12/03/2017

ME 305
Engineering Materials
Science
Lecture 8: Polymers

Dr. Gihad Ibrahim

Assistant Professor
g.Ibrahim@mashreq.edu.sd

What is a polymer?

Poly mer
many repeat unit

1
 12/03/2017

Examples of polymers

• Wood – Rubber
• Cotton – Wool
• Leather – Silk

Polymers are a large class of materials

consisting of many small molecules (called
monomers) that can be linked together to
form long chains, thus they are known as
macromolecules

Polymer chain

• A typical polymer may include tens

of thousands of monomers.
Because of their large size,
polymers are classified as
macromolecules.

• Polymers occur naturally in the

form of proteins, cellulose(plants),
starch(food) and natural rubber.
• Engineering polymers, however, are
usually synthetic polymers.

2
 12/03/2017

Definitions

Polymer
Large molecule consisting of a number of
repeating units with molecular weight
typically several thousand or higher
Repeating unit
The fundamental recurring unit of a
polymer
Monomer
The smaller molecule(s) that are used to
prepare a polymer
Degree of polymerization
The number of the repeating units

Application of polymers

The field of synthetic polymers or plastics is

currently one of the fastest growing
materials industries. The interest in
engineering polymers is driven by their
manufacturability, recyclability, mechanical
properties, and lower cost as compared to
many alloys and ceramics.

Also the macromolecular structure of

synthetic polymers provides good
biocompatibility and allows them to
perform many biomimetic tasks that cannot
be performed by other synthetic materials,
which include drug delivery, use as grafts for
arteries and veins and use in artificial
tendons, ligaments and joints.

3
 12/03/2017

Polymer Composition

Most polymers are hydrocarbons

– i.e. made up of H and C

Saturated hydrocarbons
• Each carbon bonded to four other atoms

H H
H
C C CnH2n+2
H H
H

4
 12/03/2017

Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

• Double & triple bonds relatively reactive – can form new bonds
• Double bond – ethylene or ethene - CnH2n

H H
C C
H H

• 4-bonds, but only 3 atoms bound to C’s

• Triple bond – acetylene or ethyne - CnH2n-2

H C C H

Isomerism

• two compounds with same chemical formula can have quite different structures
Ex: C8H18
• n-octane

H H H H H H H H
H C C C C C C C C H = H3C CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH3
H H H H H H H H

• 2-methyl-4-ethyl pentane (isooctane)

H3C ( CH2 ) CH3
6

CH3
H3C CH CH2 CH CH3
CH2
CH3

5
 12/03/2017

Nomenclature of polymer

1- Nomenclature Based on monomer source

The addition polymer is often named according to the monomer that was
used to form it
Example : poly( vinyl chloride ) PVC is made from vinyl chloride
-CH2-CH(Cl)-

Poly-X

If “ X “ consists of two or more words parentheses should be

used
ex , poly (vinyl acetate ) -CH2-CH(OCOCH3)-

Classification of polymers

• Main classifications of the polymers:

• by origin
• by Monomer composition
• by chain structure
• by thermal behaviour
• by application

6
 12/03/2017

A. Classification by Origin

• Synthetic organic polymers

• Biopolymers (proteins,
polypeptides, polynucleotide,
polysaccharides, natural rubber)
• Semi-synthetic polymers
(chemically modified synthetic
polymers)
• Inorganic polymers

B. Classification by Monomer
Composition
• Homopolymers
Homopolymers
Consist of only one type of constitutional repeating unit (A)

• Copolymers
• Block AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
• Graft
• Alternating
• Statistical

7
 12/03/2017

Copolymers

two or more monomers polymerized together

• Statistical– A and B randomly vary in chain
• alternating – A and B alternate in polymer
chain
• block – large blocks of A alternate with large
blocks of B
• graft – chains of B grafted on to A backbone

A– B–

Molecular Structures

secondary
bonding

Linear Branched Cross-Linked Network

Direction of increasing strength

8
 12/03/2017

d. Classification by Thermal Behavior

• Polymers may be classified as

follows, according to the
mechanical response at elevated
temperatures:
• Thermoplasts
• Thermosets

Thermoplasts

• Thermoset polymers soften when heated and harden when

cooled. Simultaneous application of heat and pressure is
required to fabricate these materials.
• On the molecular level, when the temperature is raised,
secondary bonding forces are diminished so that the relative
movement of adjacent chains is facilitated when a stress is
applied.
• Most Linear polymers and those having branched structures
with flexible chains are thermoplastics.
• Thermoplastics are very soft and ductile.
• The commercial available thermoplasts are
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Polystyrene
• Polymethyl methacrylate
• Polystyrene

9
 12/03/2017

Thermosets

• Thermosetting polymers become soft during their first heating

and become permanently hard when cooled. They do not soften
during subsequent heating. Hence, they cannot be
remolded/reshaped by subsequent heating.
• In thermosets, during the initial heating, covalent cross-links are
formed between adjacent molecular chain. These bonds anchor
the chains together to resist the vibration and rotational chain
motions at high temperatures. Thermoset polymers are harder,
stronger, more brittle than thermoplastics They are more usable
in processes requiring high temperatures
• Most of the cross linked and network polymers which include
Vulcanized rubbers Epoxies Phenolic Polyester resins are
thermosetting polymers.
• Thermosets cannot be recycled, do not melt, are usable at
higher temperatures than thermoplastics, and are more
chemically inert

10
 12/03/2017

e. Classification by Application

• Plastics
• Fibers
• Elastomers
• Coatings
• Adhesives

Processing of polymers

Injection moulding is a
manufacturing process for producing
parts by injecting material into a
mould. Injection moulding can be
performed with a host of materials
mainly including metals, (for which
the process is called die-casting),
glasses, elastomers, confections, and
most commonly thermoplastic and
thermosetting polymers.

11
 12/03/2017

Injection moulding cycle

Plasticises the material by

reciprocating Screw.
Injects the molten material to a
closed mould
via a channel system of gates and
runners.
Cools the Mould.
Refills the material for the next cycle.
Ejects the Product.
Closes the Mould for further cycle.

Advantages of Injection Moulding

Process
• high production rates.
• Relatively low labour cost per unit is
obtainable.
• Process is highly susceptible to
automation.
• Parts require little or no finishing.
• Many different surfaces, colours, and
finishes are available.
• Good decoration is possible.
• economical way to fabricate.
• Process permits the manufacture of very
small parts

12
 12/03/2017

Disadvantages of injection moulding

• Intense industry competition

• Mould costs are high.
• Moulding machinery and auxiliary
equipment costs are high.
• Lack of knowledge about the
fundamentals of the process causes
problems.

13