2019

POLYMER

Company
Visvesvaraya Book Company
7/28/2019
 Visvesvaraya Book Company
Near KPT, Kadri hills
Mangalore 575 004

Publisher:
Visvesvaraya Book Company

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 Contents
1) Introduction 4
Polymer, Polymerization, Quick facts

2) Polystyrene 6
Structure, Properties, Application

3) Polyethylene 8
Structure, Properties, Application

4) Polybutadiene 12
Structure, Properties, Application

5) Styrene butadiene rubber 14

Structure, Properties, Application

6) Nitrile rubber 16
Structure, Properties, Application

7) A typical formulation 18
Standard rubber, Electrical resistance,
Abrasion resistance, oil resistance,Weather resistance.
8) Structures of some other polymers 21

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 A polymer is a molecule, made from joining together many small
molecules called monomers. The word "polymer" can be broken down
into "poly" (meaning "many" in Greek) and "mer" (meaning "unit").
This shows how the chemical composition of a polymer consists of
many smaller units (monomers) bonded together into a larger molecule.
A chemical reaction bonding monomers together to make a polymer is
called polymerization.

Definition of polymer:
A polymer is a large molecule, or macromolecule, composed of
many repeated subunits.
EX – SBR, IIR, Polyethylene.

Polymerization:
Polymerization is a process of reacting monomer molecules
together in a chemical reaction to form polymer chains or three-
dimensional networks.
3 major types of polymerization reaction:
a) CONDENSATION POLYMERIZATION.
b) ADDITION POLYMERIZATION.
c) STEP POLYMERIZATION.

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 Quick Facts:

 A polymer can be described as repetition of a single unit.

 The no. of these repetitions is called ‘Degree of Polymerization’.
 There are two types of polymers, Linear and Branched.
 A Polymer can be both, thermal and electrical insulator.
 Polymers are highly chemical resistant.
 Areas of application of polymers are: – agriculture, medicine, sport,
industry etc.
 Most of them are flexible and lightweight.
 Formation of cross links in a polymer makes it stronger and more elastic.
These polymers are known as elastomers.
 Usually polymers are made up of petroleum but not always.
 Some examples of common addition polymers are: – Low density
Polyethylene, High density Polyethylene, Polystyrene etc.
 Polyester is a type of condensation polymers.
 If a polymer is derived from two different monomers then it is known as
copolymer.

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Polystyrene
Polystyrene (PS) is a synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer
made from the monomer styrene. Polystyrene can be solid or foamed.
General-purpose polystyrene is clear, hard, and rather brittle. It is an
inexpensive resin per unit weight.

Melting point: ~ 240 °C (464 °F; 513 K)

Thermal conductivity: 0.033 W/(m·K)
Density: 0.96–1.04 g/cm3

Structure:

Chemical formula (C8H8)n

Properties of PS:
1)High tensile strength (HIPS plastic) – can withstand high
impact and stands the test of time, so ideal for home wares such as
shelving or electronic audio-visual equipment, sports pitch surrounds,
general protective purposes. This includes the housing of cigarettes and
alcohol in shops kiosks as it is a high-impact, protective material that
ensures the products are safe.

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 2)Thermoplastic malleability – easily molded into different
shapes so possible to make hundreds of different products, ranging from
children’s toys to home ware cutlery or product prototypes/ 3D printing.
3)Recyclable – polystyrene doesn’t thermo set so can be melted
and remolded time and time again, which is great for the environment!

NOTE* Polystyrene properties and uses Insulation – when aerated with

CO2 to provide the ordinary polystyrene we see used to package most
high value parcels – this type of polystyrene has become a great
insulator of heat so can be used around the home or in food delivery
processes.

