MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
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Problems on Polymers
1. A polymer sample with unknown molecular weight has been analyzed and the
following results were obtained:
a) Calculate the number-average Molecular Number Weight
and weight-average molecular weight fraction, xi fraction, wi
weight range
(g/mol)
b) If the number average degree of 8000-20000 0.05 0.02
polymerization is 211, calculate the 20000-32000 0.15 0.08
molecular weight of the monomer 32000-44000 0.21 0.17
c) To which of these polymers does 44000-56000 0.28 0.29
it correspond to: PE, PVC, PTFE, PP, 56000-68000 0.18 0.23
PS, PMMA, Nylon 66, or PC 68000-80000 0.1 0.16
d) What is the weight-average 80000-92000 0.03 0.05
degree of polymerization?
(Solution: a) Mn=47720, Mw=53720; b) M0=226; c) Nylon 66; d) Xw=238)
2. The weight (wi) and number (ni) fractions of a batch of a thermoplastic polymer are
given in the table.
a) Calculate the weight average and number average molecular wi
molecular weight of the polymer. weight (g/mol)
0-5000 0.02
b) Calculate the polydispersity of the polymer batch which 5000-10000 0.12
has a number-average molecular weight of 12,880 g/mol. 10000-15000 0.32
c) If the degree of polymerization is 230 and assuming that 15000-20000 0.32
the polymer is an alkene (CnH2n) with the general 20000-25000 0.22
formula shown, determine the value X (Atomic mass: H =
1 g/mol, C=12 g/mol).
( CH 2 CH
CH 2 X
CH 3 n
d) Justify if its crystallinity is higher or lower than the crystallinity of polyethylene.
(Solution: a) Mw=15,500g/mol; b) I= 1,203; c) X=1; d) lower)
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MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
21/22
3. Determine the degree of crystallinity of polypropylene with density 0.853g/cm3, given
that the densities of amorphous and totally crystalline polypropylene are 0.83 and 0.947
g/cm3, respectively. Represent the change in the elastic modulus with temperature for
this polymer, a completely amorphous polymer, and a completely crystalline polymer.
(Solution: 21.8%)
4. The densities of amorphous and 100% crystalline polypropylene are given in the
table below.
a) Write the formula of polypropylene (g/cm3) Crystallinity, χ (%)
and justify whether it can exhibit 0.904 62.8
tacticity. 0.895 54.4
b) Calculate the density of 100% crystalline and 100% amorphous polypropylene
c) Determine the density of a sample that is 74.6% crystalline
(Solution: b) a= 0.83 g/cm3, c= 0.947 g/cm3; c) = 0.917 g/cm3)
5. Write the formula of the corresponding monomer of the following polymers:
1) Polyethylene 2) Polypropylene 3) Polystyrene 4) Nylon 6.6. 5) Polyacrylonitrile
a) Rank them starting from the highest Tg (except Nylon).
b) Which of them are partially crystalline? Which of them has the highest Tm? Why?
(Solution: a) PAN>PS>PP>PE; b) PE, PP and Nylon. Nylon 6,6)
6.- The densities of amorphous and totally crystalline polyethylene are given in the table
below:
Sample (g·cm-3) Crystalinity (%)
1 0.965 76.8
2 0.925 46.4
a) Calculate the density of completely crystalline and completely amorphous
polyethylene
b) Determine the crystallinity of a sample with = 0.950 gxcm-3.
Represent the change in the elastic modulus with temperature between Tg and Tm for
the five samples.
Solution: