POLYMERS

A PRESENTATION FOR ENGINEERING MATERIAL

SCIENCE PREPARED BY BSEE 1A, GROUP 3
MEMBERS: ABED ALI; JABUNGAN; KIAMCO;
MAJADUCON
POLYMERS
 POLYMER?
Any member of the class of natural or artificial
materials known as polymers is made up of
macromolecules, which are big molecules made up of
multiples of simpler chemical units known as
monomers. The term "polymer" refers to an arbitrary
quantity of monomer units. Many components of
living things, such as proteins, cellulose, and nucleic
acids, are composed of polymers. Furthermore, they
are the building blocks of artificial materials including
concrete, glass, paper, plastics, and rubbers as well as
minerals like feldspar, quartz, and diamond.
(Britannica, 2024)
 POLYMER?
Any member of the class of natural or artificial
materials known as polymers is made up of
macromolecules, which are big molecules made up of
multiples of simpler chemical units known as
monomers. The term "polymer" refers to an arbitrary
quantity of monomer units. Many components of
living things, such as proteins, cellulose, and nucleic
acids, are composed of polymers. Furthermore, they
are the building blocks of artificial materials including
concrete, glass, paper, plastics, and rubbers as well as
minerals like feldspar, quartz, and diamond.
(Britannica, 2024)
 POLYMER?
Any member of the class of natural or artificial
materials known as polymers is made up of
macromolecules, which are big molecules made up of
multiples of simpler chemical units known as
monomers. The term "polymer" refers to an arbitrary
quantity of monomer units. Many components of
living things, such as proteins, cellulose, and nucleic
acids, are composed of polymers. Furthermore, they
are the building blocks of artificial materials including
concrete, glass, paper, plastics, and rubbers as well as
minerals like feldspar, quartz, and diamond.
(Britannica, 2024)
 POLYMER?
Any member of the class of natural or artificial
materials known as polymers is made up of
macromolecules, which are big molecules made up of
multiples of simpler chemical units known as
monomers. The term "polymer" refers to an arbitrary
quantity of monomer units. Many components of
living things, such as proteins, cellulose, and nucleic
acids, are composed of polymers. Furthermore, they
are the building blocks of artificial materials including
concrete, glass, paper, plastics, and rubbers as well as
minerals like feldspar, quartz, and diamond.
(Britannica, 2024)
 POLYMER?
Any member of the class of natural or artificial
materials known as polymers is made up of
macromolecules, which are big molecules made up of
multiples of simpler chemical units known as
monomers. The term "polymer" refers to an arbitrary
quantity of monomer units. Many components of
living things, such as proteins, cellulose, and nucleic
acids, are composed of polymers. Furthermore, they
are the building blocks of artificial materials including
concrete, glass, paper, plastics, and rubbers as well as
minerals like feldspar, quartz, and diamond.
(Britannica, 2024)
BIODEGRADEBLE &

POLYMERS
BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS
These are the polymers that break down due to the action of
microorganisms and/or enzymes, either in aerobic or anaerobic
environments. Materials such as polyester, cellulose, and starch are used to
develop it. Of these kinds of polymers, aliphatic polyesters are the most
often utilized. In the fight against the world's plastic waste crisis,
biodegradable polymers are also a promising substitute for commodity
polymers, which are primarily non-biodegradable. (Haider, 2019)

NON-DEGRADABLE POLYMERS
These are polymers consisting of long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms.
These molecules form an interatomic type of bonding and are adamant,
meaning it is tough for microbes to break the bonds and digest them. Thus,
a long period is required to decompose them.

An example of this is Polyethylene or polyethene commonly known as

plastics.
PLASTICS
Plastics are a specific type of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymer.
They are made from molecules derived from oil, petroleum, or bio-
based sources, which are combined to create different polymers.
Plastics are known for their ability to mold, extrude, or press into
solid objects of various shapes.

To sum it up, Polymers are chemical compounds in which molecules

are bonded together in long, repeating chains. Plastics are a specific
type of polymer comprised of a long chain of polymers.
THE TWO CATEGORIES OF PLASTICS:

THERMOPLASTICS
Thermoplastics-are resins that are solid at room temperature but become soft
when heated and eventually become fluid because of crystal melting or from
crossing the glass transition temperature (Tg).

