plastics.

ppt

CORETECH SYSTEM

Plastics Fundamentals

This chapter will give you some understanding of the plastic materials in the plastic industry. You will learn : Characters of plastics Classification of plastic materials Applications of plastic materials

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Characters of Plastic Materials

q Lightweight q Wide

Material

Density: 0.8-2.2g/cm3

Range of Mechanical Properties

Youngs modulus (1-100,000 N/mm2 for elastomerGF/thermosets, for steel: 500,000 N/mm2 )
q Easy

Processability by Additives

processing temperature < 400 oC

q Modifiability

Fillers, reinforcing materials, color pigments, plasticizers, flame retardants, stabilizers

CORETECH SYSTEM

Today, plastics applications are found in almost all areas of life. They are materials with extremely wide spectrum of properties.Thats the reason why their applications are so intensive and extensive. The characters of plastic materials are summarized briefly here. Plastics are light. The density of plastics varies between 0.8 and 2.2 g/cm3. In other words, they are lighter than common materials such as steels and ceramics. The weight of plastic-made article is lighter than that of metal-made/ceramicmade products. Plastics exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties. They can be soft and elastic as well as hard and rigid under different processing environment. Some filler-reinforcing plastic material may exhibit a higher value of elastic module than that of metal and can be applied for specific functions. Plastics can be processed easily and economically. Most plastics can be processed below 400 oC .Thus we can produce complex plastic part simply without consuming too much energy. The properties of plastic materials can be modified by compounding. Additives such as fillers, reinforcing materials, plasticizers, stabilizers can be added to modify the processing properties of material or performance of product.

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Characters of Plastic Materials

q Low

Thermal and Electrical Conductivity

k:0.1-1W/m/K,metal:100-1000W/m/K, thermal/electric good insulator

q Transparency q High

for Amorphous Plastics

for lenses, CDs, optial discs

Chemical Resistance

not susceptible to corrosion

q Permeable

permit permeation and diffusion

q Recyclability

and Reusability
CORETECH SYSTEM

The thermal and electrical conductivities of plastics are low, these properties make them good thermal and electric insulators. On the other hand, the poor thermal conductivity of plastics will produce some molding difficulties or defects, such as hot spot and burning points. Amorphous plastics such as PS are often transparent and can be colored as desired. This character makes plastic a good candidate for optical article production. Plastics are inert to chemical and are not susceptible to corrosion problem. This character is the reason why plastics have been applied to producing containers for corrosive chemicals. Sometimes the permeability of plastics make cause problem, such as in the applications of IC-packing. Humidity permeation across the plastic packaging may cause corrosion of electric circuits interior the package. However, in some applications, such as application in membrane, this character is essential. Thermoplastics are remeltable and can be recycled and reused.

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Introduction to Plastic Materials

qA

polymer molecule (macromolecule) is a long, large chain composed of many small simple chemical units (structural units)
Macromolecule

branch

Structural Unit
CORETECH SYSTEM

A plastic material is composed of polymer chains. Each chain is composed of many repeated simple chemical units (structural units). Macroscopic behavior of plastic material is determined by its microstructure. This difference in microstructure characters between plastic materials and the small molecules (such as that of air or water) causes the difference in their macroscopic behavior.

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Example of a Polymer Molecules

H H

C
H

C
H polymerization polymer

manomer
Ethylene: CH2=CH2

M.W.=28

LDPE (Low-Density PolyEthylene): -(CH2-CH2)n -

M.W.=280,000 CORETECH SYSTEM

The basic substances used in producing plastics are called monomers (mono=single, meros=part). The macromolecules of plastics are formed by chemical linking manomers. This chemical reaction is called polymerization process because a polymer (poly=many) molecule is produced from monomers. For example, a low density polyethylene (LDPE) molecule is produced from the combination of many thousands of ethylene manomer molecules. The molecular weight of a ethylene manomer is 28 whereas the molecular weight of a LDPE is about 280,000.

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Simple Molecules vs. Macromolecules

Simple Molecules
liquid near the rotating rod is push outward by the centrifugal force

e.g.,water...

