Commodity Resins

MFG 355
 Polyethylene (PE)
• Mer unit
• Polymer chain

H2C

CH2
 Polyethylene
• LDPE
– High Pressure/High Temperature processing
– High “H” activation—branching
• HDPE
– Ziegler-Natta catalyst
– Little branching
– Highly crystalline
• LLDPE
– “Copolymer”—side chains prevent crystalization
– Improve toughness, strength, ESCR
• Crosslinked PE

Karl Ziegler Guilio Natta

 Forms of PE

B r a n c h e d o r lo w d e n s it y p o ly e t h y le n e ( L D P E )

b ) H ig h d e n s it y p o ly e t h y le n e ( H D P E )

c ) L in e a r l o w d e n s it y p o ly e t h y le n e ( L L D P E )
 Polyethylene processes
High Pressure Process (LDPE)
Pressures around 350 MPa
Temp. 300‫ ס‬C
Long construction lead time
Mammoth space requirements
Huge capital outlay
High energy demands
Limited to low density polyethylene
Costly and complex maintenance
Production rates vary with PE grade
Meets environmental requirements with
difficulty
Rapidly inflating operating costs
Limited catalyst system choice
Catalyst removal required
Acceptable resin properties
Low Pressure Process (LLDPE)
Pressures around 3 MPa
Temp. 100‫ ס‬C
Reduced const. lead time by 8-12 months
Occupies 1/10 the space
Capital outlay reduced by 50%
Reduced energy demands by 75%
Produces both HDPE and LLDPE
Easy to Maintain
Same production rate for all resin grades
Environmental pollution minimal
Operating costs reduced
Catalyst removal not needed
Superior resin properties
 Polyethylene Copolymer
• Types of Copolymers
– Random
– Regular
– Segment

– Graft
 Polyethylene Copolymers
• EVA
– Glue, soft
• EAA—Ionic bonds
– Ionomer (Surlyn)
• EPM (EPBM with butadiene)
– Rubbery
 Polypropylene (PP)
• Mer unit
• Polymer chain

H
H2C C

CH3
 Polypropylene
• Analogy
– I need 6 volunteers to come up front
 Polypropylene
• Atactic: no order
• Syndiotactic: alternate
• Isotactic: means “samehand”,
stereoisomorphism, always on the same
side (crystalline)
 Polypropylene
• Ziglar-Natta catalyst
– Isotactic
 Polypropylene
• Properties
– Stiff
– Environmental Stress Crack Resistance
– UV sensitive
– Higher Tg than PE
– Resistance to mechanical stress cracking
• Carpets
• Living hinges
Polypropylene
 Polyvinylchloride (PVC)
• Mer unit
• Polymer chain

H
H2C C

Cl
 PVC
• Rigid
– Amorphous
– Heat Sensitive
– Solvent Sensitive
• Welding
• Glueing
 PVC
• Plasticized PVC
– Solvent effects
– Processed w/o heat
 PVC
• Properties
– UV sensitive
– Non-flammable (except plasticized)
• Self extinguishing
 Polystyrene (PS)
• Mer unit
• Polymer chain

H
H2C C
 Properties
• Brittle and Hard
– Not good for extrusion
– Fair scratch resistance
 Properties
• Modified for toughness
– Compare to Buna –S (GR-S)
 Properties
• Clear but yellows
 PS
• Crystal
– Amorphous
– Clear
– Brittle
– UV sensitive
– Flammable
 PS
• Foam
– expanded
 Alloys & Blends
• NOT copolymers
Not copolymers
• HIPS (rubber added)
• SAN
• ABS
 ABS
PolyB
B utadiene Rubber

Properties of Alloys can acquire

the ABS the properties of
dependant on their component
the mix ratio parts

PolyA
A crylonitrile PolyS
S tyrene
 Alloys vs Copolymers
• Alloys
– Created after
• Copolymers
Thank You