ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials

CHAPTER 14
Polymer Structures

Chapter 15. Polymer Structures

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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
H
Methane

Chapter 15. Polymer Structures

Similarly
Ethylene
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ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials

POLYMERISATION
Mers = small structural entities making up the polymer.

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

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ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials

RESULT

Angle =109o

Chapter 15. Polymer Structures

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ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials

Similarly

Unpaired electron

Methyl group
Chapter 15. Polymer Structures

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ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials

Chapter 15. Polymer Structures

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ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials

MOLECULAR WEIGHT
Not all chains same length

Number average

Weight-average

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ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials

For copolymers
Degree of polymerization
Molecular weight of mer j

Chapter 15. Polymer Structures

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ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials

Linear e.g. Polyethylene,
Nylon

Branched
Lower density

Crosslinked

Network

e.g. Rubber

e.g. Epoxy

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ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials

HOMOPOLYMERS

COPOLYMERS
Polymers composed of two
or more different mer units

Bifunctional, trifunctional mers

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ME 260: Introduction to Engineering Materials

Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) random copolymer

Used in automobile tires.
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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%.

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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

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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

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