POLYMERS

Hctor Eduardo Acero

Jessica Andrea Agresott
Fernanda Cortes
Mara Alejandra Hernndez
Anamaria Pachn
Natalia Sanabria

WHAT ARE POLYMERS?

Polymers are natural or man-made molecules, frecuently called
macromolecules. They are composed of smaller units,
monomers, which have reached together to give a long chain,
rather like a string of beads. The monomers that constitute a
polymer may be the same in which case they are called
homopolimers or they may contain more than one monomer in
which case are copolymers. Additional monomers in a polymer
may be randomly copolymerised to give random copolymers or
may be polymerised in alternating block of identical monomers
forming block copolymers.

MONOMER

POLYMER

COPOLYMER

Styrene

1,3-Butadiene

Styrene-Butadiene Rubber

POLYMERIZATION

Polymerization, any process in

which relatively small molecules,
called monomers, combine
chemically to produce a very large
chainlike or network molecule,
called a polymer.

Addition Polymerization

Condensation Polymerization

FORMATION BENZOYL PEROXIDE BY

ADDITION POLYMERIZATION
Initiacion

Growth

Termination

FORMATION OF PHENOL-FORMALDEHYDE
BY CONDENSATION POLYMERIZATION

Catalyst

Phenol

Formaldehyde

Phenol

Phenol-Formaldehyde

Water

STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF
POLYMERS

DEGREE OF POLYMERIZATION
Determinated physical
properties as:

Viscosity

Light Scattering

For network structures, there

is,by definition, no meaningful
one-dimensional measure of the
length. For linear structures,
there are two such parameters:

1.
1. Root-menan-square
Root-menan-square

length
length

2.
2. Which
Which the
the
molecules
molecules extended
extended
is
is straight
straight as
as
possible
(without
possible (without
bond-angle
bond-angle distortion
distortion

The melting point

and stiffness of a
polymer increases
with the complexity
of the molecule is
increased.

ISOTACTIC

SYNDIOTACTIC

ATACTIC

TERMOPLASTIC POLYMERS
Thermoplastic
Thermoplastic polymers
polymers becomes
becomes soft
soft
upon
upon heating,
heating, which
which is
is characteristic
characteristic of
of
molecules.
molecules.

and
and deformable
deformable
linear
linear polymeric
polymeric

The
The high
high temperature
temperature plasticity
plasticity is
is due
due to
to the
the ability
ability of
of the
the
molecules
to
slide
past
one
another.
molecules to slide past one another.
Are
Are similar
similar to
to metals
metals that
that gain
gain ductility
ductility at
at high
high
temperatures,
and
this
is
reduced
upon
cooling.
temperatures, and this is reduced upon cooling.
The
The high
high temperatures
temperatures is
is the
the key
key distinction
distinction between
between
thermoplastic
and
metals.
thermoplastic and metals.
The
The thermoplastics
thermoplastics are
are deformed
deformed at
at aa temperature
temperature around
around
100

C,
for
metals
in
typical
alloys
it
happens
closer
100 C, for metals in typical alloys it happens closer to
to
1000C.
1000C.

ENGINEERING POLYMERS
Thermoplastics with sufficient strength and
stiffness can be serious candidates for structural
applications once dominated by metals.

The importance of these materials to design

engineers goes beyond their relatively small
percentage of the total polymer market.

The engineering polymers, which retain goo

strength and stiffness up to 150-175C

Nylon is also a pioneering example of an engineering

polymer and it continues to be the most important

The family of engineering polymers arte part of a

steadily expanding list

Characteristically nylons are very resistant to wear and

abrasion, have good mechanical properties even at
elevated temperatures, have low permeability to gases
and have good chemical resistance

Examples

Polyethylene
Polyethylene is
is other
other common
common thermoplastic.
thermoplastic.

