Quiz 1

MM 453: Engg. Polymers & Composites of Materials

Department of Metallurgical Engineering & Materials Science, IIT Bombay

2023-24 Maximum Marks: 10

Time: 45 mins Date: 21/08/2023
1. You are given the following set of monodisperse polymer samples:

Sample Number of moles Molecular Weight

1 10 10,000
2 20 20,000
3 30 20,000
4 40 30,000
5 30 50,000
6 20 60,000
7 10 80,000
Calculate the number and weight average of a mixture of this set of samples. What is the polydispersity of the
mixture? [3 marks]

2. On the basis of Q and e values predict the copolymerization behavior of the vinyl acetate (Q = 0.03, e = -0.22)
and ethyl vinyl ethers (Q = 0.03, e = -1.17). Also, for styrene (Q = 1.00, e = -0.82) and acrylonitrile (Q = 1.20, e
= 0.66). [2 marks]

3. Equimolar mixture of 1,10-decanediol ( ) and adipic acid the low molecular

weight polyester corresponding to 82 % conversion of original COOH groups were further polymerized at 161
°C in the presence of p-toluene sulfonic acid (0.004 mol per mol of polymer) yielding the following conversion
data (plot a graph of conversion as a function of time)
Time (min) % Reaction Time (min) % Reaction
0 0 40 82.9
5 34.6 50 85.7
10 54.7 60 87.9
15 65.5 75 90.1
20 70.8 90 91.5
30 77.9 105 92.6
Determine the rate constant for the polyesterification. [3 marks]

4. A polyester is formed by a condensation reaction between maleic anhydride and diethylene glycol. Styrene is
then added and polymerized. Describe the chemical composition and molecular architecture of the resulting
polymer. What would be the effect if maleic anhydride were replaced with adipic acid? [2 marks]

maleic anhydride Diethylene glycol Styrene adipic acid

CH2 OH

HO
O O
O O
O
 Quiz 1
MM 453: Engg. Polymers & Composites of Materials
Department of Metallurgical Engineering & Materials Science, IIT Bombay
Answer Key

1.
Number of Molecular
Sample moles weight nM nM^2
1 10 10,000 100000 1000000000
2 20 20,000 400000 8000000000
3 30 20,000 600000 1.2E+10
4 40 30,000 1200000 3.6E+10
5 30 50,000 1500000 7.5E+10
6 20 60,000 1200000 7.2E+10
7 10 80,000 800000 6.4E+10
160 Sumation 5800000 2.68E+11

Mn/w 36250 46206.8966

PDI 1.27467301

1 marks each
2. For vinyl acetate and ethyl vinyl ethers
r1 1.232445
r2 0.329
For styrene and acrylonitrile

3.

1
= C0 k |t + 1
(1 − p )
[0.5]

[0.5]
Table conversion for [3]
Time %
(min) Reaction p 1/1-p
0 0 0.82 5.555556
5 34.6 0.88228 8.494733
10 54.7 0.91846 12.26392
15 65.5 0.9379 16.10306
20 70.8 0.94744 19.02588
 Quiz 1
MM 453: Engg. Polymers & Composites of Materials
Department of Metallurgical Engineering & Materials Science, IIT Bombay
30 77.9 0.96022 25.13826
40 82.9 0.96922 32.48863
50 85.7 0.97426 38.85004
60 87.9 0.97822 45.91368
75 90.1 0.98218 56.11672
90 91.5 0.9847 65.35948
105 92.6 0.98668 75.07508

From the plot of 1/(1-p) vs t Slope 0.67 min-1 [0.5]

K`= (0.67/6.25) = 0.107 Kg mol-1. Min-1. [0.5]

4.