Uses and benefits:

1)Polystyrene in Appliances: Refrigerators, air conditioners,

ovens, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, blenders – these and other
appliances often are made with polystyrene (solid and foam) because it
is inert (doesn’t react with other materials), cost-effective and long-
lasting.
2)Polystyrene in Automotive: Polystyrene (solid and foam) is
used to make many car parts, including knobs, instrument panels, trim,
energy absorbing door panels and sound dampening foam. Foam
polystyrene also is widely used in child protective seats.
3)Polystyrene in Electronics: Polystyrene is used for the housing
and other parts for televisions, computers and all types of IT equipment,
where the combination of form, function and aesthetics are essential.

4)Polystyrene in Foodservice: Polystyrene foodservice packaging

typically insulates better, keeps food fresher longer and costs less than
alternatives.

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 5)Polystyrene in Insulation: Lightweight polystyrene foam
provides excellent thermal insulation in numerous applications, such as
building walls and roofing, refrigerators and freezers, and industrial cold
storage facilities. Polystyrene insulation is inert, durable and resistant to
water damage.

6)Polystyrene in Medical: Due to its clarity and ease of

sterilization, polystyrene is used for a wide range of medical
applications, including tissue culture trays, test tubes, Petri dishes,
diagnostic components, housings for test kits and medical devices.
7) Polystyrene in Packaging: Polystyrene (solid and foam) is
widely used to protect consumer products. CD and DVD cases, foam
packaging peanuts for shipping, food packaging, meat/poultry trays and
egg cartons typically are made with polystyrene to protect against
damage or spoilage.

Polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene (abbreviated PE; IUPAC name polyethene
or poly(methylene)) is the most common plastic. As of 2017, over 100
million tones of polyethylene resins are produced annually, accounting
for 34% of the total plastics market. Its primary use is
in packaging (plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes, containers
including bottles, etc.). Many kinds of polyethylene are known. PE is
usually a mixture of similar polymers of ethylene with various values
of n. Polyethylene is a thermoplastic; however, it can become
a thermoset plastic when modified (such as cross-linked polyethylene).
Melting point: 115–135 °C
Chemical formula: (C2H4)n
Density: 0.88–0.96 g/cm3

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Structure:
Chemical formula: (C2H4)n

Properties:
The properties of polyethylene can be divided into mechanical,
chemical, electrical, optical, and thermal properties.
1)Mechanical properties of polyethylene
Polyethylene is of low strength, hardness and rigidity, but has a
high ductility and impact strength as well as low friction. It shows
strong creep under persistent force, which can be reduced by addition of
short fibers. It feels waxy when touched.
2)Thermal properties
The commercial applicability of polyethylene is limited by its
comparably low melting point. For common commercial grades of
medium- and high-density polyethylene the melting point is typically in
the range 120 to 180 °C (248 to 356 °F). The melting point for average,
commercial, low-density polyethylene is typically 105 to 115 °C (221 to
239 °F). These temperatures vary strongly with the type of polyethylene.
3)Chemical properties
Polyethylene consists of nonpolar, saturated, high molecular weight
hydrocarbons.
Higher crystallinity increases density and mechanical and chemical
stability.

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Most LDPE, MDPE, and HDPE grades have excellent chemical
resistance and are resistant to gentle oxidants and reducing agents.
Crystalline samples do not dissolve at room temperature. Polyethylene
(other than cross-linked polyethylene) usually can be dissolved at
elevated temperatures in aromatic hydrocarbons such
as toluene or xylene, or in chlorinated solvents such
as trichloroethane or trichlorobenzene.
The gas and water vapour permeability (only polar gases) is lower than
for most plastics.
4)Electrical properties of polyethylene
Polyethylene is a good electrical insulator. It offers good electrical
treeing resistance.
5)Optical properties
LDPE thereby owns the greatest, LLDPE slightly less and HDPE the
least transparency. Transparency is reduced by crystallites if they are
larger than the wavelength of visible light.

Applications of Polyethylene:
While LLDPE and LDPE are highly preferred for electrical
insulation and film packaging, HDPE is used for manufacturing
household chemical containers and drums for various kinds of industrial
packaging as well as in the piping industry.

