Introduction to Polymers , Properties,

Classification and Applications

 Learn the followings

•Introduction to Metals
•Engineering Importance of Metals

•Different types of Metals & Their Alloys

•Processing of Ferrous Metals

•Processing of Metals

•Modification of Metals
 Lecture Plan

•Introduction to polymers
•Structure of Polymers
•Polymerisation
•How the polymer structure influence its
properties
•How we can modify these properties
•Types and uses of commercial polymers
 Intended Learning Outcomes

1. What are polymers

2. Polymer types: Thermoplastic vs Thermoset

3. Types of Polymerisations

4. Properties of Polymers

5. Applications of Polymers
Engineering Materials

MP Groover, 4th Ed.

Classifications of Engg. Materials
What Is Polymer ?
 What is Polymer ?
Polymers are the main ingredient of the stuff you
know as plastics

Molecules that are long chains – usually a big

chain of carbon atoms with different things
hanging off the side

How long these chains? Much longer than this –

usually tens of thousands or even millions of
carbon atoms
What Is Polymer?
Why Study Polymers?
 What is Polymer ?

Different things on the side gives different

polymers – that’s what these symbols on plastic
packaging mean
History of Polymers
History of Polymers
Polymers
 What are Polymers?

From the Greek, “Poly” =“many”; “Meros” = “part”

Linear Branched Network
Molecular Structure
Structure of Polymers
Structure of Polymers
Structure of Polymers
Polymer Molecules
Polymer Molecules
Polymers
Natural Polymers
Synthetic Polymers
 Polymerisation
The process by which monomers are linked together
to generate long chains composed of repeat units.

or

The Chemical Combination of Many Smaller Molecules.

Two Basic types

1. Addition Polymerisation ( Chemical Reaction ,

requiring an initiator , double C- bonded monomer
molecules are linked together)
2. Condensation Polymerisation ( Reaction of two to
produce third , plus a bi-product , H2O or Alchol
Addition Polymerisation
 Addition (Chain) Polymerization

– Initiation

– Propagation

– Termination

28
Addition Polymerisation
Condensation Polymerisation
Condensation Polymerisation
 Condensation (Step) Polymerization

32
Degree of Polymerization
Degree of Polymerization
 Polymerisation
Addition (opening of a bond with progressive growth of the chain)
Monomer Formula Polymer Formula
Ethylene CH2=CH2 PE -(CH2-CH2)n-
Tetrafluoroethylene CF2=CF2 PTFE -(CF2-CF2)n-

Vinylchloride CH2=CHCl PVC -(CH2-CHCl)n-

Acrylonitrile CH2=CH(CN) PAN -(CH2-CH(CN))n-

Condensation (reaction between two ends with elimination of e.g. water)

Monomer(s) Formula Polymer Formula

Alcohol+ Acid OH-R1-OH + COOH-R2-COOH Polyester -(O-R1-COO-R2-CO)n-
Amine+Acid NH-R1-NH + COOH-R2-COOH Polyamide -(NH-R1-NHCO-R2-CO)n-

Alcohol+Isocyanate OH-R1-OH + OCN-R2-OCN Polyurethane -(O-R1-NHCOO-R2-

NHCO)n-
Type of Polymers
 Polymer types
Classification according to the behaviour when heated

Thermoplastic Thermoset

When exposed to heat, they When exposed to heat, they

become soft and can be become hard and cannot be
shaped re-melted

Rubbers may show one behaviour or the other, according to

their structure (presence or not of crosslinks)
 Thermoplastics

 A unit (monomer) repeated n times: the name of the

polymer usually comes from the name of the basic unit
 A tangle of separate chains of different molar masses –
these can be linear or branched
 Can be softened by heat
 Soluble in “suitable” solvents
 Recyclable
 Changes can be physical/reversible
 2. Polymer types

Examples of Thermoplastics

 Polyethylene, Polypropylene
 Polystyrene and ABS
 Nylons and Polyesters
 PVC, Polycarbonate
 Unvulcanised rubbers (natural or
synthetic)
 Still need additives, but often fairly
simple formulations
 Often recyclable!
 Thermosets

 Thermosets have crosslinked structures

 “Infinite” molar mass – one molecule
 Infusible and Insoluble
 Cannot be recycled in the same form
 Curing (formation of crosslinks) is chemical and
irreversible
 Low crosslink density – flexible (rubbery)
 High crosslink density – rigid structure
Thermosets
 Examples of Thermosets

Superglue Vulcanised rubber

Bakelite

Often quite complex formulations – fillers, stabilisers,

process aids, colour
 2. Polymer types

Thermoplastics (TP) vs Thermoset (TS)

 2. Polymer types

Curing/Crosslinking

Example: Polyvinylalcohol (PVA Glue) + Borax (sodium tetraborate)*

+Borax

See it at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHwlNWnvJFw
*This is a very weak type of crosslink, based on hydrogen
bonds: crosslinks in thermosets are based on the formation
of covalent bonds between molecules!
 4. Copolymers and blends

Copolymers

 By mixing two or more repeat units, we can modify

polymer properties
 Comonomer units can be randomly distributed
within the chain, as blocks, or grafted onto the
main chain
 Different distribution of comonomers means
different properties
 4. Copolymers and blends

Types of Copolymer

Alternate

Block

Random

Grafted
 4. Copolymers and blends

Blends

 Blends - physical mixing of

two or more different
polymers

 Very few polymers mix (blend) well with another –

usually thermodynamically incompatible
 Compatibilisers can be used to improve mixing
 4. Copolymers and blends

Copolymers vs Blends

Co-polymerization is the chemical modification process in which two (or

more) monomers are co-polymerized to make an entirely new and
different polymer.

Example: Ethylene/Propylene random copolymer is a rubber, while pure

PE and PP are not.

Blending is the combination of two or more polymers to take advantage

of the properties of each polymer.

Example: Polycarbonate/Polyester blend offer good impact resistance,

better than a Polyester, and very good chemical resistance, much better
than PC.