CORETECH SYSTEM

The microstructure of materials may effect their macroscopic behavior. For simple molecules such as water molecules (composed of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms), their response to external force is fast due to the high molecular mobility and high freedom of changing molecule configuration. For example, if we insert a rotating rod into a baker containing water, we see that the liquid near the rotating rod is push outward by the centrifugal force, and a dip in the liquid surface near the center of the baker result.This behavior is typcal for liquids consisting of simple molecules.

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Simple Molecules vs. Macromolecules

Polymer Molecules
Weissenberg Effect (Rod-Climbing Effect)

entanglement between polymer chains

polymeric liquid moves toward the center of the baker and climbs up the rotating rod

CORETECH SYSTEM

On the other hand, when the rod is rotated, the polymeric liquid will moves in the opposite direction, toward the center of the baker and climbs up the rotating rod. This rod-climbing phenomena is referred to as the Weissenberg effect. The Weissenberg effect is attributed to the normal stress difference arising from the chain-like microstructure of polymeric liquid. The entanglement between polymer chains and flow-induced anisotropic microstructure cause the plastic material to exhibit nonlinear normal stress behavior. Intuitively, you may think Weissenberg effect is a result of polymer chains climb the rotating rod as they are entangled with each other.

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Simple Molecules vs. Macromolecules

Simple Molecules
Newtonian Viscosity

Shear Viscosity

lower temperature higher temperature

e.g.,water...

shear rate viscosity = f( composition, T,P )

CORETECH SYSTEM

Viscosity is a measure of the resistance to flow. Low-molecular-weight fluids (composed of simple molecules) exhibit a so-called Newtonian viscosity and they are referred to as Newtonian fluids. The viscosity of a Newtonian fluid is independent of deformation rate and depends only on its composition, temperature and, to a much lesser extent, on pressure. Typically, low-molecular-weight liquids and all gases are Newtonian fluids, that is, they have constant viscosity under constant temper-ature and pressure condition. This type of flow behavior would be expected for small molecules, where the structure, and therefore the resistance to flow, does not change with th intensity of shearing. Note that the Newtonian viscosity is a decreasing function of temperature for the liquids, and in some cases the temperature dependence is very strong.

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Simple Molecules vs. Macromolecules

Polymer Molecules
Non-Newtonian Viscosity (Shear-Thinning Effect)
lower temperature

Shear Viscosity

higher temperature

shear rate viscosity = f( composition, T,P,shear rate )

CORETECH SYSTEM

On the other hand, polymeric liquids with chain-like microstructure are nonNewtonian in that the viscosity changes with changing shear rate ( that is, rate of deformation). Polymer melts and solutions are non-Newtonian and are referred to be pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) fluids because their viscosity (hence resistance to flow) decreases with the intensity of shearing. The shear-thinning behavior of polymeric liquids will be given in next section. In addition, the shear-thinning viscosity also depends on composition, temperature, as well as pressure. The temperature-dependence of polymer viscosity plays a key role in polymer processing operations.

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Shear-Thinning Viscosity of Polymeric Liquids

Viscosity

increasing Temperature

Shear Rate

CORETECH SYSTEM

The shear-thinning behavior of polymeric liquids can be interpreted in terms of their molecular structure. At low shear rate, the randomizing (disorienting) effect of the thermal fluctuation of the chain segments overcomes any tendency toward molecular alignment in the shear field. The molecules are thus in their most random and highly entangled state, and have their greatest resistance to slippage (flow). This explains why they exhibit higher viscosity under low shear rate condition. As the shear rate is increased, the molecules will begin to untangle and align in the shear field, reducing their resistance to slippage past one another. Thus the viscosity will decrease with increasing shear rate because the increasing orientating behavior of molecular chains. At very high shear rates orientation of molecular chains may be complete and in this range near-Newtonian behavior may be observed. Intense shearing will eventually lead to extensive breakage of main-chain bonds of polymer microstructure and mechanical degradation of material. In injection molding the shear rate has a range of about 100 to 10,000 sec-1 ,most plastics will exhibit a shear-thinning viscosity in this shear-rate change. The shear-rate-dependent viscosity behavior of plastic materials also play a key role in the polymer processing operations.