Processing thermoplastics involves no chemical bonding, and they can be

poured into a mould to cool and solidify into the desired shape. Thermoplastics
can be reheated, recycled and remoulded without affecting the material
properties. As a result, these materials are used in processes including extrusion,
thermoforming, and injection moulding.

Common thermoplastics include polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), and

polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene
theraphthalate (PET), with each having varied properties. However, generally
speaking, thermoplastics tend to resist shrinking while offering good elasticity
and strength. Used in applications including industrial machine components and
plastic bags for retail, thermoplastics can soften, deform and lose some of their
physical properties if exposed to high temperatures.
THE TWO CATEGORIES OF PLASTICS:

THERMOPLASTICS
Thermoplastics-are resins that are solid at room temperature but become soft
when heated and eventually become fluid because of crystal melting or from
crossing the glass transition temperature (Tg).

Processing thermoplastics involves no chemical bonding, and they can be

poured into a mould to cool and solidify into the desired shape. Thermoplastics
can be reheated, recycled and remoulded without affecting the material
properties. As a result, these materials are used in processes including extrusion,
thermoforming, and injection moulding.

Common thermoplastics include polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), and

polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene
theraphthalate (PET), with each having varied properties. However, generally
speaking, thermoplastics tend to resist shrinking while offering good elasticity
and strength. Used in applications including industrial machine components and
plastic bags for retail, thermoplastics can soften, deform and lose some of their
physical properties if exposed to high temperatures. .
THE TWO CATEGORIES OF PLASTICS:

THERMOPLASTICS
Thermoplastics-are resins that are solid at room temperature but become soft
when heated and eventually become fluid because of crystal melting or from
crossing the glass transition temperature (Tg).

Processing thermoplastics involves no chemical bonding, and they can be

poured into a mould to cool and solidify into the desired shape. Thermoplastics
can be reheated, recycled and remoulded without affecting the material
properties. As a result, these materials are used in processes including extrusion,
thermoforming, and injection moulding.

Common thermoplastics include polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), and

polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene
theraphthalate (PET), with each having varied properties. However, generally
speaking, thermoplastics tend to resist shrinking while offering good elasticity
and strength. Used in applications including industrial machine components and
plastic bags for retail, thermoplastics can soften, deform and lose some of their
physical properties if exposed to high temperatures. .
THE TWO CATEGORIES OF PLASTICS:

THERMOPLASTICS
Thermoplastics-are resins that are solid at room temperature but become soft
when heated and eventually become fluid because of crystal melting or from
crossing the glass transition temperature (Tg).

Processing thermoplastics involves no chemical bonding, and they can be

poured into a mould to cool and solidify into the desired shape. Thermoplastics
can be reheated, recycled and remoulded without affecting the material
properties. As a result, these materials are used in processes including extrusion,
thermoforming, and injection moulding.

Common thermoplastics include polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), and

polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene
theraphthalate (PET), with each having varied properties. However, generally
speaking, thermoplastics tend to resist shrinking while offering good elasticity
and strength. Used in applications including industrial machine components and
plastic bags for retail, thermoplastics can soften, deform and lose some of their
physical properties if exposed to high temperatures. .
THE TWO CATEGORIES OF PLASTICS:

THERMOSETS
Thermosets, also called thermosetting resin or thermosetting polymers, are
typically liquid at room temperature and then harden once heated or with a
chemical addition. They are usually produced using reaction injection moulding
(RIM) or resin transfer Moulding (RTM) and form permanent chemical bonds
during the curing process. These chemical bonds between the monomer chains
within the material, called crosslinks, hold the molecules in place and change
the nature of the material, preventing it from melting and returning to a liquid
state. Once heated, thermoset plastics are set into a specific form, although
overheating can cause them to degrade without entering a fluid phase.

Thermoset plastics are ideal for use in situations where heat is a factor, such as
with electronic housings and appliances or chemical processing equipment, due
to their greater structural integrity and resistance to both heat and chemicals.
Able to resist deformation and impact, common thermosets include epoxy
resins, polyimide, and phenolic, which are often used in composites. . .
THE TWO CATEGORIES OF PLASTICS:

THERMOSETS
Thermosets, also called thermosetting resin or thermosetting polymers, are
typically liquid at room temperature and then harden once heated or with a
chemical addition. They are usually produced using reaction injection moulding
(RIM) or resin transfer Moulding (RTM) and form permanent chemical bonds
during the curing process. These chemical bonds between the monomer chains
within the material, called crosslinks, hold the molecules in place and change
the nature of the material, preventing it from melting and returning to a liquid
state. Once heated, thermoset plastics are set into a specific form, although
overheating can cause them to degrade without entering a fluid phase.

