Types of Polymers and Their Uses
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CHAPTER 1 TYPES OF POLYMERS AND THEIR USES Synthetic resins, in which plastics are also included, vary widely in their chemical composition and in their physical properties. The number of synthetic resins which can be made is vast; relatively few, however, have achieved commercial importance. Some of the polymers that have achieved commercial importance and their uses are tabulated in Table 1 and some of their important physical properties are listed in Appendix 2. Well over 90% of all synthetic resins made today comprise no more than 20 different types, although there are certain variations to be found within each type. Synthetic resins are familiar to most people as plastics, but they have other uses, such as in the manufacture of surface coatings, glues, synthetic textile fibres, etc. The rapid growth of the synthetic resin industry has to a large extent, been made possible by the fact that ample supplies of necessary raw materials have become available from petroleum. The synthetic resins may be divided into two classes, known respectively as 'thermosetting' and 'thermoplastic' resins, each class differing in its behaviour on being heated. The former do not soften; the la tter soften but regain their rigidity on cooling. Both types are composed of large molecules, known as macromolecules, but the difference in thermal behaviour is due to differences in internal structure. The larger molecules of the thermoplastics have a long-chain structure. with little branching. They do not link with each other chemically, although they may intertwine and form a cohesive mass with properties ranging from those of hard solids to those of soft pliable materials, in certain cases resembling rubber. On being heated, the chain molecules can move more freely relative to each other, so that, without melting, the material softens and can flow under pressure and be moulded to any shape. On cooling, the moulded articles regain rigidi ty. Some resins require the addition of liquid plasticizers to improve the flow of the plastic material in the mould. In such cases the moulded articles are usually softer and more flexible than the products made from the unplasticized resins. The macromolecules of the thermosetting resins are often strongly branched chains and are chemically joined by crosslinks, thus forming a complex network. On heating, there is less possibility of free movement, so that the material remains rigid. Production of these resins also falls into two groups since there are, generally, two main types of chemical reaction by which they are made. These are polycondensation reactions and polymerization reactions. 1 T. R. Crompton, Practical Polymer Analysis © Plenum Press, New York 1993 '" TABLE 1 Polycondensation types Phenol formaldehyde (a) Unfilled (a) Adhesives, laminates, pulp mouldings, particle board. (b) Woodflour/cotton (b) Bottle tops, electrical parts, fuse boxes, meter cases, heat flock filled resistant close-tolerance mouldings, toilet seats, restricted in colours obtainable, coloured ashtrays. Urea formaldehyde Cellulose filled As for, cellulose filled melrunine formaldehyde but suitable for dinner ware. U/F resins are used for similar applications to those shmm under unfilled phenol formaldehyde, white electric plugs. Helamine formaldehyde (a) Unfilled (a) Usually occurs in laminate form as surfacing for tables etc. (b) Alpha-cellulose (b) Noted for durability, hardness and good electrical proper ties, suitable for appliance housings, dinnerware, closures, writing equipment, clock housings, knobs, handles, lighting fixtures, appliances, instruction panels. Polyesters (a) Resin (a) Unreinforced resin for buttons, surface coatings, embedding and potting and nut locking. Filled resin for imitation marble, flooring, pipe joints, mortars and body stoppers. (b) Dough moulding (b) Protective housings, connectors, cowls, guards and ducts. compound Components often replace metal, offering non-corrosion, durability, good electrical performance and high strength. (c) Sheet moulding (c) Outlets in the electrical, building, motor engineering and compound furniture industries that compete on a cost basis with die castings and sheet metal fabrications owing to ease of moulding complicated shapes and short moulding cycles. Expoxides Chemically resistant paints, adhesives, tools, PVC stabilizers, electrical insulation, chemical- and wear-resistant jointless flooring, road coatings, cements, laminates, powder coatings, stopping compounds, repair kits, printed circuits, filament wound pipes, tanks and pressure vessels. (") Nylon (a) Type 6 (a) Moulded mechanical parts, gear wheels, bushings, sliding parts for storm windows, automobile and refrigerator door ~ o-l closures, mixer