Mechanics, Materials and

Machine Elements (MME M1)

Polymers 1

ADVANTAGES OF PLASTICS VS. STEEL

Low density and high specific strength

Electrical and thermal insulation

Design flexibility

Easy to shape

Coloring possibilities

Reduced total energy cost

Easy processing/forming

Cheaper

Corrosion resistance

Chemical resistance

Tailored properties

Transparency (in some cases)

DISADVANTAGES OF PLASTICS
VS. STEEL

Relatively low maximum allowable service temperatures

Moderate creep resistance and specific stiffness

Significant influence of temperature on mechanical

properties

Flammability

UV resistance (for some materials)

Higher thermal expansion rate

Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141391004001776

DENSITY
Why lower
density than
metals?
Lighter
atoms
Larger
interatomic
space

WHAT IS A POLYMER?

Poly

meros

many

unit

monomer

monomer

H H H H H H
C C C C C C
H H H H H H

H H H H H H
C C C C C C
H Cl H Cl H Cl

Polyethylene (PE)

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)

monomer

H
C
H

H H
C C
CH3 H

H H H
C C C
CH3 H CH3

Polypropylene (PP)

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DEGREE OF POLYMERIZATION, DP
DP = average number of repeat units per chain
H H H H H H H H H H H H
H C C (C C ) C C C C C C C C H

DP = 6

H H H H H H H H H H H H

DP can be as high as 100.000, depending on plastic type.

POLYMER COMPOSITION
"Backbone" should probably be called monomer!

Most polymers backbone contain C, sometimes combined

with O and/or N. Other elements can be attached to the
backbone, e.g. H, N, Cl, and F, or groups of elements.
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POLYMERS

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POLYMERS
Naturally occurred polymers:

rubber
cotton
wool
leather
silk
wood
proteins
enzymes, starches, cellulose

Synthetic produced
polymers:
plastics
rubbers
fiber materials

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BULK OR COMMODITY POLYMERS

Again, repeat unit = monomer!

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BULK OR COMMODITY POLYMERS

Repeat unit = monomer!

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BULK OR COMMODITY POLYMERS

Repeat unit = monomer!

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POLYMERS

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POLYMERS
Thermoplastics

Thermosets

Can be re-melted

Cannot be re-melted

Low melting temperature

Strong cross-linked, 3D intermolecular

bonds => one large molecule

Long chains of monomers

Can be recycled
Little crosslinking

Are only partially polymerized before

processing

Ductile

Significant crosslinking (10 to 50% of

repeat units)

Soften w/heating

Hard and brittle

Ex.: polyethylene, polypropylene, Do NOT soften w/heating

polycarbonate, polystyrene
Ex.: vulcanized rubber, epoxies,
polyester resin, phenolic resin
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INTERATOMIC BONDS
Covalent bonding
The atoms get a stable
outer shell by sharing
electrons. Ex. CH4.
In thermosets between
molecules.
In thermoplastics within
molecules.

Secondary bonding
In thermoplastics between the molecule chains.
Types: van der Waals, hydrogen, dipole.
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THERMOPLASTICS

Can not be 100% crystalline.

High crystallinity:
Increase of density
Semicrystalline
Higher melting point
Higher E-modulus
Higher tensile strength
Lower ductility
Better resistance against
organic solvents.
Amorphous

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SEMICRYSTALLINE POLYMERS
Polyethylene (PE) :

Polyetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (Teflon)

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SEMICRYSTALLINE POLYMERS
Polyamide (PA)

Polyoxymethylene (POM)

Polypropylene (PP)
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AMORPHOUS POLYMERS
Polystyrene (PS)

PS art by Tara Donovan

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AMORPHOUS POLYMERS
Polystyrene (PS)

Polyvinylchloride (PVC)

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AMORPHOUS POLYMERS
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)

Polycarbonate (PC)

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MOLECULAR STRUCTURES FOR

POLYMERS
secondary

bonding

Linear

Branched

Cross-Linked

Network

Linear: HDPE, PVC, PS, PA

higher density; can be easier close packed

Branched: LDPE.
less density

Cross-linked: Rubbers
Network: Polyurethanes, epoxies, polyesters, etc. (thermosets)
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COPOLYMERS
Two or more monomers
polymerized together
random A and B randomly
positioned along chain
alternating A and B
alternate in polymer chain
block large blocks of A units
alternate with large blocks of
B units
graft chains of B units
grafted onto A backbone
A

random

alternating

block

B
graft
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E-Modulus

TEMPERATURE BEHAVIOR OF
AMORPHOUS VS. SEMICRYSTALLINE
PLASTICS
TgC

Semicrystalline
Tg
Amorphous
Tg
Semicrystalline
Tm

TmC

PE

-120

137

PP

-15

176

POM

-50

180

PA

50

225

PBT

55

225

100

205-230

PMMA
Amorphous

PVC

80

200-220

Semicrystalline

ABS

110

230-270

PC

149

290-320

PS

100

204-251

Data not 100% reliable!

Glassy state

Rubbery or
Viscoelastic state

Melt state

Temperature

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POLYMER ADDITIVES
Improve mechanical properties, processability, durability, etc.
Fillers
Added to improve tensile strength & abrasion resistance,
toughness & decrease cost
ex: carbon black, silica gel, wood flour, glass, limestone,
talc, etc.
Plasticizers
Added to reduce the glass transition temperature Tg
below room temperature
Presence of plasticizer transforms brittle polymer into a
ductile one
Commonly added to PVC - otherwise it is brittle
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POLYMER ADDITIVES (CONT.)

Stabilizers
Antioxidants
UV protectants
Lubricants
Added to allow easier processing
Polymer slides through dies easier ex: sodium
stearate
Colorants
Dyes and pigments
Flame Retardants
Substances containing chlorine, fluorine, and boron
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PLASTIC
IDENTIFICATION
CODE

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