Organic Materials Science and Engineering:

Types of polymers

Objective: to know the general classes of polymers.

EMA 3066

01.02.01
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 Questions on the class?
• Please send emails anytime.
• Put question in email or ask to set up a phone time.
• Any suggestions or comments on the class are welcomed.
• As indicated in Canvas: suggested topics to use as
illustrations are welcomed.
• Note the first test day is on Wednesday, September 16.
• A review will be synchronous on Monday, September 14.
 The types of Polymers
Expanded Objectives:
1. to know how polymer are classified, what is
common in each group, and how that effects
their type of use.
2. To be able to calculate the degree of
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polymerization and the molecular weight
averages of a polymer.
There are thousands of polymers in the
commercial marketplace. To simplify using and
understanding them they are grouped into types.

• Thermal behavior (thermoset or thermoplastic)

• Polymerization stoichiometry (condensation or addition)
• Polymerization mechanism (step-growth or chain-growth)
• Structure (linear, branched, cross-linked, star, etc.)
• Crystalline (semi-crystalline) vs. amorphous
• Many more classes (biodegradable, transparency,
conducting vs. insulating, etc.)
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Thermal behavior (thermoset or thermoplastic)
• Thermosets are irreversibly solidified (like
cooking an egg/ovalbumin)
MS
• Examples include epoxy resins, tires on a car Office
(SBR), phenol-formaldehyde (“phenolics”) stock
image
• Very stable and long lasting
• Very hard to recycle
• The first synthetic polymer (Bakelite)
• Fibrosis in cirrhosis (cross-linked collagen)
• “infinite” molecular weight
• Cross-linked
https://driving.ca/auto-news/news/your-corner-wrench-tales-of-the-treads
Thermal behavior (thermoset or thermoplastic)

• Thermoplastics reversibly solidify (like candle wax)

• The most common plastics (PE, PP, PET)
• Can deform slowly over time or with heat
• Easy and inexpensive to recycle
• Molecular weight c. 10-40 kD
• Linear or branched
• Generally soluble in solvents
• Silk protein is a natural thermoplastic

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https://www.123rf.com/photo_71940602_blank-plastic-water-bottle .html
How do you dispose of thermoset tires?
Florida artificial reef problems.

https://interestingengineering.com/osborne-reef-a-failed-artificial-reef-of-discarded-tires
https://www.polymersolutions.com/blog/pet-recycling-on-the-rise/…in 2011

Thermoplastic PET is
the most recycled
plastic.

Can be used to
convert bottles into
carpets, new bottles
and artificial lumber.