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Polymer Engineering
Fundamentals

PE- 1101
 Course Outline 2

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An overview of polymer engineering
History of polymers
Basic definitions of polymer engineering
Molecular weight of polymers
Types of molecular weights calculations in polymers
Polydispersity
Classifications of polymers
Raw Materials of Polymers
Polymerization Reactions
 Course Outline 3

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Techniques of polymerization
Solid state of Polymers
Polymer Additives and Blends
Polymer Rheology
Polymer Processing
Polymer Composites
Testing and characterization of polymeric products
Recycling of Polymers
Applications of polymers
 Recommended Books 4

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Fundamentals of Polymer Engineering by Anil Kumar and Rakesh K.
Gupta
Introduction to Polymers by R.J. Young and P.A. Lovell
Shreve’s Chemical Process Industries by George T. Austin
Introduction to Physical Polymer Science by L.H. Sperling
An Introduction to Composite Materials by DEREK HULL
Additives for Plastics by J. Stepek · H. Daoust
Recycling of Polymers Methods, Characterization and Applications by
Raju Francis
Principles of Polymer Science P. Bahadur n. v. Sastry
Principles of Polymer Processing by Zehev Tadmor
 What is polymer? 5

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A molecule of high Mw, structure of which comprises of multiple
repetition of units derived from molecules of low relative Mw
(monomers).
 Polymer Engineering 6

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Polymer engineering is generally an
engineering field that designs,
analyses, or modifies polymer
materials. Polymer engineering covers
aspects of the petrochemical industry,
polymerization, structure and
characterization of polymers,
properties of polymers, compounding
and processing of polymers and
description of major polymers,
structure property relations and
applications.
History of Polymers
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 History of Polymers 8

Originally natural polymers were used

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Wood, Cotton, Leather, Rubber, Wool, Silk
It is not surprising that research was undertaken to develop and improve on
nature, thus synthetic polymers were developed.
With an increase in understanding in the structure of these materials there was
rapid development in the technology of polymers. Their historical development
generally follows five stages:
1- From earliest time to 1900: the realisation of a new material group,
2- 1900 -1930 The birth of a plastic technology,
3 - 1930 -1950 Plastics as substitute materials
4 - 1950 1970 The “Plastics” age
5 - 1970 - now Engineering Plastics.
Monomer to Polymer 9

Polymers consist of long chains, which are composed of

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simple structural units (mers) strung together.
 Basic Definitions 10

Monomer

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A smaller molecule that is used to prepare a polymer.
Dimer
A molecule consisting of two identical halves, formed by joining
two identical molecules.
Trimer
A molecule consisting of three identical halves, formed by joining
three identical molecules.
Oligomer
A molecule consisting of reaction of several repeat units of a
monomer but not large enough to be consider a polymer.
 Types of Polymer Chains 11

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Linear chains
These are formed when chains are built up
without any deviation. They are generally
formed when the mers used have only two
reactive sites.
Branched chains
Deviation can occur when the chain is being
formed and chain branching can result.
Cross-linking
The branches can join up to give cross-links
between adjacent chains.
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Polymerization 13

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The process of sticking mers together is called polymerization.

monomers + catalyst (initiator) = polymer chain

Poly
Ethylene
Functionality of Monomer 14

In chemistry, functionality is the presence of functional

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groups in a molecule.
The functionality of a monomer is defined as the number of
bonds that a monomer's repeating unit forms in a polymer with
other monomers. Thus in the case of a functionality of f = 2 a
linear polymer is formed by polymerizing. Monomers with a
functionality f ≥ 3 lead to a branching point, which can lead to
cross-linked polymers. Monofunctional monomers do not exist
as such molecules lead to a chain termination.
In polymer chemistry, a double bond possesses a functionality
of two (because two points of contact for further polymer
chains are present, on each of the two adjacent carbon atoms).
 Functionality of Monomer 15

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Ethylene Propylene Terephthalic Acid Ethylene Glycol
 Basic Definitions 16

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Initiators
A source of any chemical species that
reacts with a monomer (single molecule
that can form chemical bonds) to form
an intermediate compound capable of
linking successively with a large number
of other monomers into a polymeric
compound.
 Basic Definitions 17

Inhibitors

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The rate of polymerization of vinyl monomers can be
reduced or almost completely inhibited by the addition
of relative small amounts of certain molecules, called
retarders  and  inhibitors . Inhibitors are substances that
almost completely suppress the polymerization reaction
(e.g, Phenothiazine, 4-Methoxyphenol).
 Basic Definitions 18

Vulcanization

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Vulcanization is a process generally
applied to rubbery or elastomeric materials.
These materials forcibly retract to their
approximately original shape after a
rather large mechanically imposed
deformation. Vulcanization can be defined
as a process that increases the retractile
force and reduces the amount of
permanent deformation remaining after
removal of the deforming force. Thus,
vulcanization increases elasticity while it
decreases plasticity. It is generally
accomplished by the formation of a
crosslinked molecular network.
 Basic Definitions 19

Polymerization Catalyst

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Organometallic catalysts play an important role in the
polymerization of olefins, dienes and styrene. A great part of the
chemical industry is using these catalysts to produce increasing
amounts of plastic materials.
Polypropylene and high-density polyethylene are prepared by use
of Ziegler catalysts, which are initiators composed of organometallic
compounds and metallic halides, such as triethylaluminum and
titanium tetrachloride.
Degree of Polymerization 20

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The degree of polymerization, or DP, is the number
of monomeric units in
a macromolecule or polymer or oligomer molecule.