INTRODUCTION TO POLYMERS
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Objectives
• Introduction about polymers.
• Different types of polymers
• Ideas about polymer chains
• Amorphous & Crystallinity properties
• Polymerization technique .
• Some typical examples related to Railways.
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POLYMERS:
Polymer (Greek, poly-many, mers-unit or part)
Polymer have influenced our life style in such away
that it would not be wrong to say that we are in
polymer age. For example, house-hold utensils, clothes,
furniture, automobile,space aircraft etc.
These are so frequently use by people that a common
man calls them by names like plastics, fibres, rubbers
resins etc.
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Polymers
Polymers are large bunch of monomer units, normally
in the range of few thousand to 1,00000 units.
The properties of polymers are very different with
that of monomers.
Polymers are of many types, but our area of interest is
in the rubber type or plastic type polymers.
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Rubbers are more important for engineering
applications due to their load bearing capacity, vibration
reduction, impact reduction, energy absorption,
electrical sheath insulation and sealing properties.
Sometimes polymers are called "macromolecules".
"Macro" means "large" and that polymers must be very
large molecules!
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INTRODUCTION.
Polythene is a Polymer formed by the linking together of large no
of of ethane (C2H4) molecules.
Polymers are macro molecules built up by the linkage of small
molecules (monomers) by chemical bond into a long chain.
POLYMER MEANS A SUBSTANCE WITH MANY PARTS.
“POLYMER IS A UNION OF MONOMERS.”
“ POLYMERS ARE COMPOUNDS FORMED BY A MORE OR
LESS REGULAR REPETATION OF LARGE NUMBER OF THE
SAME AND DIFFERET ATOMIC GROUPINGS THAT ARE
JOINED BY A CHEMICAL BONDS INTO A LONG CHAIN. ”
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INTRODUCTION.
MATERIALS USED AS PLASTICS, RUBBERS,
FIBRES, ADHESIVES AND SURFACE
COATING MATERIALS ARE ALL POLYMERS.
COMMONLY USED POYMERS ARE-
PE,PP,PVC,PS,NYLONS,SBR,BR,BAKELITE etc.
TODAY IT IS VERY DIFFECULT TO CONSIDER
A WORLD WITHOUT POLYMERS.
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INTRODUCTION.
POLYETHYLENE :- UNION OF ETHYLENE MOLECULES
PVC :- UNION OF VINYL CHLORIDE.
TEFLON :- UNION OF TFE. ETC.
PMMA( Polymethylmethacrylate) :- TRANSPARECY,PLEXIGLASS.
PAN( Polyacrylonitrile):- Acrylon fibres,orlon.etc.
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PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS.
LIGHT IN WEIGHT.
HIGHER STRENGTH TO WEIGHT RATIO.
WIDER & DESIGN FREEDOM.
EASY PROCESSABILITY.
LOW ENERGY REQUIRED FOR MANUFACTURE.
MINIMUM POSTS FINISHING.
CORROSION RESISTANT.
LOW CREEP.
BETTER AESTHETIC LOOK. 9
PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS
WIDE COLOUR RANGE.
EASY REPLACEABLE.
RESISTANT TO CHEMICALS.
RESISTANT TO WATER.
LOW MAIRENANCE COST.
ADHESIVE OF PLASTIC RESIN ARE VERY
STRONG, DURABLE & PRODUCE VERY THI
FILM.
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CLASSIFICATION.
1. ORIGIN.
NATURAL.( RUBBER, SILK,STARCH,PROTEINS etc.)
SEMISYTHETIC (CHEMICALLY MODIFIED
N.POLYMERS)
SYNTHETIC. ( MAN MADE POLYMERS )
2. MODE OF FORMATION.
ADDITION.(PE,PP,PS etc)
CONDENSATION.(NYLON,POLYESTER etc) 11
CLASSIFICATION.