Polyethylene
Polyethylene is
is subdivided
subdivided into:
into: low-density
low-density polyethylene
polyethylene (LDPE),
(LDPE), high-density
high-density
polyethylene
(HDPE)
and
ultra-high
molecular-weight
polyethylene
polyethylene (HDPE) and ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
(UHMWPE)

LDPE
LDPE has
has much
much more
more chain
chain than
than HDPE.
HDPE.

Linear
Linear low-density
low-density polyethylene
polyethylene is
is aa copolymer
copolymer with
with -oleofins
-oleofins that
that has
has less
less chain
chain
branching
and
better
porpierties
than
LDPE.
branching and better porpierties than LDPE.

HDPE
HDPE and
and UHMWPE
UHMWPE are
are two
two good
good examples
examples of
of engineering
engineering polymers.
polymers.

As copolymer, the acrylonitrile-butadienenestyerene (ABS) is an important example

ABS is a graft copolymer.

Elastomers other category of thermoplastics.

Elastomers are polymer with mechanical behavior analogous of
natural rubber.

Elastomers are essentially composites of rigid

elastomeric domains in a relatively soft matrix of a
crystalline thermoplastic polymer.
An advantage of thermoplastic elastomers is the convenience of
processing by traditional thermoplastic techniques, including being
recyclable.

TERMOSETTING POLYMERS
They become hard and rigid upon heating.
Which is characteristic of network molecular
structures formed by step- growth mechanism.

CROSSLINKING

Characteristic

The chemical reaction steps are

enhanced by higher temperatures
and are irreversible
The polymerization remains upon
cooling

The thermosetting must be cooled

in the mold to prevent distortion

They arent recyclable.

APPLICATIONS

ADDITIVES
Additives are selected depending on the type of polymers to which they
will be added or the application for which they will be used. Appropriate
selection of additives helps develop value-added plastics with improved
durability as well as other advantages. Built around products we have
developed ourselves, we offer a range of additives that can be used for a
wide variety of applications.

TYPES ADDITIVES, RESOURCES AND EFFECTS

FOAMIN
G
AGENT
S

FILLING
S

PLASTICI
ZERS

DYES
AND
PIGMEN
TS

FILLERS
AND
REINFORC
EMENTS

STABILI
ZERS

REINFORC
EMENT

ANTIST
ATIC
AGENT
S

COMMON FILLERS OR
REINFORCEMENTS AND USES
BARIUM SULFATE

Is used as a filler and as a white pigment,

increases the relative density, friction
resistance and chemical resistance.

TALC

Adds stiffness, tensile strength and creep

resistance.

SILICA

Thick liquid systems, helping to prevent

delamination with PVC and acts as agent
flatter.

CALCIUM CARBONATE

Is the pigment or filler dilator and most

widespread use for plastics.

CARBON AND GRAPHITE FIBER

Are used as reinforcements increase the

mechanical strength, rigidity and
conductivity.

PROCESSING OF POLYMERS
In the processing techiques for polymers. For
termoplastics polymers, Injection molding and
extrusion molding are the predominant processes.
Blow molding is a third mayor processing
technique for termoplastics; compression molding
and transfer molding are the predominant
processes for thermosetting polymers

TERMOPLASTICS POLYMERS

TERMOSETTING POLYMERS

Bibliography

Polymers, CAP 13

Transfer and compression moldig, www.substech.com

Additives for polymers. http://www.upv.es/materiales/Fcm/Fcm15/fcm15_8.html

Polymerization. http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/468745/polymerization

Principles of Polymerization 4th edition. George Odian. http://

books.google.com.co/books?id=6cjgZbFHI4kC&printsec=frontcover&dq=polymerizat
ion&hl=es&sa=X&ei=kTx5UuvBN4fIrQGnxIDYBg&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=polymer
ization&f=false
Polimers and The Environment. Gerald Scott.
http://books.google.com.co/books?id=uvCumIrOnfMC&pg=PA1&dq=what+are+poly
mers&hl=es&sa=X&ei=AA15UoHlGsm0qgHF5YHoAQ&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=wh
at%20are%20polymers&f=false