UNIT III

ENGINEERING MATERIALS
TOPIC: ENGINEERING
THERMOPLASTICS-
POLYCARBONATE
Dr. P. G. Umape
Department of Applied Science
Pune Institute of Computer Technology
 Unit 3: Engineering Materials
A] Specialty polymers:
• Introduction
• Preparation, properties and applications of the following polymers
1.Engineering Thermoplastic: Polycarbonate
2.Bio-degradable polymers: Poly (hydroxybutyrate-hydroxyvalanate)
3.Conducting Polymer: Polyacetylene
4.Electroluminescent polymer: Polyphenylenevinylene
5.Polymer composites: Fiber reinforced plastic (FRP)- Glass reinforced and Carbon
reinforced polymer composite
[B] Nanomaterials:
• Introduction
• Classification of nanomaterials based on dimensions (zero
dimensional, one-dimensional, two-dimensional and three-
dimensional)
• structure, properties and applications of
1. Graphene
2. Carbon nanotubes,
3. Quantum dots (semiconductor nanoparticles).
 Specialty polymers
• Introduction
– Specialty polymers and resins are proprietary polymers,
resins, monomers, and intermediates. They include
products that are based on proprietary curing technologies
or chemistries, or that are designed for specialized
applications.
– Speciality Polymers are the class of some High
Performance Polymers (HPP), including plastics, polymers,
fluids, membranes, smart hydrogels and elastomers that
are designed to meet the critical requirements that
engineers face every day in key industries including,
Plastics, Automobiles, Aeronautics, Smart Devices,
Healthcare, Pharmacy, Energy Production and Storage
 Specialty polymers
• Introduction
– If we talk about their “special” performance; it
includesExceptional heat resistance and chemical
inertness; Strength and toughness; Fatigue and wear
resistance; Corrosion, abrasion and weathering protection;
Water and stain repellence; Electrical inertness; Fire
safety; Biocompatibility; Transparency; colors and many
more.
 Specialty polymers
• Engineering Thermoplastics
– Thermoplastics?
– Engineering thermoplastics: Plastics having higher thermal as well as
mechanical properties than commonly used plastics are called as
engineering thermoplastics
– Advantages over common plastics
• Flame retardant and can withstand at 100 oC
• high strength
• impact resistance
• Stiffness
• temperature resistance
They are extensively used in transportation, automotive, electronics, appliance,
aerospace, and communications applications.
 Polycarbonate
Synthesis: Reaction carried out in molten state
The product obtained is crysallized after separation of
phenol as by product
Properties:
• Has high impact strength
• High tensile strength
• Transparent having refractive index 1.58
• Soluble in organic solvents, alkali
• Has heat and flame resistance
• Tm=230-250 0C, Tg=145 0C, Sp. Gravity 1.2 gm/cc

Uses:
• Used as bullet proof material vests for windows of
houses and vehicles
• As insulator in electronics
• Used to manufacture domestic ware, helmets, covers
of vehicle light
• Handles of screw driver, for pliers
• To manufacutre CD’s, DVD and for housing of
apparatus
 Biodegradable Polymers
• Polymers comprised of monomers linked to one another
through functional groups and have unstable links in the
backbone.
• Conversion of polymer material into harmless simple
gaseous product by action of enzymes of micro organisms &
water
• Components involved in biodegradation:
1) Organisms: Algae, fungi, bacteria
2) Environment: moisture, oxygen, pH, temperature
3) Nature of polymers: Bonds which can be easily
hydrolysed/oxydised, no aromatic rings, hetero-atoms on
hydrophilic chains (ester, amides linkages), amorphous
structure with porosity, renewable feedstock
Based on biodegradability polymers are classified as:
• Biodegradable polymers eg. PHBV, polyglycolic acid
• Non biodegradable polymers eg. PVC, PE
Properties:
• It is brittle
• Low impact resistance
• Low elongation at break
• Non toxic
• Biodegradable
• Less thermal stabilty
Applications:
• Packaging films - laminations, carrybags, disposable
bottles
• Medical field – Drug delivery, orthopedic treatment,
organ regeneration, surgical sutures
• Moulded articles – injection, blow & extrusion
moulding articles
• Agriculture – Mulching, netting, twine, controlled
release of fertilizers & pesticides
 Conducting Polymers
Eg.: Polyacetylene, Polyaniline, polythiopene

