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Introduction To Basic Concepts of Polymer Chemistry

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16 views8 pages

Introduction To Basic Concepts of Polymer Chemistry

Uploaded by

rithuart4july
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction

Basic concepts of polymer chemistry


polymer, mer, thermoplastic, thermosetting,
elastomer, fiber, classification of polymers
according to chain structures, polymerization
methods.

Changing one or more of the following parameters can affect


the linearity of the polymer, its average molecular weight, the
tacticity of side chains on the polymer backbone, and the
density of the product.
The following variables can be controlled when producing a
polymer.
• The monomer polymerized or the monomers
copolymerized.
• The reagent used to initiate the polymerization reaction.
• The identity and amount of the reagent used to crosslink
the polymer chains.
• The temperature and pressure at which the polymerization
occurs.
• The solvent in which the monomer is polymerized.
• The way the polymer is collected, which can produce either
a more or less random alignment of the polymer chains or
a fabric in which the chains are aligned in one direction.
Since polymers have high molecular mass, they can be
described in many ways: polymerization degree, molecular
weight distribution, the branching degree, crosslinks,
cystallinity, glass transition temperature and melting
temperature.

Factors determined the properties of a polymer

Reaction conditions : Temperature, pressure and catalysts


affect the length and branching of the polymer chain.
Monomer : The type of monomer used affects the type of
forces between polymer chains.
Additives : Additives can incorporated for various goals
above mentioned.
Polymers are macromolecules which consists of large
numbers repeated structural units known as monomers.

Monomers are small


molecules that combine with
each other to form polymer
molecules. The simple reactive
molecule from which the
repeating structural units of a
polymer are derived is called a
monomer.
Repeating units

The difference between the monomer and the repeat unit is the
loss of the double bond in the former to give the chain-linked
repeating group. Thus the molecular masses of both monomer
and unit are identical.

Repeat units of some polymers


Classification of polymers

Polymers can be classified as linear, branched, or crosslinked


polymers depending on their structure.

In addition polymers are divided into


two categories as homopolymer and
copolymers to the number of type of
repeating units.
The other important classification of polymers;
Thermoplastics are the plastics that, when heated, do not
undergo chemical change in their composition and so can be
molded again and again.
Thermosets, or thermosetting polymers, can not melt and
take shape only once: after they have solidified, they stay
solid. Plastic Comments
PMMA acrylic, poly(methyl methacrylate) Thermoplastic. A transparent rigid
polymer.

ABS acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene Based on SAN resin modified with


polybutadiene rubber.

EP epoxy Thermoset. Resins used for


encapsulation, adhesives, surface
coatings and high-strength fibre-
reinforced composites.

HDPE high density polyethylene Thermoplastic. Linear polyolefin widely


used in blow moulding.

MF melamine formaldehyde Thermoset. Used in domestic ware,


switches, plugs, etc.
Elastomers
The term of elastomer, is often used interchangeably with
rubber. They are amorphous polymers having glass transition
temperature. Also they have less croslinking bonds, between
polymer chains which permit the polymers to stretch in
response to macroscopic stresses. Rubber-like solids with
elastic properties are called elastomers.

Elastomers, generally, have low Young’s Modulus and high


failure strain compared with other materials.

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