Thermoset plastics are ideal for use in situations where heat is a factor, such as
with electronic housings and appliances or chemical processing equipment, due
to their greater structural integrity and resistance to both heat and chemicals.
Able to resist deformation and impact, common thermosets include epoxy
resins, polyimide, and phenolic, which are often used in composites.
HISTORY OF
HISTORY OF
HISTORY OF PLASTICS
The first man-made plastic was created by Alexander Parkes who
publicly demonstrated it at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in
London. The material, called Parkesine, was an organic material
derived from cellulose that, once heated, could be molded and
retained its shape when cooled.

John Wesley Hyatt invented celluloid as a substitute for ivory in billiard

balls in 1868. He first tried using a natural substance called collodion
after spilling a bottle of it and discovering that the material dried into
a tough and flexible film. However, the material was not strong
enough to be used as a billiard ball without the addition of camphor, a
derivative of the laurel tree—celluloid was created when these were
combined. The new celluloid could be molded with heat and pressure
into a durable shape.
HISTORY OF PLASTICS
The first man-made plastic was created by Alexander Parkes who
publicly demonstrated it at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in
London. The material, called Parkesine, was an organic material
derived from cellulose that, once heated, could be molded and
retained its shape when cooled.

John Wesley Hyatt invented celluloid as a substitute for ivory in billiard

balls in 1868. He first tried using a natural substance called collodion
after spilling a bottle of it and discovering that the material dried into
a tough and flexible film. However, the material was not strong
enough to be used as a billiard ball without the addition of camphor, a
derivative of the laurel tree—celluloid was created when these were
combined. The new celluloid could be molded with heat and pressure
into a durable shape.
HISTORY OF PLASTICS
The first man-made plastic was created by Alexander Parkes who
publicly demonstrated it at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in
London. The material, called Parkesine, was an organic material
derived from cellulose that, once heated, could be molded and
retained its shape when cooled.

John Wesley Hyatt invented celluloid as a substitute for ivory in billiard

balls in 1868. He first tried using a natural substance called collodion
after spilling a bottle of it and discovering that the material dried into
a tough and flexible film. However, the material was not strong
enough to be used as a billiard ball without the addition of camphor, a
derivative of the laurel tree—celluloid was created when these were
combined. The new celluloid could be molded with heat and pressure
into a durable shape.
 TIMELINE OF PLASTICS
1862 1868 1907 1920 1930 1933

Parkesine Celluloid Bakelite Polystyrene Nylon Polythylene

Vinyl
Acrylic
 7 TYPES OF
POLYMER PLASTICS
7 TYPES OF
POLYMER PLASTICS
1. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)
This is one of the most commonly used plastics. It’s
lightweight, strong, typically transparent and is often used
in food packaging and fabrics (polyester).

Examples: Beverage bottles, Food bottles/jars (salad

dressing, peanut butter, honey, etc.) and polyester
clothing or rope.
7 TYPES OF
POLYMER PLASTICS
2. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Collectively, Polyethylene is the most common plastic in
the world, but it’s classified into three types: High-
Density, Low-Density and Linear Low-Density. High-
Density Polyethylene is strong and resistant to moisture
and chemicals, which makes it ideal for cartons,
containers, pipes and other building materials.

Examples: Milk cartons, detergent bottles, cereal box

liners, toys, buckets, park benches and rigid pipes.
7 TYPES OF
POLYMER PLASTICS
3. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl)
This hard and rigid plastic is resistant to chemicals and
weathering, making it desired for building and construction
applications; while the fact that it doesn’t conduct electricity
makes it common for high-tech applications, such as wires and
cable. It’s also widely used in medical applications because it’s
impermeable to germs, is easily disinfected and provides single-
use applications that reduce infections in healthcare. On the flip
side, we must note that PVC is the most dangerous plastic to
human health, known to leach dangerous toxins throughout its
entire lifecycle .

