Chemical and Physical

Properties
MFG 355
Ultraviolet (UV) Light Degradation
 Oxidation
• Plastic paint
 Chemical resistivity and solubility
None Swelling/softening Dissolving Reacting

PE and H2O Nylon and H2O PVOH and water Cellulosics

PVC and ketone and acids

Increasing Chemical Reactivity to Plastic

Chemical Resistivity and Solubility
• PS exposed to gasoline
 Chemical Nature and Solvent-
solute Interactions
• Polar effects
– Like with like
• Steric effects
– Crystallinity
• Physical property
effects on solvent-
solute interactions
– Solvent size
– Swelling
Like to like – polar polymer
 Thermodynamics of Solvent
Interactions
• Equation
ΔG = ΔH – TΔS
• Negative ΔG is favorable
• Negative ΔH means bonds are forming
• Positive ΔS is standard (increasing)
– When does each term dominate to give a negative
ΔG?
 Plasticizers
• Increase swelling
– Randomness
• Plasticizers can migrate out
Solvent Welding
 Water Repellent
• Surface tension must be LOW
– Silicones = 24 dyne/cm
– PTFE = 19 dyne/cm
– PVC = 37 dyne/cm
• Water wicking
 Corrosion-Resistant
• Availability of electrons
• Polymers are better than metals
• Fluoropolymers—tightly attached
– Electron shielded
• Chlorine attachment (blocks electron
availability)
 Coatings
• Decorative and protective
– Adhesion
– Weatherability
– Water solubility
Environmental Resistance and
Weathering
Environmental Stress Cracking
• Hawaii Story
– Crosslinked, LLDPE
• Banana Plantation
– Drawdown
 Crazing
• Cracks at stress areas
 Permeability
• Diffusion Coefficient
 D = Doe-A/RT
• Fick’s Laws of diffusion
 J = -D dc/dx
• Barrier Properties
 dc/dt = D d2c/dx2
 Gas (vapor) Permeation
• Polar groups (solubility) to solvent or gas
• Intermolecular size (distance)
• Crosslinking and crystallinity
 Electrical Properties
• Resistivity (1018 – 10-6)
• Dielectric Strength
• Arc Resistance
• Dielectric Constant
• Dissipation Factor (heat up)
Conductive Polymers
H H

( C C C C )
n

H H

H H

( C C C C )
n

H H
 Conductive Polymers
Conductivity (Ohm-cm)-1
Material

Silver 6.25 x 105

Copper 5.85 x 105

Gold 4.44 x 105

Polyacetylene (doped) .6.0 x 104 - 1.5 x 105

Steel .6.0 x 104

Silicon 1.56 x 10-3

Carbon, graphite .1.0 x 10-3

Polyacetylene (unmodified) .1.0 x 10-11 to .1.0 x 10-15

Carbon, diamond .1.0 x 10-14

Alumina ceramic .1.0 x 10-15

Epoxy .1.0 x 10-15

Polyethylene, medium density .1.0 x 10-16

Teflon .1.0 x 10-18

 Optical Properties
• Light Transmission
– Clear
– Translucent
– Opaque
• Colorants
– Dyes
– Pigments
• Surface Reflectance
 Transparency
• Non-crystalline
• Index of refraction – low
• Total luminous transmittance – high
 Plastic Identification
• Spectroscopy
 Flammability
• Self-extinguishing
Heat
– Halogen effects (oxygen)
– Fillers (Al2O3·3H2O) (heat)
– Aromatics (fuel)
– Silicones (fuel)

Fuel Oxygen
 Flammability Tests
• Vertical
and
horizontal
burn tests
 Limiting Oxygen
Index
Chamber

Sample

Sample holder
Gas manifold

O2 N2
 Flammability Tests
• Radiant panel
• Cone calorimeter
 Flexibility
• CH2, O are flexible
– PE, Polyisoprene, PEO, Siloxanes
• Polybutylene terephthalate is more flexible
than PET
• Pendant groups
• Crystallinity – reduces flexibility
• Copolymers
• Plasticizers (soluble)
 Heat Resistance
• Stiffening groups along the chain
– Phenyl groups
– Tg goes up since it takes more heat to move
molecules
• Strong intermolecular H-Bonding
• Crystallinity increases heat resistance
 Insulating Polymers
• Non-polar is better
• Foams
– Air is an insulator
 Toughness
• Backbone Structure
• Pendant Groups
Thank You
 Flammability Tests
• Limiting
oxygen
index (LOI)
 Adhesives
• Bonding (chemical) between surfaces is best
• Crosslinking agents (ie siloxanes)
• Solvent based
• Latex adhesives – good flow into crevices for
mechanical attachment
• Pressure-sensitive – polymer flow (mechanical)
• Hot melt – polymer flow
• Reactive – low molecular weight to get stronger
• End Groups