Plastic, Man-Made Fiber and Film Industries

Thanks to Dexby de Guzman

Plastics materials are composed of very large molecules

called polymers. Polymers are constructed from relatively small molecular fragments known as monomers that are joined together Synthetic polymers, which includes the large group known as plastics, came into prominence in the early twentieth century. Chemists' ability to engineer them to yield a desired set of properties (strength, stiffness, density, heat resistance, electrical conductivity) has greatly

expanded the many roles they play in the modern industrial

economy.

Overview
A plastic is a material that contains a polymerized organic substance of large molecular weight as an essential ingredient, is solid in its finished state, and at some stage in its manufacture or its processing into finished articles can be shaped by flow. The plastic industries have developed and grown then, since their discovery. Plastics can be used in various applications because of their toughness, water resistance, excellent resistance to corrosion, ease of fabrication, and remarkable color range.

History

The development of commercial phenolic resin in 1909 by Baekland was the start of the synthetic plastic industry. His discovery stimulated the search for other plastics. The first plastic of industrial significance was cellulose nitrate (Celluloid) and was discovered about the middle of the nineteenth century. It was first used in 1869 by Hyatt who was searching for an ivory substitute.

Classification
Thermosetting plastics are processed by heat curing to produce an infusible or insoluble product. Thermoplastics are processed by heating to soften them and cooling to harden them. On the basis of derivation, they may also be grouped as natural resins, cellulose derivatives, protein products, and synthetic resins.

Applications and Uses

Common Resin Types and Applications
Resin Type Polyesters Applications Construction, auto repair putty, laminates, skis, fishing rods, boats and aircraft component, coatings, decorative fixtures, bottles

Polyurethanes

Insulation, foam inner liners for clothing, rocket fuel binders, elastomers, adhesives

Polyethers

Coatings, pump gears, water-meter parts, bearing surfaces, valves

Applications and Uses

Common Resin Types and Applications
Resin Type Epoxies Applications Laminates, adhesives, flooring, linings, propellers, surface coatings Polyethylene Packaging films and sheets, containers, wire cable insulation, pipe, linings, coatings, molds, toys,

housewares
Polypropylene Housewares, medical equipment (can be sterilized), appliances, toys, electronic components, tubings and pipes, fibers and filaments, coatings

Applications and Uses

Common Resin Types and Applications
Resin Type Polyvinyl chloride Applications Pipe and tubing, pipe fittings, adhesives, raincoats

and baby pants, building panels

Acrylics Decorative and structural panels, massive glazing domes, automotive lens systems, illuminated

translucent floor tiles, windows, and canopies Polystyrene Insulation, pipe, foams, cooling towers, thin-walled containers, appliances, rubbers, automotive

instruments and panels

Plastics in Everyday Life

Standard Symbols

Raw Materials
Monomers: vinyl chloride, ethylene, propylene and similar simple hydrocarbons Chemical intermediates : phenol, formaldehyde, hexamethylenetetramine, phthalic anhydride, methyl acrylate and methacrylate Other raw materials: plasticizers, fillers, and reinforcements are also added to alter the properties of the plastic products.

Manufacturing Processes
Bulk Polymerization
is carried out in the liquid or vapor state. The monomers and activator are mixed in a reactor and heated or cooled as needed.

Solution Polymerization

is used when the exothermic heat is too great to be controlled in bulk polymerization. The monomer and initiator are dissolved in a nonreactive solvent which serves to slow the reaction and thus moderate the heat given off.

Manufacturing Processes
Suspension Polymerization
is the process where the monomer is suspended in water by agitation. stabilizers (i.e. talc, fullers earth, and bentonite) are added to stabilize the suspension and prevent polymer globules from adhering to each other.

Emulsion Polymerization

is similar to suspension polymerization but the monomer is broken up into droplets that form aggregates called micelles. The monomer is on the interior of the micelles, and the initiator is in the water. Soap or another emulsifying agent is used to stabilize the micelles.

Polyethylene
It is the first and the largest in production of polyolefin plastic. High-density polyethylene (HDPE), produced by low-pressure methods, is used mainly for blowmolded containers and injection-molded articles and pipe. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), produced by high-pressure methods, is used mainly for plastic films.

Polyethylene

The Process Flow of LDPE Production

Individual Process Descriptions

1. Demethanization and Deethanization The feed for the process is a mixture of methane, ethane, and ethylene. Since ethylene is the monomer to be used ethylene has to be separated from methane and ethane. High purity ethylene is used (99.8%).

Individual Process Descriptions

2. Compression of Ethylene and Catalyst Ethylene and the catalyst (free-radical yielding such as oxygen or peroxide) are compressed to operating pressure (150 MPa).

Individual Process Descriptions

3. Solution Polymerization In a tubular reactor maintained at 190C, solution polymerization occurs to convert ethylene to polyethylene. About 30% conversion is achieved per pass.