Examples: Examples: Plumbing pipes, credit cards, human and

pet toys, rain gutters, teething rings, IV fluid bags and medical
tubing and oxygen masks.
7 TYPES OF
POLYMER PLASTICS
4. Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
A softer, clearer, and more flexible version of HDPE. It’s often
used as a liner inside beverage cartons, and in corrosion-
resistant work surfaces and other products.

Examples: Plastic/cling wrap, sandwich and bread bags, bubble

wrap, garbage bags, grocery bags and beverage cups.
7 TYPES OF
POLYMER PLASTICS
5. Polypropylene (PP)
This is one of the most durable types of plastic. It is more heat
resistant than some others, which makes it ideal for such things
as food packaging and food storage that’s made to hold hot
items or be heated itself. It’s flexible enough to allow for mild
bending, but it retains its shape and strength for a long time.

Examples: Straws, bottle caps, prescription bottles, hot food

containers, packaging tape, disposable diapers and DVD/CD
boxes
7 TYPES OF
POLYMER PLASTICS
6. Polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam)
Better known as Styrofoam, this rigid plastic is low-cost and
insulates very well, which has made it a staple in the food,
packaging and construction industries. Like PVC, polystyrene is
considered to be a dangerous plastic. It can easily leach harmful
toxins such as styrene (a neurotoxin), which can easily then be
absorbed by food and thus ingested by humans.

Examples: Cups, takeout food containers, shipping and product

packaging, egg cartons, cutlery and building insulation.
7 TYPES OF
POLYMER PLASTICS
7. OTHER FORMS
This category is a catch-all for other types of plastic that don’t
belong in any of the other six categories or are combinations of
multiple types. We include it because you might occasionally
come across the #7 recycling code, so it’s important to know
what it means. The most important thing here is that these
plastics aren’t typically recyclable.

Examples: Eyeglasses, baby and sports bottles, electronics,

CD/DVDs, lighting fixtures and clear plastic cutlery.
 APPLICATION OF
POLYMER PLASTICS
• produce packaging

• building and construction

• textiles

• consumer products

• transportation

• electrical and electronics and

industrial machinery
CONDUCTIVE POLYMER PLASTICS
Conductive polymers or, more precisely, intrinsically conducting
polymers (ICPs) are organic polymers that conduct electricity. Such
compounds may have metallic conductivity or can be
semiconductors. The main advantage of conductive polymers is
that they are easy to process, mainly by dispersion. Conductive
polymers are generally not thermoplastics, they are not
thermoformable. But, like insulating polymers, they are organic
materials. They can offer high electrical conductivity but do not
show similar mechanical properties to other commercially
available polymers. The electrical properties can be fine-tuned
using the methods of organic synthesis and by advanced
dispersion techniques.
 FUN FACT
The discovery of conductive polymers
was made on an ACCIDENT by the
scientist named Hideki Shirakawa when
he mixed the chemical compound
Polyacetylene incorrectly
WATCH AND LEARN
WATCH AND LEARN
CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS
POLYACETYLENE
Polyacetylene is one of the polymers in the study that resulted in
the Chemistry Nobel prize in 2000. The polymer is synthetized by
the reaction of the ethyne, as commercially known as acetylene,
with Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The resulting structure is shown

Polyacetylene is the simplest polymer that shows a great value of

conductivity. The alternating double and single bond in the
polymer structure is what gives the polymer the ability to
resonate. As dopants are inserted in the polymer, the chains of
polymers present charges. The movement of these charges, by
resonance when a field is applied, gives rise to the conductivity of
the material.
CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS
POLYANALINE
Polyaniline is one of the most promising conductive polymers and,
therefore, one of the most studied ones. This polymer, in fact, is a
family of polymers that is classified by aromatic rings bonded
together by nitrogen atoms. Its structure is composed by x units
of reduced species alternated with 1-x units of oxidized species,
as observed in the figure.

The doping process occurs through the protonation of the

nitrogen atoms in the amine groups of the polyaniline by an acidic
solution, oxidizing the structure. Thus, positive charges are
formed in the polyaniline structure that moves as the structure
resonates.
CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS
POLY PYROLE
It is one of the conductive polymers studied in the research that
resulted in the Nobel prize. It is obtained by the oxidization of the
pyrrole, resulting in the structure shown.

