Polymer

>a substance composed of large repeating numbers of reactive

organic units called monomers.

Polymer
The word polymer comes from the Greek words "polus" and
"meros" which means "many-parts".
>A chain of twO monomers form a dimer; three would be a
trimer; and a larger chain would be the polymer. That number
would correspond to the degree of polymerization, n.

Natural Polymers
-cellulose- most abundant natural polymer, cell wall in all plants
-Carrier of genetic information like DNA and RNA
>Polymers found in plant and animal matter.
e.g. proteins, starch, cellulose, natural rubber, and resins
-polysacharide

2. SYNTHETIC POLYMERS
Man made polymers attained through lab
or factory polymerization.
e.g. plastics, synthetic rubber, and nylon fibers.

2. SYNTHETIC POLYMERS
> PET or PETE - Polyethylene Tererphthalate SAFE
>HDPE- High Density Polyethylene (SAFE\
>Vor PVC-Vinyl or Polyviny| Chloride
LDPE - Low Density Polyethylene |SAFE\
>PP- Polypropylene |SAFE)
>PS- Polystyrene
>OTHER-Others, Miscellaneous

RIC- Resin Identification Code

3. SEMI-SYNTHETIC POLYMERS
>Polymers synthetically derived from cellulose.
e.g. cellulose nitrate, rayon

BASED ON BACKBONE
1. ORGANIC POLYMER
> Polymers whose chain generally comprises of carbon atoms.
>Most synthetic polymers are classified as organic polymers.
>e.g. Polyamides, Polyesters, Polysulphides

2. INORGANIC POLYMERS
-oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen are inserted
>Polymers whose chain is not essentially composed of
carbon atoms.
>e.g. Glass and silicone rubber (Polydimethylsiloxane)

BASED ON STRUCTURE
1. LINEAR POLYMER
>Basic polymers whose chains are completely straight.
>Building block for thermoplastic polymers
>e.g. Polyvinylchloride (PVC), High Density Polyethylene
(HDPE)
Linear polymer

2. BRANCHED POLYMER
>Polymers that contain linear branches off the main chain. n
>Includes long chains having occasional and usually short
branches comprising the same repeat units as the main
chain
>e.g. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

3. CROSS-LINKED POLYMER
Polymers composed of monomers of two or three
functional groups.
e.g. epoxy, Vulcanized rubber, Phenol formaldehyde (PF)
-Crosslinked Polymer

BASED ON COMPOSITION

1 HOMOPOLYMER
Polymers with chains composed of the same single monomer.
Example: Teflon, Polyethylene, PVC

2. COPOLYMER
-Also known as HeteroPolymer

A. ALTERNATING COPOLYMER
Polymers whose chains are composed of two
alternating monomers.

B. BLOCK COPOLYMER
>Polymers with chains composed of two monomers in
alternating incorporated groups.
C. RANDOM COPOLYMER
Polymers with chains composed of two monomers that
follow no particular order.
D. GRAFT COPOLYMER
>Polymers with chains of a single monomer chain (A)
branched with a monomer chain ofa different species
(B).

BASED ON MOLECULAR FORCE

1. ELASTOMERS
>Solid polymers that possess the property of elastic
deformation upon stress.
Their structures are composed of random coils of chains,
held by very weak IMFA and form amorphous structures.
This property is what allows them to be stretched.
examples- Buna-N, Buna S, neoprene, rubber and spandex
>Applying stress to elastomers will reconfigure their coiled
structures to essentially straighten out.
>Cross-links between chains then allow elastomers to return
to their shape.

2. FIBERS
Solid polymers that innately form into long and thin or
thread-like material.
They have high tensile strengch brought by strong IMFA'S,
particularly hydrogen bonding, that allows the close
bundling of chains which form crystalline structures.
e.g. silk, Nylon-6,6, terylene, polyester and cotton

3. LIQUID RESINS
Viscous liquid polymers that are capable of permanent
hardening through phase change or wetting. They are
primarily used as adhesives and sealants.
>e.g. Epoxy, Polysulphide.

4. Plastics
Polymers that are malleable when heated and can be
molded into shape and hardened into rigid or semi-elastic
materials.
A plastic's IMFA are transition of elastomers and fibers,
forming partially crystalline structures. This is the reason
why plastics may be rigid or semi-elastic.
-Plastics that may be melted down to be remolded into
another form.
Thermoplastics are linear in structure with weak IMFA, where
chain bonds are easily broken through heating, and easily
reformed through cooling.
Example: plastic bags, food containers, garden hoses.

4. PLASTICS
A. THERMOPLASTICS
> HDPE- High Density PolyEthylene
LDPE -Low Density PolyEthylene
Polypropylene
PVC
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
8. THERMOSETS
Plastics that may not be remolded into another form once cooled
into shape.
Thermoset posses cross-linked structures, whose IMFA is strong
enough to prevent heat from easily breaking apart the chain bonds.

B. THERMOSETS
phenol-formaldehyde (Bakelite)
>Polyurethane - used for a wide variety of products
including exterior automotive parts, such as tires and
bumpers, as wel as for insulation and coating purposes
(paints)
-urea-formaldehyde, Melamine

BASED ON POLYMERIZATION

1. ADDITION POLYMERIZATION
Polymers formed by repeatedly adding monomers that
contain double or triple bonds.
e.g. PFTE, PE

Sigma bonds are stronger than pi bonds and double bonds, causing
them to break and allow themselves to connect to other molecules.
This process of forming monomers into their respective polymers is
called polymerization.

The chain reaction consists of three stages: Initiation, Propagation

and Termination.
In the initiation step, an initiator molecule is thermally
decomposed or allowed to undergo a chemical reaction to
generate an "active species",
This active species can be a free radical, cation or anion, which
initiates the polymerization by adding to the monomer's carbon-
carbon double bond.

>In the propagation step, the newly generated "active species"

adds to another monomer in the same manner as in the
initiation step.
In the termination step, the growing chain terminates
through reaction with another growing chain, by reaction
with another species in the polymerization mixture, or by the
spontaneous decomposition of the active site.

2. CONDENSATION POLYMERIZATION
Polymers formed through repeated condensation
reactions of two monomers of with two or three
functional groups.
Condensation differs from addition mainly that there is
a simultaneous splitting of another single simple
molecule, such as water, alcohol, hydrogen chloride,
etc. and lead to the formation of high molecular masS
condensation polymers.

Characteristics of Polymers

Properties of plastics can be changed by reinforcement with

various materials,, usually some fibers.
Common reinforcing fibers are cellulose fibers, fiberglass,
carbon fibers, aramid fibers, and metal filaments.

Engineering plastics are high-strength high performance materials

that can be substituted for many metal uses.
These materials show better resistance to wear, inpact, and
corrasive chemicals and have excellent electrical properties.
Common resins: acetal, fluoroplastics, nylon, polyphenylene
oxide, polycarbonate, polyphenylene sulfide, polysultone,
polyether-imide, polyethersulfone, and nylon-polyether block
amides.

RESIN TYPE
POLYESTERS

APPLICATIONS
Construction, auto-repair putty, larninates,
skis, fishing rods, boats and aircraft
components, coatings, decorative fixtures,
bottles

POYCARBONATES Replacerment for metals, safety helrnets,

lenses, electrical components,
photographic film, die casting, insulators

RESIN TYPE
POLYURETHANES
APPLICATIONS
Insulation, foam inner liners for clothing,
rocket fuel binders, elastomers, adhesives

RESIN TYPE
EPOXIES
APPLICATIONS
Laminates, adhesives, flooring, linings,
propellers, surface coatings, filament-
wound structures (rocket cases)
RESIN TYPE
POLYETHYLENE
APPLICATIONS
Packaging films and sheets, containers,
wire cable insulation, pipe, linings,
coatings, molds, toys, housewares

RESIN TYPE
POLYPROPYLENE
APPLICATIONS
Housewares, medical equipment (can be
sterilized), appliances, toys, electronic
components, tubing and pipe, fibers and
ilaments, coatings

RESIN TPE
POLYVINYL
CHLORIDE
APPLICATIONS
Pipe and tubing, pipe fittingS, adhesives,
raincoats and baby pants, building panels,
wastepaper baskets, weather stripping, shoes

RESIN TPE
ACRYLICS
APPLICATIONS
Decorative and structural panels, massve
glazing domes, automotive lens systens,
illuminated translucent floor tiles,
windows, and canopies, signs, coatings,
adhesives and elastomers

RESIN TYPE
POLYSTYRENE
APPLICATIONS
Insulation, pipe, foams, cooling towers,
thin-walled containers, appliances,
rubbers, automotive instruments and
panels