Polymer Mems
INTRODUCTION
Polymer are long chain giant organic molecules
assembled from many small molecules called
monomers .
More monomer molecules joined in units of long
polymer.
Example;
polyethylene
POLYMER MATERIALS
The polymers are a diverse group of
engineering materials.
They are the main components of
plastics, rubbers, resins, adhesives and
paints.
These materials have distinctive
microstructures built from
macromolecular chains and networks of
carbon and other light elements.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF POLYMERS
Thermoplastics
Thermosets
Long chain Polymers
Natural polymers
Homopolymer
Copolymer
THERMOPLASTICS
A type of plastic that can be softened by
heat, hardened by cooling, and then
softened by heat over and over again.
Thermoplastics are not cross-linked.
Thermoplastics such as polyethylene, Nylon,
Polyvinyl chloride which soften on heating.
Example;
Polyvinyl chloride
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE
Pipes
Electric cables
Clothing and
furniture
Unplasticized
polyvinyl chloride
(uPVC) for
construction
Healthcare(Compo
nents of dialysis
installations and
temporary blood
storage devices)
Flooring(buildings
covering the home,
THERMOSET
thermoset- having the property of becoming
permanently hard and rigid when heated or cured; "the
phenol resins and plastics were the original synthetic
thermosetting materials"
They are hard and rigid at room temperature and do not
soften on heating.
Examples and uses of thermoset plastic materials:
Epoxy resins - used as coating materials, caulks,
manufacture of insulating materials, etc ...
Phenolic resins - tool handles, billiard balls, sprockets,
insulation, etc ...
Unsaturated polyester resins - manufacture of plastics
reinforced fiberglass commonly known as polyester,
fillers, etc ...
NATURAL POLYMERS
The definition of a natural polymer is a polymer that
results from only raw materials that are found in nature.
Some of these natural polymers include DNA and RNA.
These are critical in genes and life processes.
Cotton, DNA ,wool, wood etc. are some of the naturally
occurring polymers.
Characteristics of Polymers
Low Density.
Low coefficient of friction.
Good corrosion resistance.
Good mould ability.
Excellent surface finish can be obtained.
Can be produced with close dimensional tolerances.
Economical.
Poor tensile strength.
Low mechanical properties.
Poor temperature resistance.
Can be produced transparent or in different colours
Y polymer ?
Polymer List
Polyimide
SU-8
Liquid vcrystal Polymer
Polydimethylsiloxane
Polymethyl Methacrylate
Parylene
Polytetrafluoroethlene
Polyimides
What are polyimides? what is the basic structural unit?
Polyimides are polymers formed by the combination of
acid dianhydrides and diamines.
TYPES OF POLY
IMIDES :
Linear polyimides
Aromatic hetero cyclic polyimides
13
PHYSICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES:
Density
Young's modulus
Tensile strength
Elongation
Glass temperature
melting point
Thermal conductivity
1430 kg/m3
3200 MPa
75-90 MPa
4-8%
>400 C
none
0.52 W/(mK)
Coefficient of thermal expansion
5.510-5 /K
Specific heat capacity 1.15 kJ/(kgK)
Water absorption Coefficient
0.32
Dielectric constant
3.5
14
Other properties:
Characteristic colour orange/yellow
Very low creep
Inherent resistance to flame combustion
Un effected by commonly used solvents and oils
Un effected by hydro carbons, esters, alcohols
and freons
Resistant to weak acids
Not usable in alkaline or highly acidic
environment.
15
Significance of polyimides:
Polyimides have high tensile strength.
They are highly heat resistant and chemical resistant.
They can often replace glass and metals such as steel.
They are transparent to microwave radiation.
Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP)
Characteristics:
These are a class of aromatic polymer.
Extremely unreactive and inert.
Highly resistant to fire.
Liquid crystallinity in polymers can be
obtained :
By dissolving in a solvent. (Thermotropic)
By heating above melting transition point.
(Lyotropic)
SU 8
Polymer Liquid Crystals
Advantage of Liquid Crystal
Polymer (LCP)
Advantage of
High heatLCP
resistance
Disadvantage
LCP
Formof
weak
weld lines
Flame retardant
Highly anisotropic
Chemical resistance
Dimensional stability
Mold ability
Heat aging resistance
Adhesion
Low viscosity
Wieldable
Low cost
properties
Drying required before
processing
High Z-axis thermal
expansion coefficient
