 150,000
2
𝑀𝑀 � 𝑤𝑤 = ∑ 𝑁𝑁𝑖𝑖𝑀𝑀𝑖𝑖 , PDI = 𝑀𝑀
� 𝑛𝑛 = ∑ 𝑁𝑁𝑖𝑖 𝑀𝑀𝑖𝑖 , 𝑀𝑀 � w/𝑀𝑀
�n
∑ 𝑁𝑁𝑖𝑖 ∑ 𝑁𝑁𝑖𝑖 𝑀𝑀𝑖𝑖
� n = ∑ 𝑋𝑋𝑖𝑖 𝑀𝑀𝑖𝑖
𝑀𝑀
Where 𝑋𝑋𝑖𝑖 is the molar fraction of molar mass 𝑀𝑀𝑖𝑖

5. (a) Compute the density of totally crystalline polyethylene. The orthorhombic unit cell for
polyethylene is shown below. The dimension of unit cell is 0.741 nm x 0.494 nm x 0.255 nm. Also, the
equivalent of two ethylene repeat units is contained within each unit cell. (b) Using the answer in part
Mat E-350 Homework #1 Name:
(a) to calculate the percent crystallinity of a branched polyethylene that has a density of 0.925 g/cm3,
The density for the totally amorphous material is 0.870 g/cm3. (20 points)

Equation for calculating crystallinity:

ρs - density of a specimen for which the present crystallinity is to be determined.

ρa - density of the completely amorphous polymer.
ρc - density of the completely crystalline polymer.

6. Calculate the how much energy in kT (assuming at room temperature 298 K) for gravity to bring down
of a polyethylene chain of 1000 units in a vacuum environment for 10 nm distance. What did you learn
from the calculation, why we did not discuss gravitational force in class? (10 points)
k – Boltzman constant 1.380649×10−23 J.K-1
At room temperature 298K 1kT = 4.11x10−21 J

7. Assume it is in vacuum and 𝜀𝜀 = 1; calculate the binding energy of Ca2+ and Cl- in vacuum, assuming
the distance between the two ions is the sum of the two ionic radii, Ca2+ 0.100 nm, Cl- 0.181 nm).
Express the binding energy in kT (assuming at room temperature 298 K) (10 points)
𝑍𝑍 𝑍𝑍 𝑒𝑒 2
The energy equation is given as 𝑊𝑊(𝑟𝑟) = 4𝜋𝜋𝜀𝜀
1 2
𝜀𝜀𝜀𝜀
, where 𝑍𝑍1 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑍𝑍2 are valences of the ions, e = 1.602 x
0
10-19 C, 𝜀𝜀0 =8.85 x 10-12 F/m, r is distance between two ions.

8. Poly (octyl cyanoacrylate) is an important adhesive (Super Glue). With the help of the internet, draw
the repeating structure for this polymer, what are the fundamental forces involved with this molecule.
Hint, search for any dipoles present (10 points)
Mat E-350 Homework #1 Name:

9. Two perfectly transparent polymers are physically mixed. The resulting mixture is also perfectly
transparent. What could be the possible reasons (there is more than one possibility). (10 points)