valves, switch housings, grommets, cable clamps, t'J ::<J pipes, tubing, filaments, aerosol bottles, stockings, clothing, ,... zips, curtain fittings. ~ (b) Type 6/6 As for Type 6. '"t:z::I (c) Type 11 (c) Electro/mechanical components such as cams, housings, guides, en terminal blocks, transformers and bobbins. Tubing and hose for o automotive use, reinforced hose, technical components in copiers, "":I calculators, machinery and tools. '"o (d) Type 12 (d) Injection moulded parts for automotive, electrical and S electronic and precision machine industries. Semi-rigid or t:z::I ::<l flexible tubing for fuel lines, air brakes, pressured air lines. en Cable and wire sheathing, chill roll and blown film. Powder ~ coatings. t::1 Polymerization types Polyethylenes (a) Low density (a) Housewares (bottles, bowls, buckets, containers), closures ~H for squeeze tubes, spouts for detergent cans, carboys, shoe parts, ::<l c::: toys, packaging film, garment bags, sheet, piping for domestic en t:z::I industrial and agricultural use, cable and wire insulation and en sheathing, paper, cellulose and foil coating, carpet backing, monofilament, cold water storage tanks. (b) High density (b) As for low-density polyethylene. Material have greater rigidity, specially suitable for large carrying cases, housings, closures, appliance parts, packaging film, sheet, piping, carboys, containers, bottles. Polypropylene Domestic, hospital and laboratory ware, textile, automotive, electrical and industrial usages. Containers and closures, crates, toys, blown containers. Film fibre for baler twine, ropes, sacks and carpet backing. Fibre for carpet face yarns. Extruded sheet, pipe, film and filament. Polystyrenes (a) Conventional (a) Packaging (disposable and others), dishes and utensils, refrigerator parts, emblems, signs, displays, toys, novelties, combs, brush-backs, radio and TV cabinets, lighting fixtures, rigid containers, housewares, reels/spools for film/tape, appliance panels, handles and switches. (b) Toughened (a) Wheels, helmets, valve parts, refrigerator parts, bobbins, radio cabinets, electric fan blades, toys, housewares, containers, battery cases, refrigerator linings and trays, yoghurt pots, footwear. w ~ TABLE 1 continued Styrene acrylonitrile Cups, tumblers, trays and general table, kitchen ware, toothbrush Acrylonitrile/butadiene/ handles, refrigerator components, radio knobs and scales, lenses, styrene cosmetic items, hi-fi covers and cases, packaging. Shoe heels, telephone handsets, housing for consumer durables, food containers, luggage, refrigerator liners, safety helmets, radio cabinets, tote boxes, car facia panels, instrument clusters, boat hulls, furniture. Vinyl polymers (a) Rigid polyvinyl (a) Extrusion of piping, profiles and sheet in applications chloride requiring chemical inertness and scuff-resistance combined with light weight. Plastisols for toys, leathercloth etc. Plastic guttering, high density bottles, formed packaging trays, moulded containers. (b) Rigid vinyl (b) Similar applications to those for PVC but widely used in the chloride/acetate manufacture of calendared sheet used for toys, novelties, wall coverings, displays, templates, etc. Gramophone records. (c) Rubber modified (c) Same as for PVC. PVC. Polyacetals Load-bearing mechanical parts, small pressure vessels, aerosol containers business machine parts, appliances, automobile, engineering and industrial products. Polycarbonates Business machine parts, camera components, electrical apparatus, sterilisable ware, draughtsman's instruments, lamp covers, safety helmets, tail-lights, de luxe housewares, engineering and industrial components, sterilisable transparent feeding bottles for babies. Ionomers Shoe heel tips, tool handles, hammer and mallet heads, bottles, skin packaging, coating, toys, shoe soles, shoe stiffeners, meat packaging, flexible packaging, packaging of wine and fruit juices. Polyphenylene oxide TV set components, valve bases, switches, housings, parts for C"l domestic appliances, meter cases, machine housings, computer and S; "0 camera parts, automotive grilles, ducts, light housing, ...., ttl instrumentation parts. :<l Polyphenylene sulphide Engineering plastic, high heat and chemical resistance ..... applications. >-i 'U>< Acrylics Automatic parts, control knobs, dials and handles, meter cases, t"l lenses, pens and pencils, brush-backs, hospital equipment, display en o material, signs, light fittings, inspection panel coves, "'l windscreens, machine guards, skylights, some telephones, sanitary o'U ware, TV tube implosion guards. t"' Polyvinylacetate Foodstuff packaging film. ~ Ethylene vinyl acetate Flexible extrusions, tubing and hose, sachets, sheathing, cable :>::I coverings. Closures, gaskets, handle grips, shoe soles, teats, en disposable gloves, box liners, packaging film,