Polymeric Materials:

Date: 4/3/2013
Object: polymers lecture
Babylon University
polymer engineering
Time: (10-11) morning
Lecturer: Abeer Adnan Abd
 Learning Objectives
This lecture aim to define polymers materials ,
their structure, their properties and applications
 Polymeric Materials:

• Introduction
• Classes of polymers
• Linear and branched polymers
• Cross linked molecules
• Polymer properties
• Polymer applications
• Polymerization
• Stress strain behavior
 Introduction
Polymers come from Greek; poly means many and mer comes
from merous which means parts ,polymers are large molecules
built up from many units (monomers). The repeat unit for 6,6
Nylon is:

Generally repeated thousand of times. DNA ,starch , cellulose

and protein are natural polymers. Nylon and polyethylene are
synthetic polymers.
products: sailing boat, chair, gaskets ,cable insulation and seals
Polymers are generally classified according to their structure,
properties, and use as thermoplastic, thermosetting, and
elastomers.
Thermoplastics consist of flexible linear molecular chains that
are tangled together like a plate of spaghetti or bucket of worms.
As the name indicates, they soften when heated.
Thermosets remain rigid when heated and usually consist of a
highly cross-linked, three-dimensional network.
Elastomers consist of linear polymer chains that are lightly cross-
linked. Stretching an elastomer causes the chains to partially
untangle but not deform permanently (like the
thermoplastics).
Linear chain does not imply “straight” molecules. They
can curl, twist or fold .Linear molecules have higher
densities e.g. high density PE. In addition linear molecules
have higher tensile strengths, higher stiffness, and higher
temperature.
Branched molecules have more voids, lesser density, are
more flexible & more permeable to gases and solvents than
linear molecules
Polymers are formed by creating chemical links between
relatively small molecules (monomers)to form very large
molecules (polymers). The bonding between two chains is
called cross linking occurs when monomers have more than
one double bond.
The individual molecular chains for the linear
and branched molecules are not bonded to each
other.
Depending on the monomeric molecules that
form the polymer, it is possible for the
macromolecular chains to be strongly bound
together
 Polymers properties
• Light weight :most plastics have a specific gravity(1.1-1.6)
while MG has SG=1.75
• Electrical resistance: its used as insulator
• Variety of optical properties
• Formability:( plastic are easy to form)
• Low cost because low equipment's ,processing and tooling
cost
• Low energy content because its low melting temperature
• Computer mouse
• Water container
• Furniture
• In packaging
• Tubes
• Bottles
• Toys
 At reac
Polymerization is the word of forming large molecules from small molecules.
Its divided into two kinds :
1) Addition polymerization take place by adding molecules; a catalysts
(activator) was use to drive the reaction. when there are two different
types of meres are reacted, we call them copolymers.
2) 𝑟 . + CH2 − CH2 → 𝑟 − 𝐶𝐻2 − 𝐶𝐻2 . Initiation
3) r-CH2-CH2. +CH2-CH2→ 𝑟 − 𝐶𝐻2 − 𝐶𝐻2 − 𝐶𝐻2 − 𝐶𝐻2. growth
4) 𝑟 . -CH2-CH2-----CH2-CH2. +𝑟 . → 𝑟 − 𝐶𝐻2 − 𝐶𝐻2 −− −𝐶𝐻2 − 𝐶𝐻2-r
final
5) Condensation polymerization which means reactive molecules combine
with one another to produce a polymer with another small molecules
like water or HCL or NH3, often heat, pressure or hardener are required
to drive the reaction.
6) The number of meres in polymers known as the degree of
polymerization (dp) symboled as (n) in eq :
7) CH2=CHCL + CH2=CHCL→ [−𝐶𝐻2 − 𝐶𝐻𝐶𝐿−]n
 Plastics pla
Plastics are large group of polymers that has properties between elastomers
and fibers and has plastic behavior.
Plastics are polymers which under appropriate conditions of temperature and
pressure can be molded or shaped.
In contrast to elastomers plastics have a greater stiffness and lack reversible
elastic therefore all plastics are polymers but not all polymer are plastics.
Plastics are usually divided into two main kinds:
1.thermoplastics: thermoplastics hard at low temperatures but soften when
they are heated and hardening can be heated without any change in the
chemical structure, although they are less commonly used than thermoset
plastics they do have some advantages such as a greater fracture toughness,
long shelf life of the raw material , capacity for recycling and cleaner. They
have weak bond between the neighboring molecules and they are weekend
which means they soften at high temperature and stronger and harder when
cooled. They are not cross-linked.
 thermoset

• In thermoset plastic produce cross linkage in 3

D in which all atoms are connected by strong
covalent bonds , hardened by heat. The
setting process irreversible so that these
material s don’t become soft under high
temperatures , additional heating don’t lead
to softening but the material maintain their
mechanical properties until char or burn also
these plastic resist wear
 Types of thermoplastics
• ABS-acylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
• PA-polyamide (nylon)
• PC-polycarbonate
• PE-polyethylene
• LDPE-low density polyethylene
• HDPE-high density polyethylene
• PET-polyethylene terephthalate (PETE)
• Acrylic-PMMA(polymethyle methacrylate)
• POM-polyoxymethylene-acetal
• PP-polypropylene
• PS-polystyrene
• PTFE-polytetraflouro ethylene
• TPUR-thermoplastic urthane (TPU)
• PVC-polyvinyl chloride (vinyl)
• PEEK-polyether ether ketone
• 9
 Types of thermosetting

• Polyurethane (PU,PUR)
• Epoxy (EP)
• Urea formaldehyde
• Melamine formaldehyde
• Alkyd resins
• Silicones
• Polyester
 Questions

• What are polymers?

• Compere between thermosets and
thermoplastics?
• What are the kinds of polymerization?
• What are the effects of cross links on the
structure of polymers?
• What are the natural polymers?