CHAPTER 8: POLYMER

CONTENT:
 Polymer???
 Molecules structure of polymer
 Physical properties of polymer
 Classifications of polymer
 Thermosetting Vs thermoplastic
 Elastomers
 Advantages of polymer
 Disadvantages of polymer

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Molecules structure of polymer

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Physical Properties of Polymer

 Composed of very large molecules

 Low modulus of elasticity (low stiffness)
 Low tensile and compressive strengths
 Can be crystalline or semi-crystalline structure
 Deformation is very sensitive to temperature
 Low thermal and electrical conductivity(good
insulator)
 Creep at room temperatures
 Low temperatures make plastics brittle
 Plastic deformation

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Classifications of Polymer

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Thermoplastics vs Thermosets

Thermoplastics Thermosets

 Soften when heated  Become permanently

and harden when hard after the initial
cooled
heating-cooling cycle
 Varying degree of
ductility
 Brittle
 Can be recycled
 Can not be recycled
 Can not withstand high  Can withstand high
temperatures temperatures

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 Elastomeric polymer chains can be crosslinked, or
connected by covalent bonds. This process is
sometimes called vulcanization.
vulcanization
 Crosslinking is initiated by heat, light, or the addition
of chemicals.
 Crosslinking makes elastomers reversibly
stretchable for small deformations. When stretched,
the polymer chains become elongated and ordered
along the deformation direction. When no longer
stretched, the chains randomize again. The
crosslinks guide the elastomer back to its original
shape.

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Advantages of Polymer
 Corrosion resistance and resistance to chemicals
 Low density
 High strength-to-weight ratio, particularly when
reinforced
 Noise reduction
 Wide choice of colors and transparencies
 Ease of manufacturing and complexity of design
possibilities
 Relatively low cost.

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Disadvantages of Polymer
 Lower melting point compared to metals
 Low electrical and thermal conductivity
 Ductile material than metal
 Applications is limited
 etc.

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Applications
Major Plastic Resins and Their Uses

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Extrusion

 The polymer is heated to the liquid state and forced through a die
under pressure resulting in an endless product of constant cross
section. 60% of polymers are prepared in this way.

 Examples: tubing, pipes, window frames, sheet, insulated wire.

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Film Blowing
 Using the same method
as extrusion the material
coming out of the die is
blown into a film.
 An example is plastic
wrap.

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Blow Molding

The melted polymer is put into a mold, then compressed air

is used to spread the polymer into the mold. It is used to
make many containers such as plastic soda containers and
milk jugs.
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Injection molding

 Similar to extrusion, the polymeris heated to

the liqiud state, but it is prepared in metered
amounts, and the melt is forced into a mold to
create the part.
 It is not a continuous process
 Many toys are made by injection molding

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 EXERCISES

 Find any objects that made from

polymer???
 List the brands of tyre?

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