Subject Code: CH315 Course Title: Plastic Technology

Unit-1

Commodity plastics: Manufacture, properties and applications of

polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyacrylate, polymethyl
methacrylate, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol.

Suggested Books
Brydson's Plastics Materials/ M. Gilbert/ Elsevier 2016
Plastics Technology: Introduction and Fundamentals/ C. 2019
Bonten/ Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Company KG
Plastics Technology Handbook, Fourth Edition/ M. Chanda, S.K. 2006
Roy/ CRC Press.
 Polyvinyl acetate
Key Players

Wacker Chemie AG Pidilite Hindustan Adhesives Limited

Henkel H.B. Fuller

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.
Celanese
3M
Arkema S.A Ashland Specialty Chemical Company

Dow Jubilant organics

 Polyvinyl acetate
Monomer: Vinyl acetate
Polymerization: bulk, solution, emulsion, suspension

Bulk Polymerization

At conversion above 30% , chain transfer to monomer or polymer may occur.

Form branch structure

 Polyvinyl acetate
Emulsion Polymerization:
stirring 70°C for 4 hours
Vinyl acetate + Poly vinyl latex
water Poly vinyl alcohol and sodium
lauryl sulphate (emulsifier system) Directly used as glue

Potassium per sulphate (water

soluble initiator)
Exothermic reaction (cooling jacket)

Control the pH to avoid hydrolysis

(below 7) add buffer sodium acetate
 Polyvinyl acetate
Properties

Colorless Nontoxic Thermoplastic

Soft and show cold flow Refractive index: 1.47

Glass transition temperature: 28°C Solubility parameter: 19.4 M Pa1/2

Density: 1.19 gm/cm3 Solvents: benzene, chloroform, Acetone

Atactic: Amorphous Transparent (if free from emulsifying agent)

Possess good adhesion to many porous substrates and high energy surface such as paper,
corrugated cartons, cotton, and wood, but are not effective on non-porous surfaces
 Polyvinyl acetate Applications

Packaging industry as adhesives

Main ingredients of water-based glues, commonly referred to as wood glue,
carpenter's glue, Elmer's glue (USA), or white glue

Thickener for paints

Sizing agent “permanent starch” for textiles

Inappropriate for exterior uses due to its water sensitivity.

 Polyvinyl acetate Applications
Chewing gum
Thickener and bonding agent for Concrete
Polyvinyl acetate Applications
 Polyvinyl alcohol
Key Players

Sekisui Chemical Co. Ltd Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Kuraray Europe GmbH,

SNP, Inc Merck KGaA

Polysciences Inc.

Anhui Wanwei Group Astrra Chemicals

 Polyvinyl alcohol
Vinyl alcohol does not exist in the free state : production of its tautomer, acetaldehyde

Polyvinyl alcohol : prepared by alcoholysis of polyvinyl acetate

60°C for 1 h or 20°C for 8h
Methanol/ethanol
Methanol preferred because of its
miscibility at room temperature
Methyl acetate can be used as
second solvent
NaOH acts as catalyst(<1%)
 Polyvinyl alcohol
Commercial poly vinyl alcohol : number of grades with different molecular weight
and in residual acetate content
 Polyvinyl alcohol Properties
Structure: atactic, however exhibit crystallinity because hydroxyl groups are small
enough to fit into the lattice without disturbing
Presence of hydroxyl group
Dissolve in water depends on the degree of hydrolysis
hydrophilic Degree of hydrolysis: 87-89%: cold water soluble
Increase in hydrolysis: reduce the solubility in cold water
and soluble in hot water above 85°C
Due to greater extent of hydrogen bonding in completely
hydrolysed polymer
High tensile strength: film cast with high molecular weight
PVA have tensile strength 125 MPa
Tensile strength depends on humidity (water acts as
plasticizer)
 Polyvinyl alcohol Properties

Solubility: resistant to hydrocarbons such petrol, grease, alcohol

Soluble in water/alcohol mixture, diethylenetriamine

Hydroxy group very reactive : many derivatives can be prepared

Plasticized by glycerin
 Polyvinyl alcohol
Applications

PVA film :used in packing

industry,
▪ the material is safe for
the environment and
fully biodegradable
when dissolve into
water or in waste and
with the optimum
tensile strength and
flexibility,
 Polyvinyl alcohol
Applications

Act as Non ionic surface active agent

Used in suspension polymerization as protective colloid

Act as binder and thickener

Ceramics, Paper sizing, paper coating, textile sizing

Fiber Biomedical Applications

Wound dressing, Hydrogels