The Redox process of the addition of an anion to the structure

that is responsible for the conductive properties of the Poly
pyrrole. Again here, the resonance occurs to stabilize the
carbocation, moving the charge, resulting in conductivity,
mechanism similar as shown for the previous polymers.
HOW ARE CONDUCTIVE
HOW ARE CONDUCTIVE PLASTICS MADE?
There are three ways to produce conductive polymers: reactional chemistry, electrochemical, and
photoelectrochemical

The chemical process consists in the union of monomers by the addition of the oxidizing or reducing
agents that makes the neutral polymer to a cationic or anionic ionic complex, ending the reaction by the
bonding of this complex to the counter-ion of the redox agent. This process requires high control, since
the reaction is very exothermic and emits gases, requiring proper treatment and equipment of
protection.

The electrochemical method consists in the electronic deposition of the polymer in the electrode. The
solution that the electrode is immersed in has monomers and dopants. When a voltage or a current
strong enough is applied, the monomers oxidize resulting in polymerization. This process results in
polymers with the shape of the electrode, requiring a posterior processing to get the shape desired.

The photoelectrochemical process is based on photoexcitation of the polymer or compounds that

have catalyst properties in presence of light, oxidization the monomers resulting in polymerization. Even
though this process is simple and environmentally friendly, the mechanical property of the resulting
polymer is not good.
PROS AND CONS OF
PROS AND CONS OF CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS

PROS
1. Can be treated at low temperatures
2. Low cost
3. High conductivity
4. High charge storage capacity
5. Excellent reversibility

CONS
1. Reduces the ion transport distance
2. Reduces the electrochemical impedance.
3. The energy density, specific capacitance and the
power density is relatively low compared to metals
4. the cycle stability is poor compared to carbon
materials
PROS AND CONS OF PLASTICS IN GENERAL

PROS OF PLASTICS
1. Cost-Effectiveness: Plastic is cheap to make compared to other materials like glass or metal,
making products made from it more affordable for us consumers.

2. Versatility: Plastic can be shaped into almost anything, so it's super useful across lots of
industries, from packaging to construction to electronics.

3. Lightweight: Because plastic is so light, it costs less to ship stuff made from it, which is great for
saving energy and money in getting products from one place to another.

4. Durability: Some plastics last a really long time and can take a beating without breaking,
meaning our stuff lasts longer before we have to replace it.

5. Innovation: Plastic has opened up a world of new inventions and cool products, from life-saving
medical devices to high-tech gadgets.
PROS AND CONS OF PLASTICS IN GENERAL

CONS OF PLASTICS
1. Environmental Damage: Plastic pollution is a big problem, especially single-use plastics that end
up as litter or in our oceans, harming animals and nature.

2. Health Risks: Certain chemicals in plastics can be harmful to our health, especially when they get
into our food or water.

3. Using Up Resources: Making plastic relies on fossil fuels, which are limited and contribute to
climate change when we use them up.

4. Recycling Problems: While recycling helps, it's tough to recycle all types of plastic, and a lot of it
still ends up in landfills or being burned.

5. Microplastics: Even when plastic breaks down, it's not really gone—it turns into tiny bits called
microplastics that can mess up ecosystems and even end up in our food.
So, while plastic has its benefits, it's clear we need to figure out
ways to use it more responsibly to avoid its negative impacts on
our environment and health. Let us not let usefulness blind us
from the terrifying trails it leaves, for beauty can mask
monstrosity.
WATCH AND LEARN
WATCH AND LEARN
REFERENCES:
https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-plastics-
1992322#:~:text=Celluloid%20is%20derived%20from%20cellulose,a%20tough%20and%20flexible%20film.

https://plasticoceans.org/7-types-of-plastic/

https://www.stahl.com/beyond-chemistry-from-a-to-z/polymers-vs-plastics-what-is-the-difference

https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/thermoset-vs-thermoplastic

https://eng.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Materials_Science/Supplemental_Modules_(Materials_Science)/Materials_and_Devi
ces/Conductive_Polymers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conductive_polymer

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755
-
1315/267/4/042047/pdf#:~:text=The%20main%20disadvantages%20of%20current,power%20density%20is%20relatively%2
0low.
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ESCOBAR!