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Macromolecular Structure vs. Macroscopic Properties

Properties Density 3 (g/cm ) Crystallinity (%) Melting o Point ( C) Tensile Modulus 2 (N/m )

LDPE

0.910~0.925 60~70

110~120

0.97~2.6x108

long side chains branching

MDPE HDPE 926~0.940 941~0.965 70~80 80~95 120~130 130~136 1.7~3.8x108 4.1~12.4x108

linear molecules, 4~10 short side chains/1000 C atoms

LLDPE 0.900~0.920 90

linear molecules, 10~35 short side chains/1000 C atoms

LDPE: Low-Density PolyEthylene, MDPE: Medium-Density PolyEthylene, HDPE: High-Density PolyEthylene, LLDPE: Linear Low-Density PolyEthylene

CORETECH SYSTEM

The macroscopic properties of plastics are influenced by their micro-structure. For example, the degree and type of side branching along the main chain directly affect the structure of the polymer and its properties. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE,density=0.915 g/cm3) has a lower density value since it is composed of long side chains. These long chains will hinder themselves from packing together and forming crystalline area. On the other hand, high-density polyethylene (HDPE,density=0.97 g/cm3) is composed of short side chains. The molecular chains in HDPE are packed together more efficiently and tightly. Thus the density and crystallinity of HDPE are higher than that of MDPE and LDPE. LLDPE has the lower density of LDPE but the toughness of HDPE. The highly branched side-chains in its microstructure prevent the main chain from closely packing and result in lower density.

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Characters of Macromolecular Structure

q Great

Diversity in Structure

q Large

Molecular Weight (MW) and Molecular Weight Distribution (MWD)

q Large

Number of Internal Degree of Freedom

CORETECH SYSTEM

Polymer molecules differ from the small molecules in several ways. We will discuss three key features of microstructure of polymers. These key features make the macroscopic properties of plastic materials quite different from that of common materials.

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Macromolecular Structure
q Great

Diversity in Structure

straight chain

branched chain

block copolymer

grafted copolymer

closed-ring polymer

rigid polymer

Back

CORETECH SYSTEM

Much work has been devoted to synthesize and polymerize different types of polymer materials.There are dosens of classes of polymers and thousands of variants commercially available today. Plastics exhibit a wide, variable spectrum of macroscopic properties owing to their diversity in microstructure. Example of straight chain polymer: HDPE Example of branched chain polymer: LDPE Example of block copolymer: ethylene oxide and propylene oxide Example of grafted copolymer: PVC/PMMA copolymer

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Macromolecular Structure
q Large

Molecular Weight (MW)

N o . A to m s 3 6 9 5 P o ly m e ric C o m p o u n d 4000 1 0 ,0 0 0 5 0 ,0 0 0 -6 0 ,0 0 0 M .W . 18 28 46 100 2 3 ,0 0 0 2 8 0 ,0 0 0 4 0 0 ,0 0 0
Back

Typical MW of synthetic polymer :104~106 g/mol

Com pound w a te r, H 2 O e th y le n e ,C 2 H 4 a lc o h o l, C 2 H 5 O H lim e , C a C o 3 N y lo n p o ly e th y le n e N a tu ra l R u b b e r L o w M o le c u la r W e ig h t C o m p o u n d

CORETECH SYSTEM

The molecular weight of a compound is defined as the weight,in grams, for every mole of that species. For example, the molecular weight of carbon is 12, since 6.023x1023 C-atoms weight exactly 12g. A water molecule is composed of three atoms (one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms) and its molecular weight is 18. The molecular weight of lime and alcohol are 100 and 46, respectively. Polymeric compound is composed of macromolecules. These macromolecules result from the chemical linking of many thousands of monomer molecules. For example,a polyethylene (PE) polymer having about 10,000 repeat structural units has a molecular weight of about 280,000. The properties of polymeric material are strongly linked to the molecular weight of the polymer.