The following table illustrates the applications of these three types of

Polyethylene compounds.

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 Low Density High Density
Method/ Linear Low Density
Polyethylene Polyethylene
Process Polyethylene (LLDPE)
(LDPE) (HDPE)
For
For milk carton manufacturing
lining, shopping plastic In the manufacture of
Film making
production of bags and food stretchable films
cling films, etc. packaging
plastics
For For
Using injection manufacturing manufacturing For producing food boxes
molding process bowls and crates and of different capacities
buckets dustbins
For producing
In the
squeezable
Using blow production of
bottles such as
molding process drums and
ketchup
detergent bottles
containers, etc.

In the
For
manufacture of
Using the manufacturing
flexible water
process of water pipes of For coating cables
pipes as well as
extrusion varying
in cable
capacities
jacketing

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Polybutadiene
Butadiene rubber, synthetic rubber widely employed in tyre treads for
trucks and automobiles. It consists of polybutadiene,
an elastomer (elastic polymer) built up by chemically linking multiple
molecules of butadiene to form giant molecules, or polymers.
The polymer is noted for its high resistance to abrasion, low heat
buildup, and resistance to cracking.
Density: 0.92 g/cm3
Tg: –90C

Molecular Weight: 54.09 g/mol

Structure:
Chemical formula: (C4H6)n

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Properties of Butadiene Rubber:

 High Elasticity
 Low temperature properties
 Wear resistance
 Low hysteresis
 Good flexibility at ambient temperatures
 High abrasion resistance in severe conditions
 Low rolling resistance

Conclusion
The butadiene rubber is and will continue to be a high volume rubber
for use in toughened plastics, tyres, and golf balls due to its low cost,
availability and unique properties.

Applications:
1) Tyres: The manufacture of tyres consumes about 70% of the
world production of polybutadiene.
2) Plastics: About 25% of the produced polybutadiene is used to
improve the mechanical properties of plastics, in particular of high-
impact polystyrene (HIPS) and to a lesser extent acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene (ABS).
3) Golf ball: Most golf balls are made of an elastic core of
polybutadiene surrounded by a layer of a harder material.
Polybutadiene is preferred to other elastomers due to its high
resilience.
Other uses

 Polybutadiene rubber may be used in the inner tube of hoses for

sandblasting, along with natural rubber. The main idea is to increase

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 resilience. This rubber can also be used in the cover of hoses, mainly
pneumatic and water hoses.
 This rubber can also be used in railway pads, bridge blocks, etc.
 Polybutadiene rubber can be blended with nitrile rubber for easy
processing. However large use may affect oil resistance of nitrile
rubber.
 Polybutadiene is used in the manufacturing of the high-
restitution toy Super Ball.

Styrene butadiene rubber:

Styrene-butadiene or styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) describe
families of synthetic rubbers derived from styrene and butadiene (the
version developed by Goodyear is called Neolite). These materials have
good abrasion resistance and good aging stability when protected by
additive.

Property S-SBR E-SBR

Tensile strength (MPa) 18 20

Elongation at tear (%) 565 635

Mooney viscosity (100 °C) 48.0 51.6

Glass transition temperature (°C) −65 −50

Polydispersity 2.1 4.5

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Structure:
Chemical formula: ( C12H14)n

Properties:
1) Abrasion resistance: This property is superior to those of natural
rubber.
2) It shows excellent flex resistance.
3) Aging property is excellent.
4) Building tackiness is one of the major disadvantages of SBR.
5) Exclusion properties are superior to those of NR.

Application of SBR:
1) Major portion of the SBR consumption is mainly in the
manufacturing of tyre product.
2) To growth areas for SBR are adhesives and chewing gum.
3) SBR polymer is branded as food graded rubber that why it mainly
used in chewing gum manufacturing.
4) SBR is also used in fabrication of wide variety of products.
5) In tyre industries it mainly used in the compounding of sidewall.