Individual Process Descriptions

4. Pressure Separation At this stage, the unconverted ethylene is removed and recycled.

Individual Process Descriptions

5. Extrusion and Pelletizing The polyethylene is extruded and pelletized.

Individual Process Descriptions

6. Quench Cooling This hardens the polyethylene pellets by addition of cold water.

Individual Process Descriptions

7. Water Separation and Drying These involve the removal of water from the pellets to obtain the final product.

Man-Made Fiber and Film Industries

Classification
According to Spinning Procedures

Melt spinning involves pumping molten polymer through capillaries or spinnerets and the polymer streams that emerge are solidified by quenching in cool air. In dry spinning, the polymer is dissolved in a suitable organic solvent. The solution is forced through spinnerets and dry filaments are formed upon evaporation of the solvent. Wet spinning involves spinning of a solution of polymer and coagulation of the fiber in a chemical bath.

Overview
Fibers were originally of natural origin and were produced from wool, silk, cotton, flax, and similar materials. The first man-made fibers were made by Swan in 1883 when he squirted a solution of cellulose nitrate in acetic acid through holes. Fibers have three important general properties: length, crimp and denier.

Synthetic Fibers and their Applications

Polyamides They are used in home furnishings, especially carpets. Acrylics and Modacrylics polyacrylonitrile is the major component of several industrial textile fibers. Spandex It is used in foundation garments, hose, swimwear and other elastic products.

Vinyls and Vinylidines

Saran is the copolymer of vinyl chloride and and vinylidene chloride. It is resistant to mildew, bacterial and insect attack. Automobile seat covers and home upholstery are its prime applications.

Vinyon is the trade name of copolymers of 90% vinyl chloride and 10% vinyl acetate. Resistance to acids and alkalies, sunlight, and aging makes Vinyon useful in heat-sealing fabrics and clothing.

Other Synthetic Fibers

Polyolefins They excel in special cases, such as ropes, laundy nets, carpets, blankets and backing for tuffed carpets, but are difficult to dye and their melting point is low.

Fluorocarbons It is widely used in pump packings and shaft bearings.

Glass Fibers are used for electrical insulation in motors and generators, structural reinforcement of plastics, fire-proof wall coverings and tire cords.

Multicomponent fibers
Multicomponent fibers have been prepared which possess superior properties to either component if spun alone. They correspond to better dyeability, permanent crimp, or silklike feel, etc.

Finishing and Dyeing of Textiles

Dyeing, bleaching, printing, and special finishing (such as for crease recovery, dimensional stability, resistance to microbial attack and ultraviolet light) involve unit operations such as filtering, heating, cooling, evaporation and mixing.

Films
are made from different polymers such as polyesters, polyvinyl chloride, etc.

3 Common Types of Film Processing

Slit-die process produces flat sheets by extruding the molten polymer through a slit-die into a quenching water bath or onto a chilled roller. Blow-extrusion Process produces tubular film by using air pressure to force the molten polymer around a mandrel. Calendering preparation of film is produced by feeding a plastic mix of polymer, stabilizer, and plasticizers between two heated roll where it is squeezed into a film.

Nylon 6.6
Nylon 6.6 was the first all-synthetic fiber made commercially and opened up the entire field. It is the product resulting from the polymerization of adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine.

PFD for Nylon Production

Raw Materials
The raw materials for fiber production are just the same as in plastics production and will depend on the type of material the fiber is made up of.

For the production of nylon yarn, however, the raw materials cited are adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine (hexa). Utilities such as steam and water will also be used.

Individual Process Description

1. Nylon Salt Formation - The reaction between equimolar proportions of the two raw materials produces nylon salt solution. Acetic acid is added to the (hexa) to to stabilize chain length.

Individual Process Description

2. Evaporation The water produced from the reaction is evaporated in an evaporator and a jacketed autoclave. In the jacketed autoclave, pure nitrogen at 175-345 kPa forces the material downward. TiO2 dispersion is also added.

Individual Process Description

3. Casting Wheel Each 900-kg batch is extruded as rapidly as possible. A ribbon of polymer about 30 cm wide and 6 mm thick flows on the 1.8-m cat drum. Water sprays on the inside cools and harden the underside of the ribbon, the outer is cooled by air and water.

Individual Process Description

4. Blender and Hopper The ribbons are cut into small chips or flakes, blended and emptied to hoppers.

Individual Process Description

Melt Spinning A typical spinning unit is composed of a metal vessel surrounded by a Dowtherm vapor heated jacket which keeps the temperature of the vessel above melting temperature (263C). As the nylon flake enters the vessel, it strikes a grid, where it melts and flows through to the melt chamber below. The molten polymer passes through the portholes in this chamber to gear spinning pump. They deliver it to a sand filter, which is followed by screens and a spinneret plate.

The filaments are solidified by air and passed in a bundle through steamhumidifying chamber.

Melt Spinning

Individual Process Description

6. Cold Drawing After lubrication on a finish roll, the yarn is stretched or drawn to the desired degree. 7. Bobbin The nylon yarn passes through a bobbin system and is shipped to various manufacturers for processing.

THANQ SALAMAT NG MARAMI. =)

Reference Austin, G.T. Shreves Chemical Process Industries (5th Ed). New York: McGrawHill, Inc., 1984.