3. BASED ON STRUCTURE/SHAPE.
LINEAR. (HDPE PVC,PS etc.)
BRANCHED.(LDPE)
CROSSLINKED.(BAKELITE)
4. THERMAL RESPONSE.
THERMOPLASTICS
THERMOSETTING.
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CLASSIFICATION.
5. MECHNICAL PROPERTIES & BEHAVIOUR.
RUBBER.
PLASTICS.
FIBRES
6. TYPES OF MESOMERS INVOLVED I THE POLYMERS.
HOMOPOLYMERS.
HETRO POLYMERS
A RANDOM COPOLYMER
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A-A-B-B-A-B-A-B-
CLASSIFICATION.
* AN ALTERNATIVE COPOLYMERS.
-A-B-A-B-A-B-
*A BLOCK COPOLYMER HAS DIFFERENT MESOMERS IN
BLOCK OF INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL.
-A-A-A-B-B-B-B-A-A-A-A-B-B-B-
* A GRAFT COPOLYMER
—A — A — A — A — A — A — A — A
B
|
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B
Polymer Chains
Schematic illustration of polymer
chains.
(a) Linear structure--thermoplastics such
as acrylics, nylons, polyethylene, and
polyvinyl chloride have linear structures.
(b) Branched structure, such as in
polyethylene.
(c) Cross-linked structure--many rubbers
or elastomers have this structure, and
the vulcanization of rubber produces this
structure.
(d) Network structure, which is basically
highly cross-linked--examples are
thermosetting plastics, such as epoxies
and phenolics.
29/06/2015
Thermoforming plastics
Amorphous Resins
Clear & Transparent
Examples - Acrylic, Polycarbonate
and Polystyrene
Crystalline Resins
Opaque and usually quite tough
Examples - Nylon, Polypropylene
and Acetal
Crystallinity
Amorphous and crystalline
regions in a polymer.
The crystalline region
(crystallite) has an orderly
arrangement of molecules. The
higher the crystallinity, the
harder, stiffer, and less ductile
the polymer.
29/06/2015
Commodity Plastics
Plastics that are used for consumable
items
Low Mechanical or Physical properties
Examples: Polyethylene, Polystyrene and
Polypropylene and others
Products: Plastic forks and knives, Plastic
cups and plates, Polyethylene containers
and trash bags etc.
Classification of polymers
polymers
Thermoset Thermoplastics Elastomers
Amorphous Crystalline
Engineering Plastics
Plastics having very well defined
mechanical properties
Usually very tough and high strength
Examples : Acetal, Polycarbonate,
Nylon and Polyesters and others.
CLASSIFICATION
Commodity Plastics Low
Performance
PE,PP,PS,PVC
Intermediate Plastics
Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
Acrylonitrile Butadine Styrene (ABS)
Engineering Plastics
PC, Nylons, Polyphenylene Sulphide (PPS)
Advanced / High Performance Plastics
Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP),
Polyetheretherketone(PEEK), High
Performance
Polyethersulphone (PES)
POLYMERISATION:-
The process by which small molecules ( monomer) join together in
large molecules is called POLYMERISATION.
TWO TYPES OF POLYMERISATION:
* Addition Polymerization.
* Condensation polymerization.
Addition Polymerization:
There is simple addition of monomer molecules to each other without loss of any
atoms from the original monomer molecules.
Condensation polymerization:
In this process bond is is established between the molecules, & some of the atoms
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in the monomer are lost as a by product compound.
ADDITION & CONDENSATION POLYMERISATION.
• Involves unsaturated
monomers • Involves substances with at
least two functional groups
( double bonds) like ethylene,
like ethylene glycol
Vinyl chloride, Styrene etc.
(2-OH groups), adipic acid (2-
COOH groups).
• Fast reaction, (Formation
of polymer takes 10-2 to 10-4
second) • Step-wise slow addition.(
The reaction usually takes
hours and days.)