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Macromolecular Structure
q Long

Molecular Chain
PolyEthylene (PE) polymerization
M.W.=280,000 deg.poly.=10,000

Ethylene
M.W.=28

molucular length=0.005 m

molucular length=6.8 m
Back

Increase length :13,600 times

CORETECH SYSTEM

Polymer is produced by the polymerization reaction of monomers. Polymerization is the chemical reaction that links structural units (monomers) together.Molecular weight of a polymer is determined by the degree of polymerization. The higher the degree of polymerization , the larger the molecular weight of the polymer. For example, ethylene, C2H4 ,has a molecular weight of 28 and a molecular length of 0.005x10-6 m. If the ethylene molecule was manified 106 times, it would be approximately 5mm long. On the other hand, a polyethylene produced from ethylene manomers has about 10,000 repeat units and a molecular weight of about 280,000. If it was fully extended and mannfied 106 times, this polyethylene molecule will be 6.8 meter long.

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Macromolecular Structure
q Molecular

Weight Distribution (MWD)

low degree of polymerization
short molecular length low molecular weight

monomer high degree of polymerization

polymerization

long molecular length high molecular weight

A polymer consists of a mixture of molecules with different degree of polymerization (length of molecular chain)

Back

CORETECH SYSTEM

Polymerization is a series of random reactions occuring on a macroscopic scale. As a result, on the whole, polymer chains grow in a different rate and result in different molecular length at any time in the polymerization proces. At the end of polymerization, the number of monomers used to produce each chain will vary substantially from chain to chain. Longer chain (with a higher degree of polymerization)has a higher value of molecular weight whereas shorter chain (with a lower degree of polymerization) has a lower one. A plastic material is in fact consists of a mixture of molecules with different molecular weight. Molecular weight distribution specifies the fraction of molecules at each size level in a sample. A number of experimental techniques, such as GPC (Gel-Permeation Chromato-graphy ), have been developed to measure the molecular weight distribution of plastic materials.

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Macromolecular Structure
q Molecular

Weight Distribution (MWD)

PI Mw Mn

polydispersity index (PI) or disperity index (DI)

polydisperse Fraction Fraction

monodisperse

PI>2

PI~1

M.W.

M.W.

Back

CORETECH SYSTEM

The shape of the molecular weight distribution curve and the location of the maximum value are very important, since most polymer physical properties can be related in some way to this distribution. Monodisperse distribution indicates most constituent molecules are of the same size. On the other hand, polydisperse distribution represents that the polymer is composed of a mixture of molecules with rather different chain lengths. Polydispersity index (PI) or dispersity index (DI) is defined as the ratio of weight average to number molecular weights. It is used to character a specific polymer molecular weight distribution. For an ideal monodisperse(all molecules the same size) polymer, the PI value equals to one. Carefully fractioned or anionic addition polymers has a PI value of 1.02 Most commerical plastics have a polydisperse molecular weight distribution and have PI values larger than 2. Values of 3 to 8 are not uncommon, with special purpose polymer having values as large as 30.

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Macromolecular Structure
q Large

Number of Internal Degree of Freedom

stretch

slide entanglement crosslinking

CORETECH SYSTEM

Since plastic materials contain molecular weight in millions, each molecule in the material is capable of existing in a huge number of configurations. These configurations include chain stretching, sliding, entangling, crosslinking (chemical joining),...and so on. Always keep in mind that a macroscopic property is a result of averaging all the possible microscopic molecular configurations.

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Effect of Molecular Weight

Stiffness, Strength,...

PS: deg. polym.=1,000 stiff and brittle at room temp.

PS: deg. polym.=10 sticky and soft at room temp.

Molecular Weight

Next

CORETECH SYSTEM

The mechanical behavior of the plastic material is influenced by its molecular weight. For example, polystyrene with a degree of polymerization 1,000 is stiff and brittle at room temperature; whereas polystyrene with a degree of polymerization 10 exhibits a sticky and soft property at room temperature.

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Effect of Molecular Weight

slope=1

log( Viscosity )

slope=1

molecular entanglements begin to dominate the rate of slippage of the molecules

log( Molecular Weight )

Back

CORETECH SYSTEM

The length of molecular chain is described by the molecular weight. A larger molecular weight indicates a longer chain length.This results in a more molecular entanglements and leads to a greater resistance to slippage (flow), hence causes a higher value of viscosity.This is a molecular interpretation of why a polymers weight exerts a strong influence on the melt or concentrated solution viscosity. Note that the dependence on molecular weight changes when a critical molecular weight is reached. This critical point is thought to be the point at which molecular entanglements begin to dominate the rate of slippage of the molecules. When the molecular weight exceeds this critical value, the viscosity increases sharply and leads to greater flow resistance.

