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Types and Properties of Polymers Explained

There are three main types of polymers: thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers. Thermoplastics are flexible and can be remelted and reshaped, while thermosets have a rigid cross-linked structure and cannot be remelted once solidified. Elastomers have both linear and cross-linked structures, allowing them to stretch elastically. The properties of polymers can be controlled through factors like degree of polymerization, monomer size, branching, copolymerization, blending, and cross-linking. Cross-linking is particularly important for elastomers, allowing them to retain elasticity.

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56 views3 pages

Types and Properties of Polymers Explained

There are three main types of polymers: thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers. Thermoplastics are flexible and can be remelted and reshaped, while thermosets have a rigid cross-linked structure and cannot be remelted once solidified. Elastomers have both linear and cross-linked structures, allowing them to stretch elastically. The properties of polymers can be controlled through factors like degree of polymerization, monomer size, branching, copolymerization, blending, and cross-linking. Cross-linking is particularly important for elastomers, allowing them to retain elasticity.

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nabeelbird
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Types of polymers:

Thermoplastic polymers:

 Have flexible linear chains.


 Composed of long chains made up by small molecules.
 Are flexible (plastic-like behaviour)
 Soften when heated and hardened when cooled (reversible)

Thermosetting polymers:

 Have a rigid cross-linked 3D structure.


 More rigid and stronger than thermoplastics but are more brittle.
 Don’t have a fixed melting point.
 Can’t be easily reprocessed.

Elastomer:

 They are intermediate structures: have linear cross-linked structures.


 Can elastically deform with a permanent change in shape.

Elastic behaviour of a polymer:

 Polymers go through elastic deformation due 2 mechanisms.


 Applies stress causes the covalent bonds to stress and distort allowing the chains to elongate
elastically.
 When the stress is removed it recovers from the deformations.

Viscoelasticity:

 Viscoelasticity: the property of materials that exhibit both viscous and elastic characteristics
when undergoing deformation.
 At low temperatures or high loading rates the material behaves like a solid like metals or
ceramics.
 At high temperatures or high loading rates the material behaves like a viscous liquid.

How can we control the structure and properties of thermoplastics?

Degree of polymerisation:

 Longer chains means that the structure has a larger degree of polymerisation which
increases the strength of a polymer up to a certain point.
 The chains become longer and tangled.
 The melting point, strength, and creep resistance increases.

Effects of monomers:
 Larger atoms make it difficult to rotate, uncoil, disentangle, and deform by viscous flow when
stress is applied, or temperature is increased.
 Larger atoms increase the melting point, and strength.

Branching:

 Reduces density and stiffness.

Copolymers:

 Is the addition of 2 or more types of molecules.

Blending and alloying:

 This improves the mechanical properties of polymers.


 Mix immiscible elastomers with thermoplastics.
 The elastomer does not enter the structure as a copolymer, but it does improve toughness
and absorbs energy.

Elastomers:

Cross-linking:

 It helps to prevent viscous plastic deformation while retaining large elastic deformation.
 The elasticity is determined by sulphur content and number of cross-links.
 Increasing sulphur content increases the rigidity, brittleness, and hardness of the rubber.
Typically, 0.5-5% is added.

Vulcanisation:

 Is the use of sulphur to cross-link.


 Steps: hydrogen atoms are rearranged and replacing of one or more double bonds with
single bonds occurs.
 It is the mix of a polymer and water at 130℃.
 It is not reversible which makes it difficult to recycle to make new unlinked polymers.
 Unvulcanised rubber: soft, tacky, and poor abrasion resistance.
 Vulcanised: Higher tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and resistance to degradation by
oxygen.

Thermoplastic elastomers: Are a special group of polymers that behave as thermoplastics at high
temperatures and elastomers at low temperatures. The don’t rely on cross-linking to produce large
amounts of elastic deformation and are easier to recycle.

Thermosetting polymers:

 Have poor ductility.


 They have the same behaviour brittle metal or ceramics.
 Can be made up of epoxies, phenolics or polyimides.
 They can act as adhesives.
Degradation:

 Polymeric degradation is a physiochemical phenomenon.


 Polymers exposed to liquid degradation swell up and dissolve.
 Swelling is when liquid is absorbed into the polymer.
 Makes it become more ductile, softer, rubber and weak (sus)
 Increases chain separation.

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