• At any instant, only
* No monomer. Mixtures of
monomer and polymers are
dimmers, trimers,
present
tetrameres etc.
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ADDITION & CONDENSATION POLYMERISATION.
• No by product. • Always yields a by-
product along with a
polymer.
• Homo-chain polymer,
generally a Thermoplastic
• Hetero-chain polymer
is obtained. either Thermoplastic or
Thermoset can be
• The growth of the chain is obtained.
at one active center.
• The growth of the chain
occurs at minimum of two
active centers.
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TYPES OF POLYMERS:
* Homopolymer.
* Copolymer.
Homopolymer- A polymer consists of identical monomer is called
Homopolymer.
Copolymer- A Polymer consists of monomer of different chemical structure is
called copolymer.
------M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M------------
Homopolymer
--------M1-M2- M1-M2-M2-M1-M2-M1-M2------
Copolymer
ARRANGEMENT OF MONOMERIC UNITS:
1. Linear. 2.Branched. 3. Cross –Linked ( Three dimensional structure)
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THERMOPLASTICS.
Thermoplastics consists of linear or branched
macromolecules.
Held together by intermolecular forces.
NOT Deform permanently.Do not recover.
Thermally recoverable.
Can dissolve in solvents and can be recovered after
solvent evaporates.
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THERMOSET:-
On heating undergo chemical change.
Heating causes similar effect as vulcanizing.
Change due to heating causes formation of
more tightly cross linked molecules than
rubber. Hence rigid and hard.
Can not be reprocessed.
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THERMOPLASTICS
Commodity Plastics
•Poly Ethylene (LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE)
•Poly Propylene (PP)
•Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)
•Poly Styrene (GPPS, HIPS)
•Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN)
•Poly Methyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
THERMOPLASTICS
Engineering Plastics
•Poly Amide (Nylon 6, 66)
•Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
•Poly Acetal
•Poly Carbonate (PC)
•Thermoplastic Polyesters (PET,PBT)
•Poly Phenylene Oxide (PPO)
•Thermo Plastics Poly Urethane (TPU)
THERMOSETS
•Phenol Formaldehyde (PF)
•Urea Formaldehyde (UF)
•Melamine Formaldehyde (MF)
•Epoxy
•Unsaturated Polyester
Use of Polymer in Day to Day Life
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Use of Rubber In Day to Day Life
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Use of Polymer in Medical Field
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Use of Rubber in Railways
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Some of the polymeric items used in Coaches.
1. Cushioning Material (Recron)
2. Rexine
3. Upper & lower Rubber Washer (Hytrel)
4. Brake Gear Bushes
5. PVC flooring
6. LP Sheet
7. Silent Block for Anchor Link
8. Some Rubber components
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RUBBER COMPONENTS
RUBBER ITEMS
RUBBER PROFILE FOR FIXING SEALED WINDOW GLASS
UNITS
IN AC COACHES
SPECIFICATION: ICF/M/D/SPEC/104
PROPERTIES TESTED: Polymer identification, Shore Hardness (before & after
ageing),
Tensile strength & % elongation (before & after ageing), Specific
gravity, resistance to bending
ELASTOMER FLANGE CONNECTIONS FOR INTER
COMMUNCATION BETWEEN PASSENGER COACHES (
UIC VESTIBULE )
SPECIFICATION: RDSO C 8812
PROPERTIES TESTED: Shore hardness, tensile strength &% elongation (before
and after ageing), tear strength, polymer identification, Flammability
MISCELLANEOUS RUBBER ITEMS
Fixing rubber, sealing rubber, rubber packing for carriage
fan, packing rubber,
Rubber pad, rubber gasket, sealing rubber for roof mounted
AC, Rubber buffer,
Rubber stopper etc., PROPERTIES TESTED: Shore
hardness, polymer identification
Fixing Rubber (ICF/VNR 5-
4-202)
(EPDM)
THANKS.
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