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Effect of Molecular Weight Distribution

similar molecular size, marked Newtonian range and higher viscosity

Viscosity

narrow MWD

wide MWD
short chain molecules act as a lubricant(filler particles)

Shear Rate

Back

CORETECH SYSTEM

Changes in the molecular weight distribution causes shihts in the Newtonian flow range. With a wide molecular weight distribution, the short-chain molecules have the effect of a lubricant and longer chain molecules may swim along the melt, similar to filler particles system. In the case of narrow molecular weight distribution, all molecular chains are of the similar size and no short chain molecule acts as a lubricant, hence lead to a marked Newtonian flow range and a higher value of viscosity.

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Classification of Plastics
PLASTICS
thermoplastics

Thermoplastics
not crosslinked

Elastomers/Thermosets
cross-linked

Amorphous

(Semi)crystalline

Slightly Crosslinked
elastomers

Strongly Crosslinked
thermosets

PC,PS,PVC, PMMA,...

HDPE,LDPE, PP,PA,POM, PTFE...

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PUR, Polybutadiene, Natural Rubber...

Epoxy,Melamine, Phenolics, Polyester,...

CORETECH SYSTEM

Plastics can be classified according to several criteria. If we make the classification according to chemical structure of plastics, two categories can be obtained: thermoplastics and thermosets/ elastomers. Thermoplastics are those polymers that have no crosslinking microstructure. They are meltable under high temperature and soluble in many solvents. Thermoplastics can further be divided into two classics: amorphous and crystalline (or semicrystalline) polymers. Thermosets are those polymers that have strong crosslinking network structure. They cannot be melted repeatly once they have been solidified. Elastomers are only lightly cross-linked which permits almost full extension of the molecules. They cannot be melted or dissolved, but they can be swelled in organic solvents.

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Thermoplastics
q

Microstructure:
No chemical connection (crossliking) between molecules Held chains together by intermolecular forces and physical entanglement

Properties:
Meltable,Moldable Soluble Variety in property at room temperature

Next

CORETECH SYSTEM

Thermoplastics (thermo=heat,plastic=shapable) are those polymers that have no chemical cross-linking structure. Molecular chains in a thermoplastics are hold together by intermolecular forces and physical entanglements. These rather weak bonding forces can be overcomed upon heating, hence thermoplastics are meltable and moldable. That is, they have the ability to flow as the intermolecular forces are broken and the molecules are able to slide past each other with ease. Thermoplastics can be melted repeatedly and are soluble in suitable solvents. Because the intermolecular forces depends on many factors such as the type and number of branches or side chains, their mechanical properties vary from a soft condition to a ductile or hard and brittle at room temperature.

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Classification of Thermoplastics
Crystalline or Semicrystalline Amorphous

crystalline regions:
orderly arranged tightly packed chains
Examples: HDPE,LDPE,PP,PA, POM,PTFE..

slightly branching, linear or very ordered regular branching chains

cannot form orderly arranged region, unstructured

highly branching or long side chains or large functional group

Examples: PC,PS,PVC, PMMA,...

Next

CORETECH SYSTEM

Thermoplastics can be divided into two subcategories according to the order of molecules arrangement: crystalline and amorphous polymers. Crystalline polymers are those with a certain order in their molecular structure. Their molecular chains exhibit only slightly branching (I.e.,only a few short side chains), or very ordered regular branching and some orderly arranged regions (crystalline regions) exist within the material. Within the crystalline regions the molecular chains are arranged orderly and are packed tightly. In reality, no 100% crystalline polymer can be produced. Some amorphous regions will exist where molecular chain arrangement is less ordered or disordered. Polymers with a non100% degree of crystallinity are referred to be as semi-crystalline polymers. Plastics with highly branched chains, long side chains, or lagre functional group (side chain chemical group) are hard to arrange molecular chains in an ordered and tightly structure. These unstructured polymers are referred to be as amorphous (=have no definite form) polymers. Since they are always crystal clear in the unpigment condition, they are also called synthetic or organic glasses.