Types: Intrinsic & Extrinsic

Structural Requirement:
1) Planar & highly crystalline,
2) Linear
3) Presence of conjugation (free mobile electrons)
Doping: Polymer has to be disturbed - either by removing electrons
from (oxidation), or inserting them into (reduction) into the material.
• There are two types of doping:
p-doping: Oxidation with halogen
(positive charge developed on polymer)
n-doping: Reduction with alkali metal
(negative charge developed on polymer)
Synthesis of Polyacetylene
By Ziegler-Natta Catalyst

Effect of Temperature:

At -78 °C or below: all-cis PA

At 180 °C or higher: all-trans PA
 Polymerization by Other catalysts

Acetylene PA
Catalysts:
WCl6/(C6H5)4Sn
WCl6/n-BuLi
MoCl5/ (C6H5)4Sn

Note: These conjugate polymers are usually insoluble in organic solvents of

have very low solubility
Durham Method

Isomerization of Polybenzvalene
 Conducting Polymers
• Properties
– Electrical conductor
– Conductivity increases with doping
– High thermal stability
– Insouble in sovents
Applications of conducting polymers:

1. Rechargeable Batteries
2. As antistatic material
3. Optical filters
4. Sensors
5. In electronics (LED)
6. Photovoltic cells
7. Telecommuniction systems
8. Molecular switches Solar cell

Light-emitting diodes
 Electroluminescent polymers
Electroluminescence: Property of material to produce bright
light of different colours when stimulated electronically

poly(p-phenylene vinylene) polyfluorene

The first blue light
emitting polymer diode
was produced with a
substituted polyfluorene
Organic Elecrtoluminiscent device:

Metallic cathode
Polymeric / Organic layer
Transparent anode
Glass Support
 Electroluminescent polymers
• PPV preparation

• Properties
 PPV is a diamagnetic material very low intrinsic electrical conductivity
 The electrical conductivity increases upon doping with.
 It is a rigid-rod polymer
 Water insoluble
 Shows bright yellow fluoresence
Applications:
• Thin films in displays (OLED)
• Backlight for LCD, automotive panels
• Photovoltic cells
• Decoration : Theatres, assembly halls, building etc.
• Light stripes for building decoration
• Electroluminiscent night lamps
 Polymer Composites
Composite materials are made of more than one phase, in
order to achieve combined properties that cannot be met by
a single-phase material
Polymer composite:
Polymer based material (matrix phase) & Reinforcing
material (dispersion phase) forms composites to obtain
specific properties of both the materials
Objective of adding polymer:
1) To bind the reinforcing particles or fibres strongly
2) Acts as a medium for distribution of applied load
3) Keeps proper orientation of reinforcing fibres for high
strength development
4) To prevent cracks propagation due to plasticity
Condition:
• Good compatibility
• Strong bond between 2 phases
Types: Particles Reinforced, Structural Comosites & FRP
 Fibre Reinforced Plastics
Fiber reinforced composites (FRP) are composites prepared
by the incorporation of fibers(dispersed phase) into plastic
material
Fibres – eg. Glass, Carbon & aramid fibres
- continuous and alighned or discontinuous

Mechanical properties – interfacial bond between fibre and

matrix, fibre-orientation, concentration, length and properties

Particle Fibre Composite: Metal powders & oxides, Carbon

black, silica(Dispersed phase or reinforcing phase)

Structural composites:
1) Laminar – Sheets or panels with proper orientation &
cemented together with resin. Eg Plywood
2) Sanwitched – 2 strong outer sheets separated by a layer of
less dense material (core)
Properties of FRP:
• Low coefficient of expansion
• Low cost of production
• High tensile strength
• High heat stability
• High dimension stability
• Better abrasion resistance
• Better toughness and impact strength

