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Types of Polymers

This document discusses the classification of polymers into different types based on their properties and structure. There are several ways polymers can be classified, including by their thermal behavior as thermosets or thermoplastics, their polymerization mechanism as step-growth or chain-growth, and their structure as linear, branched, or cross-linked. Thermoplastics are reversible and can be recycled, while thermosets undergo an irreversible chemical change and are very difficult to recycle. Understanding polymer types is important for knowing how they can be used and processed.

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45 views9 pages

Types of Polymers

This document discusses the classification of polymers into different types based on their properties and structure. There are several ways polymers can be classified, including by their thermal behavior as thermosets or thermoplastics, their polymerization mechanism as step-growth or chain-growth, and their structure as linear, branched, or cross-linked. Thermoplastics are reversible and can be recycled, while thermosets undergo an irreversible chemical change and are very difficult to recycle. Understanding polymer types is important for knowing how they can be used and processed.

Uploaded by

Aaron Nathaniel Lacambra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Organic Materials Science and Engineering:

Types of polymers

Objective: to know the general classes of polymers.

EMA 3066

01.02.01
Questions or comments?
• Use Zoom chat or send email ahead of class time.

Office, stock images


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
MS Office stock image
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.)
MS Office stock image
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

MS Office stock image


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.

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