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Morphology of Thermoplastics: Amorphous and Semi-Crystalline

Amorphous

Specific Volume

Melting State

Semi-Crystalline

Temperature
CORETECH SYSTEM

The molecules in crystalline/semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymers exist in a more regular and ordered fashion. The mobility of the molecular chains continue to increased with heating. The molecules in the amorphous regions are the first to slide and those molecules in the crystalline regions continue to fluctuate with adding thermal energy. Upon exceeding the crystallite melting temperature, the intermolecular forces within the crystalline regions can no longer constrain the molecular chains to slide. The crystalline regions begin to melt and cause a step change in the specific volume because these ordered structures have been destroyed. Amorphous polymers are unstructured and have no significant melting point. An increase in temperature causes the molecules to vibrate and cause the plastics to become softer. With a further increase in temperature, the plastics exceeds the flow temperature and enters the melt state. Amorphous polymers have no distinct melting point. They soften and exhibit a variation in specific volume within a temperature range. In melting state the polymer is able to flow. The microstructure is essentially amorphous because the high mobility of molecular chains.

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General Properties of Thermoplastics in Processing

PROPERTY Melting or Softing Density Viscosity Strength Heat Content Volume Change on Heating/Cooling De-Molding Shrinkage Effect of Orientation Compressibility Transparent CRYSTALLINE Sharp Increase with Crystalline Low High Greater Greater Greater Greater Often Greater No AMORPHOUS Softens over a range Lower than crystalline one High Low Lower Lower Lower Lower Sometimes Lower Poor Yes
Back

Chemical Resistance Excellent

CORETECH SYSTEM

This table summarizes how microstructure of a thermoplastics affect its properties, performance, and applications. Crystalline or Semicrystalline polymers have ordered,dense packing structure. They exhibits a step change in specific volume as crystalline melting temperature is reached because their crystal lattice structure is destroyed by thermal vibration of molecular chains. This sharp change in specific volume leads to a higher compressibility and de-molding shrinkage of part that is made of semicrystalline polymers. In general, crystalline polymers have an excellent chemical resistance and mechanical properties because of their tightly packing structure. The semicrystalline polymers are never crystal clear in the unpigmented state, but rather are always somewhat translucent or milky owing to the scattering of light at the crystalline regions boundaries. In contrast, amorphous polymers are unstructured and they exhibit a smaller compressibility and shrinkage, poorer mechanical properties and resistance to chemicals. They are always crystal clear in the unpigmented state because light can pass through their less ordered structure.

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Intermolecular Forces vs. Intramolecular Forces

polymer molecules

intermolecular force:
physical interaction force between adjacent molecular chains weak than bonding force , e.g.,10Kcal/mol

intramolecular force:
interaction force within a molecule covalent bonding force between atoms very strong, e.g.,80Kcal/mol

back

molecular chain

molecular chain

CORETECH SYSTEM

Intramolecular forces exist within a molecule. Covalent bonding forces between constituent atoms of the polymer chain are intramolecular forces. For a common C-C covalent bond, the bonding force is about 80 Kcal/mol. When these kind of bondings are broken by external forces or thermal fluctuation,the molecule is destroyed and the material is said to be mechanical/thermal degradation. Intermolecular forces are those physical interactions (so-called van der Waals forces ) between adjacent molecular chains. They hold constituent chains of a plastic material together.Alghough these forces are weaker than intra-molecular forces, they are important in regard to molecular properties. When a external load is applied, the intermolecular forces are the first to be broken. Polymers with stronger intermolecular forces such as polyamides and polyurethanes will exhibit a stronger mechanical property. Melting or softening of plastics will be found upon heating as the intermolecular forces are progressively overcomed. Because the molecular chain length of a polymer is long, the resulting intermolecular forces cannot be broken before the atomic bondings are destroyed. This explain why the gas state of polymer is not exist under high temperature condition. Polymer will be degraded and burned out before it becomes vapor.

