Course code: CH407 Plastic Technology
Tutorial question.
Please don’t hesitate to ask should you have any questions
==============================================================
Q1 a) What is the difference between an addition and condensation polymerization.
b) With the help of a polyester, explain the mechanism of step polymerization.
c) Complete the following the following polymerization reaction.
i.
ii.
d) Name the polymers.
e) What is the function of a cross linker in polystyrene divinyl benzene co-
[plymer.
f) How are polymers classified in terms of structure?
Q2 a) Give examples of chain polymerization reaction
b) Complete the following polymerization reactions.
H CH2
Polymer A
H Cl
Polymer M
H H
O
H O
CH3
H H
Polymer C
c) Name the polymers.
d) What is a radical polymerization?
e) Using any of the above equation and dibenzoyl as an initiator, explain the
mechanism of radical polymerization.
f) Using specific examples, explain the methods of initiation radical
polymerization reactions.
Page 1 of 5
Q3 a) Give examples of classical ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP)
catalyst.
b) What is the disadvantage of these classical catalysts?
c) Complete the following ring opening metathesis polymerization reactions.
d) Draw the chemical structures of Grubb and Schrock catalysts.
e) Using a Grubb catalyst and monomer A as your examples explain the
mechanism of radical polymerization.
O
H
N
H
MONOMER A
f) Explain with the help of appropriate illustrations how the following monomers
can be chemically grafted on to polystyrene divinyl benzene co-polymer.
O
O
O
MONOMER B
g) Is this polymer composite were to be used as a stationary phase in liquid
chromatography, what type of stationary phase is this?
Q4 a) What is a step polymer,
b) Give at least five examples excluding those already mentioned.
c) Use examples of the following monomers C and D to explain the mechanism of
step polymerization.
O
H OH NH2
H
O H H
OH NH2
Monomer C MONOMER D
d) What is a:
i. Homopolymer? Draw example of any structure of such a polymer
ii. Heteropolymer? Draw structure of such a polymer
iii. Alternating polymer?
iv. Random polymer?
e) With help of a specific illustration, explain the preparation of a alternating
polymer.
f) Explain how would one control molecular weight of a polymer?
g) Why is the molecular weight of a polymer such an important property?
h) What is
i. Glass temperature Tg
Page 2 of 5
ii. Ceiling temperature Tc?
i) Explain the preparation of the following polymers
i. Polyethylene terephthalate
ii. Melamine resin.
iii. Polyurethane.
j) Complete the following polymerization reaction
OH
H3C
O Polymer B
+ H3C
k) Two phenol-formaldehyde resins can be prepared. What are these and how do
they differ in chemical structure?
Q5 a) Differentiate a thermos plastic from a thermoset?
b) Give in each case five examples of a thermosetting and a thermo plastic
polymer.
c) Explain why it is not necessary to prepare a polymer above a certain molecular
weight. Illustrate this with a diagram.
Q6 a) What are polymer additives and why are they important?
b) What is polymer compounding?
c) Explain the function of the following polymer additives.
a. Retarders
b. Fillers
c. Inhibitors
d. Mold release agents
e. Flame retardants
d) Give examples of fillers.
e) Which degradation reactions do polymers undergo?
f) What are the causes of polymer degradation?
Q7 a) What are anti-oxidants?
b) How do they minimize degradation of polymers?
c) How are anti-oxidants classified?
d) Write reaction equations to illustrate how these additive prevent degradation of
polymers.
e) What at are hydrogen decomposers?
f) How do light stabilizers minimize degradation of polymers?
g) Explain the types of light stabilizers.
h) State the common types of light stabilizers.
i) State types of light stabilizers
j) What are quencher and how do they prevent polymer degradation.
k) What are:
a. Radical scavengers
b. Hydroperoxide decomposers
l) What properties are enhanced by use of plasticizer?
m) State types of plasticizers.
Q8 a) What is tooling for plastic?
Page 3 of 5
b) What is the difference between a die and mold?
c) State the most common plastic processing techniques.
d) Explain with the help of an illustration how compression molding is carried out.
e) Distinguish the different types of compression molds.
f) Give examples of equipment that can be produced using compression molding
techniques.
g) For which type of plastic is compression most suitable.
h) With the help of an illustration explain the steps involved in transfer molding.
Q9 a) Explain how injection molding is carried out.
b) Draw a diagram to illustrate the principle of an injection mold.
c) For which type of plastics is injection molding most suitable?
d) What are the components of a injection molding equipment?
e) Give examples of products that can be produced using injection molding
equipment.
Q10 a) What are extruders?
b) How is an extrusion process generally carried out?
c) What are common products that can be produced using extruders?
d) State different types of different types of extrusion processes.
e) With the help of illustrations explain how the following plastic products are
products are produced.
i. Pipes
ii. Cable coating.
f) State as many as possible products from extrusion.
Q11 a) Describe a blow film extrusion process.
b) Draw a diagram to illustrate a blow film extrusion process.
c) For which plastics is this process most suitable. Give reasons.
d) State the advantages of the process
Q12 a) Describe a flat film extrusion process.
b) Which dies is it most suitable.
c) Draw diagrams to illustrate the type of dies that are mostly used.
d) Draw a diagram to illustrate a water quenched film line.
Q13 a) What are the basic steps in blow molding.
b) How are blow molding techniques classified?
c) Describe how a bottle can be produced using blow extrusion process.
d) Illustrate by way of diagrams how blow molding of bottles is carried out.
e) Describe the steps involved in injection blow molding.
f) Differentiate blow extrusion process from injection blow molding.
Q14 a) Describe with the help of a diagram reaction injection molding (RIM).
b) Which type of monomers are most suitable for RIM
c) Which type of plastics is this process most suitable.
d) Draw a diagram to illustrate RIM.
Q15 a) Describe with the help of diagrams the following plastic processing techniques.
i. Thermoforming
Page 4 of 5
ii. Vacuum forming
iii. Rotating molding.
b) For which plastics are these process suitable.
c) Draw a diagram to illustrate a molding process.
Q16 a) What is a biodebradable plastic?
b) What are possible degradation processes that any plastic may undergo
c) State the processes for plastic recycling.
d) Describe the processes for plastic recycling.
e) Describe the following plastic recycling techniques
i. Tertiary recycling
ii. Primary recycling
iii. Secondary recycling
iv. Quartenary recycling
Page 5 of 5