Transcript Document

ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
CHAPTER 14
Polymer Structures
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.1
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
INTRODUCTION
Natural Polymers  Leather, wood, rubber, cellulose, cotton, wool.
Synthetic polymers Synthesized from small organic molecules.
CHEMISTRY OF POLYMER MOLECULES
Hydrocarbons (many organic materials)= composed of hydrogen and carbon
Covalent Bonding
H
H-C-H
Similarly
H
Methane
Ethylene
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.2
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
POLYMERISATION
Mers = small structural entities making up the ‘poly’mer.
Ethylene(C2H4) gas
CAN BE CONVERTED TO POLYETHYLENE(PE) Solid
Catalyst
bonding unsatisfied for this C atom
bonding satisfied for C atom
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.3
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
RESULT
Angle =109o
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.4
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
Similarly
Unpaired electron
Methyl group
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.5
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.6
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
Number average
Not all chains same length
Weight-average
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.7
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
For copolymers
Degree of polymerization
Molecular weight of mer j
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.8
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
Linear e.g. Polyethylene,
Nylon
Branched
Lower density
Crosslinked
Network
e.g. Rubber
e.g. Epoxy
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.9
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
HOMOPOLYMERS
COPOLYMERS
Polymers composed of two
or more different ‘mer’ units
Bifunctional, trifunctional mers
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.10
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) random copolymer
Used in automobile tires.
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.11
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
POLYMER CRYSTALLINITY
= Packing of molecular chains so as to produce an ordered atomic array.
Small molecules (Methane, H2O)  either either totally crystalline (as solids)
or amorphous (as liquids)
However POLYMERS  only partially crystalline (semi-crystalline)
Max. crystallinity  ~ 95%.
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.12
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
Properties greatly affected by degree of crystallinity
(crystalline = stronger and more resistant to
softening by heat.
 important to quantify degree crystallinity
Crystalline polymer = higher density
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.13
ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials
Slower cooling rates from the melt favor higher crytallinity
(giving time for ordered configurations)
Linear Polymers Crystallization easily accomplished, since no restriction to
chain alignment
Branched polymers NEVER highly crystalline
Side branches interfere with crystallization
Network Polymers  AMORPHOUS
COPOLYMERS
More Irregular and random mer  less crystallinity
Alternating and block copolymers  likelihood of crystallization.
Random and Graft copolymers Normally Amorphous
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures
14.14