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Elastomers
q q

Microstructure:
Slightly cross-linking structure

Properties:
Not re-meltable on heating Swellable but not soluble Elastic and soft at room temperature
transverse bonds (bridges)

chemical cross-linking (vulcanization)

crosslinking agent (bridging agent, vulcanizer)

slightly cross-linking structure

Back

CORETECH SYSTEM

The network of crosslinks is introduced into a elastomer by a process called crosslinking. In rubber industry, this process is referred to be as vulcanization because sulfur is used as a crosslinking agent (vulcanizer or bridging agent). Crosslinks are formed as transverse bonds (bridges) that chemically link adjacent macromolecular chains together.The degree of cross-linking is low in elastomers.This allows elastomers exhibit a rubber-like elasticity, hence they are elastic and soft at room temperature. However, these chemical cross-links severely constrain the mobility of individual macromolecule chains with respect to one another. These chemical bonding can only be broken by very high temperature. Hence elastomers are neither meltable nor soluble. They can swell to some extent in suitable solvents (such as oil or gasoline ) because small solvent molecules can penetrate the space between the macromolecular chains.

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Thermosets
q q

Microstructure:
Highly cross-linked structure

Properties:
Not re-meltable on heating Not swellable or soluble Hard and brittle at room temperature

transverse bonds (bridges)

strongly cross-linked structure

Back

CORETECH SYSTEM

Plastics based on highly cross-linked molecular chains are called thermosets. The extensive cross-links to neighboring macro-molecules severely limit the ability of the individual molecular chain to move in relation to one another and impervious to plastic deformation. Hence thermosets are very hard and brittle (i.e.,sensitive to impacts ) at room temperature. They exhibit considerably less softening when heated, in comparison to thermoplastics. Like the elastomers, they are neither meltable nor soluble. They cannot be swelled by solvent due to their dense cross-linking. In general, thermosets exhibit excellent mechanical property and resistance to chemicals, thus they have application in electrical outlets and microelectronics packaging.

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Applications of Crystalline Polymers

Plastics Polyethylene (PE) Applications protective films, packaging films ,bottles, tubes and pipes, transport containers, electrical accessories, coverings, fittings, construction of chemical apparatus household good, paper coating Polypropylene instrument housings, washing machine parts, electrical insulation, tubes and pipes, fittings, (PP) construction of chemical apparatus ,suitcases, engineering application Polytetrafluoro coating of cooking pans, lubricant-free bearings, tube ethylene (PTFE) bearing, gears, bolts, skate wheels, rollers, Polyamide housings for electrical devices, pipes, fishing (PA) line, textiles, ropes, IC connectors

CORETECH SYSTEM

Applications of typical crystalline/semi-crystalline polymers are listed in this table.

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Applications of Amorphous Polymers

Plastics Polyestyrene (PS) Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) Polycarbonate (PC) Applications transparent articles such as glasses,housings, thermoformed housing, thermal insulation skylights, airplane windows, lenses, bulletproof windows, stop lights, glazing, taillights, sanitation components, drawing instruments Helmets, hockey masks, bulletproof windows, blinker lights, head lights, housing for office machinery and household appliances, observation glasses, CDs, camera housings Tubes, window frames, siding, rain gutters, packaging, shoes, hoses, toys, coatings

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

CORETECH SYSTEM

Applications of typical amorphous polymers are listed in this table.

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Applications of Elastomers
Plastics Applications

Natural Rubber automotive tires, engine mounts (NR) Silicon Rubber seals, flexible hoses for medical applications Polyurethane Elastomer (PUR) Polybutadiene Roller skate wheels, automotive seats, shoe soles, sport arena floors, bearings, clutch plates, insulating and upholstering foams for furniture, buildings, closing Automotive tires, golf ball skin

CORETECH SYSTEM

Applications of typical elastomers are listed in this table.

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Applications of Thermosets
Plastics Epoxy (EP) Melamine Phenolformaldehyde (PF) Unsaturated Polyester (UP) Applications adhesives, container coatings, tools, microelectronics packing, automotive leaf springs(with GF), bicycle frames (with CF) decorative heat-resistant surfaces for kitchens and furniture, dishes handles for shift levers, switch parts, automobile ashtrays, heaters, flatirons, pots and pans, lamb sockets, electric outlets Toaster sides, iron handles, satellite dishes, device housing (with GF), automotive body panels (with GF), construction of boats and vehicles

CORETECH SYSTEM

Applications of typical thermosets are listed in this table.

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