Applications of FRP:
• Automobile bodies, chasis parts, vehicle components
• Boats body, propeller shafts
• Parts of aircrafts
• Sport goods, musical instruments, toys etc
• High speed machinary parts, PCB, bodies of
refrigerators, coolers, cabins for offices, windows, doors
Applications of FRPs
 Glass reinforced Plastics
• Composition:
– Polymer matrix reinforced by glass fibre
• Properties:
– High corrosion resistance
– High strength
– Light weight
– Non coductive, non sparking and inert
– High impact resistance
– Easy to fabricate
– Low maintainance
• Applications
– Aircraft, boats, high performance cars, bath tubs, swimming pools, hot
tubs, septic tanks, water tanks, roofing, pipes, surfboards, and door
skins.
 Carbon reinforced Plastics
• Composition:
• Polymers like epoxy resin, polyester, vinylester or nylon reinforced by
carbon material like aramid (kevlar), high molecular weight PE
• Properties:
– High strength and rigidity
– Light weight
– It is conductive in nature
– High tensile strength
• Applications:
– Aerospace
– Sail boats
– Modern bicycles and motor cycles
– Laptops
– Tripods, fishing rods
– Racquet frames, stringed instrument bodies and golf clubs
 Nanomaterial
• Introduction:
• Why is nanoscience attracting so much interest?
– The fundamental properties of matter change at the nanoscale.
– The properties of atoms and molecules are not governed by the same
physical laws as larger objects, but by “quantum mechanics”.
– The physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles can be quite
different from those of larger particles of the same substance. Altered
properties can include but are not limited to colour, solubility, material
strength, electrical conductivity, magnetic behavior, mobility (within
the environment and within the human body), chemical reactivity and
biological activity.
– it is the boundary between atoms and molecules and the macro
world, where ultimately the properties are dictated by the
fundamental behavior of atoms. it is one of the final great challenges
for humans, in which the control of materials at the atomic level is
possible.
 Nanomaterial
• Introduction:
– Definition: These are the materials, whose single unit is sized 1-100
nm at least in one dimension

• Classification:

Nanomaterial

Zero One Two Three

dimensional dimensional dimensional dimensional
 Nanomaterial
• Classification:
• Accordingly, in zero-dimensional (0D) nanomaterials all the dimensions are
measured within the nanoscale (no dimensions are larger than 100 nm).
Most commonly, 0D nanomaterials are nanoparticles e.g. Quantum dots.

• In one-dimensional nanomaterials (1D), one dimension is outside the

nanoscale. This class includes nanotubes, nanorods, and nanowires e.g.
Carbon Nano-tube.

• In two-dimensional nanomaterials (2D), two dimensions are outside the

nanoscale. This class exhibits plate-like shapes and includes graphene,
nanofilms, nanolayers, and nanocoatings e.g. Graphene sheet.

• Three-dimensional nanomaterials (3D) are materials that are not confined

to the nanoscale in any dimension. This class can contain bulk powders,
dispersions of nanoparticles, bundles of nanowires, and nanotubes as well
as multi-nanolayers
 Carbon Nanotubes
• Introduction:
 Cylinders made of graphite sheets.
 If rolling of graphite imagined stresses may be developed.
• Types:
 1. Single walled (SWCNT).
 2. Multi walled (MWCNT). CNT

SWCNT MWCNT

Armchair Zigzag Helical

• Helical type is chiral in nature i.e. its mirror image doesn’t coincide with
original structure due to its twisted structure . Its cross section shows
cis and trans kinds of carbon arrangement .
• Armchair and Zigzag are achiral due to their structures.
 Properties

• They can be bent, twisted and flattened into small circle

• Intrinsic, mechanical and transport properties make them

ultimate carbon fiber

• They are stiff, strong

• High thermal and electrical conductivity

• Large surface area and low density

• Conductivity of CNT :
 One dimensional structures and sp 2
hybridised .
 Limited resonance.
 Semiconductor character.
 Conductivity increased by compounding with alkali metals.

• Application of CNT :
 Filteration.
 Stereospecific reactions.
 As nanocylinders for H2 gas.
 Catalyst in some reactions.
Thanks!!!
Any questions?