POLYMERS

...many many monomers merge,

murmuring -mer -mer -mer -mer -
mer...
By the way, we use the special name of "monomer"
because not all molecules can form polymers.

(but not a polymer...)

Get in Line!
 Hmmm, I'll bet
they're called
"polymers" because
"polly molly cool
"polymolecules" sounds
polly molly clue
way too silly! Try
polly collie loo!"
saying "polymolecule"
five times fast and
you'll see what I
mean!
 Polymers Are Like TV: Both Have Lots
and Lots of Repeats
• For example, look at polypropylene (sounds
like polly-pro-pill-een):

To make
things simple,
we usually
only draw OR
one unit of
the repeat
structure,
like this:
Polymers are Large Molecules
POLYMERS
INNERTUBE - made of rubber which is
a natural polymer
SKATEBOARD - made from a mixture
of fiberglass and polyester, or from
wood, a natural polymer
CORN - plants are formed from
cellulose and starches, both natural
polymers
VIOLIN - made of wood, which is also
cellulose
HAT - yarn in a winter hat can be
made from acrylic, a man-made
polymer, or wool, which is a natural
polymer
KITE - made of nylon, a man-made
polymer which can be made into a
fabric much like silk
NOT POLYMERS
SIDEWALK - cement made mostly
from minerals sand and rocks which
are not polymers
THE SUN - a star formed from
hydrogen and other gasses
WATER - a very simple substance
formed from two types of atoms -
hydrogen and oxygen.
CLOUD - formed from water vapors in
the air
SIGN - made of metals, which are
simple elements
Natural and Synthetic Polymers
NATURAL POLYMERS
FLOWERS - all plants are natural
polymers, mostly cellulose
STRAW HAT - straw is a plant
material, more cellulose
RUBBER FINS - rubber is a natural
polymer from rubber plants
WOODEN STOOL - wood is also a
tough cellulose plant material
CHEESE - the milk proteins in
cheese are polyners made by
nature
COTTON APRON - cotton is a soft
plant cellulose used to make many
kinds of clothing
SYNTHETIC POLYMERS
UMBRELLA - nylon fabric is a
common man-made polymer
HELMET - foam made from
polystyrene which is also used to
make many plastics
FISHING POLE - made from a
combination of fiberglass and
polyester
SPACESUIT - 27 layers of mostly
synthetic polymers
SAFETY GLASSES - made of
polycarbonate, the same stuff used
in CDs and bullet-resistant glass
BOTTLE - polyethylene a plastic
commonly used to make bottles for
shampoo and lotion
A LINEAR polymer chain starts at the beginning
and goes straight to the end. You can take
your finger and trace the curvy path from
one end to the other. To the rest of the world,
"linear"means "straight and not curved" but for
polymers, linear means "straight and not branched".
A BRANCHED polymer chain has
extra beginnings (branches!)
along the chain and so it has lots
of ends.
No matter where you start, you
can't trace the entire polymer
without backtracking.
• Why would we want to use
polymers to make stuff?

• What about other materials, like

wood, metal, glass, or ceramics?
Most polymers are:
• lighter
• harder to break
• long-lasting
• recyclable
• easier to form into shapes
• Cheaper

Also, by choosing the right kind of polymer, our

product can be soft or hard, flexible or stiff, or
most anything we want.
TYPES OF POLYMERS
TYPES OF POLYMERS
CASTING
 General Characteristics of Casting
• Parts are shaped without using pressure
• The absence of pressure means that the molds
and support equipment used in casting need not
be as strong as would be required for a high
pressure molding process (such as injection
molding)
• Large parts can be produced because the molds
need not be massive, as they would with
pressurized processes
• Tooling and maintenance costs are usually low
• Suitable for prototype production, as well as
large quantities
• Process is simple
 Used for manufacture of:
Small objects of rather simple shape such as
• Small radio cabinets
• Jewelry and
• Ornamental objects
are commonly made by casting.
 General Characteristics of Compression
Molding
• Thermoset performs or granules are used.
• Materials are usually pre-heated
• Amount of material must be accurately
measured to avoid excess flash or insufficient
material
• Metallic inserts may be molded in the
product
• Shape must be free of undercuts
Used for manufacture of:
• Electrical parts
• Dinnerware
• Gears
• Buttons
• Buckles
• Knobs
• Handles and
• Large containers
INJECTION MOULDING
 General Characteristics of Injection
Molding
• A ram or screw forces molten plastic into a mold
cavity
• A solid or open-ended shape can be produced,
conforming to the mold cavity
• Both thermoplastic and thermoset materials can
be shaped
• A parting line, sprue and gate marks are formed
in this process.
• Ejector pin marks are usually visible
Used for manufacture of:
• Wire spools
• Packaging bottle caps
• Automotive dashboards
• Pocket combs
• Musical instruments
• Small tables
• Mechanical parts
• Toys
• Kitchen utensils and
• Cell phone stands
 General Characteristics of Transfer
Molding
• Thermoset plastics are used
• Amount of material must be accurately
measured to avoid excess plastic in the
chamber or insufficient material
• A heated mold is used to cure and solidify
plastic material
• Hot plastic is molded under pressure
• Fragile inserts can be molded
• Small gate marks are visible on the product
Used for manufacture of:
• Utensil handles
• Electric appliance parts
• Electronic components
• Connectors
• Encapsulate items such as coils,
integrated circuits, plugs etc
• Rubber and silicone parts
 General Characteristics of Extrusion

• It is a continuous and high volume process

• Accurate control of material thickness
• Products are cut to desired lengths
• Has low tooling costs
• Intricate profiles can be produced
Used for manufacture of:
• Pipes
• Hoses
• Drinking straws
• Curtain tracks
• Rods and
• Fiber
 General Characteristics of Blow
Molding
• Thermoplastics are used in this process
• A softened parison tube is inflated to the
contour of a mold cavity
• Thin walled hollow products are formed
• Wall thickness can be increased by increasing
the parison tube wall thickness
• There are parting lines on the products
Used for manufacture of:

• Bottles
• Tubes and
• Containers
THERMOFORMING
 General Characteristics of
Thermoforming
• Thermoplastic sheets (or films) are utilized
• The material is heated by convection or
radiant hear
• The softened sheet is pressed on the mold by
using vacuum, air or mechanical means
• With this process, simple shapes with large
radii and no undercuts can be produced
• The finished product has varying thickness
THANK YOU