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Nitrile rubber
Nitrile rubber, also known as NBR, Buna-N, and acrylonitrile butadiene
rubber, is a synthetic rubber copolymer of acrylonitrile(ACN)
and butadiene. Trade names include Perbunan, Nipol, Krynac and
Europrene.

Property Value

Appearance

Hardness, Shore A 30–90

Tensile failure stress, ultimate 500-2500 PSI

Elongation after fracture in % 600% Maximum

Density Can be compounded around 1.00 g/cm3

Structure of NBR:
Chemical formula: (C6H11CN)

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Properties of nitrile rubber:
1) Oil and chemical resistance one of the major property of nitrile
rubber.
2) It shows poor stress strain property when it is in gum stage.
3) Water resistance is high.
4) NBR shows good abrasion resistance.
5) Ozone resistance is good.
6) Resilience of NBR vulcanization is lower then NR,SBR,CR but
above butyl rubber.
7) Heat resistance is up to 121°C.
8) Electric property is good.
9) Permeability: NBR shows excellent resistance of gas and air.

Applications:
 Structural adhesives.
 Automatic transition seals
 Water pump seals
 Fuel liner and hose
 Printing rollers
 Oil resistance clothing’s
 Industrial gloves
 Conveyer belts
 Break liners
 Shoe sols and heals
 Fuel pump diaphragm
 Pipe insulation
 Hydraulic hose
 Cable jacketing

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A typical formulation of standard rubber:
Ingredient PPHR Example
1) Base polymer 100 NR,SBR,IIR
2) Peptizer 02 Ranacit -11
3) Filler 50 Carbon black
4) Processing aid 15 Petroleum oil
5) Antioxidant 01 DNPT
6) Activator 05 ZnO
7) Accelerator 03 TMT,MBTS
8) Vulcanize agent 03 Sulpher

A typical formulation of electrical resistance:

Ingredients PPHR
1) NR 70
2) CR 30
3) Peptizer 0.1
4) ISAF 30
5) HAF 20
6) Processing aid 10
7) ZnO 05
8) Steric acid 01
9) Antioxidant 02
10) TMT 02
11) MBTS 0.5
12) Sulphur 04

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A typical formulation of abrasion resistance(tyre
tread):
Ingredients PPHR
1) NR 80
2) SBR/PBR 20
3) Peptizer 0.1
4) HAF 40
5) Processing aid 12
6) ZnO 05
7) Steric acid 01
8) Antioxidant 02
9) TMT 1.2
10) MBTS 02
11) Sulpher 02

A typical formulation of oil resistance:

Ingredients PPHR
1) NBR 100
2) HPF 30
3) Semi reinforcing filler 30
4) Processing aid 15
5) Wax 02
6) Steric acid 01
7) ZnO 05
8) CI resin 05
9) MBTS 0.8
10) TMT 1.2
11) Sulphur 02

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A typical formulation of weather resistance:
Ingredients PPHR
1) NR/EPDM 100
2) Peptizer 01
3) HAF 40
4) Processing aid 12
5) Antioxidant 02
6) Wax 02
7) ZnO 05
8) Steric acid 01
9) TMT 2.0
10) MBTS 1.2
11) Sulphur 0.8

Plastic and rubber differ because:

1. Rubber can be considered elastomers, and that’s why when compared

to plastics, they are naturally more elastic.

2. Synthetic rubber is derived from crude oil, whereas synthetic plastic is

made of petroleum and natural gas.

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Structure of some other polymers:

1) Poly propylene: (C3H6)n 2) Polyvinyl chloride:C2H3Cl

3) Nylon 6,6: (C12H22N2O2)n

4) Teflon:(C2F4)n

5) Polyurethanes:

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6) Polycarbonate:

7) Natural rubber:(C5H8)n

8) Polyisoprene rubber:(C5H8)n

9) Butyl rubber(IIR): (C8H14)n

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10) EPDM:

11) Chloroprene: (C4H5Cl)n

12) Silicon rubber:

13) Polyacetylene:

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