POLYMERS BABETTE FREY
21713286
QUESTION 1:
Name 3 things that might influence the characteristics of these
materials.
ANSWER 1:
- Rate of deformation (strain rate)
- Temperature
- Chemical nature of the environment
QUESTION 2:
Discuss how temperature and strain rate will influence the
mechanical characteristics of polymeric materials.
ANSWER 2:
Increasing the temperature or decreasing the rate of deformation will
lead to:
a decrease in elastic modulus
a reduction in tensile strength
an enhancement of ductility
Thus resulting in a softer and more ductile material.
QUESTION 3:
Name and illustrate on a graph the 3 different types of stress-strain
behavior that are found in polymeric materials.
ANSWER 3:
Brittle: Fractures while deforming
elastically
Plastic: Similar to metals. Initial
deformation is elastic, followed by
yielding and a region of plastic
deformation
Elastomeric: Totally elastic. Rubber-like
elasticity (large recoverable
strains produced at low stress
levels)
QUESTION 4:
Tabulate how an amorphous polymer may behave at different
temperatures.
ANSWER 4:
Low temperatures Glass-like
Intermediate temperatures Rubbery-solid
High temperatures Viscous liquid
QUESTION 5:
What is the difference between viscoelasticity and viscosity?
ANSWER 5:
Viscoelasticity : A type of deformation exhibiting the mechanical
characteristics of viscous flow and elastic deformation.
Viscosity : Measurement of material’s resistance to flow by shear
forces.
QUESTION 6:
Plot the difference between
(a) totally elastic, (b) viscoelastic and (c) viscous
behavior on a strain-versus-time graph.
ANSWER 6:
(a)
(b) (c)
QUESTION 7:
True or False:
(a) Stress is found to decrease with time, because of molecular relaxation processes
that take place within the polymer.
(b) Relaxation modulus is a ratio of time-dependent stress and constant strain value.
ANSWER 7:
(a) True
(b) True
QUESTION 8:
Tabulate the mode of fracture in thermosetting polymers and
thermoplastic polymers.
ANSWER 8:
Thermosetting polymers Brittle
Cracks form where there is a localized stress
concentration. The stress is amplified at the tips
of these cracks leading to fracture.
Thermoplastic polymers Ductile and brittle
Brittle fracture – reduction in temperature,
increase in strain-rate, presence of a sharp notch
or an increase in specimen thickness.
QUESTION 9:
How does a crack differ from a craze?
ANSWER 9:
A craze can support a load across its face.
The process of craze growth prior to cracking absorbs fracture
energy and increases the fracture toughness of the polymer.
QUESTION 10:
Name and discuss 3 miscellaneous mechanical characteristics for
polymers.
ANSWER 10:
IMPACT STRENGTH: degree of resistance of a material to impact loading.
Semi-crystalline and amorphous polymers are brittle at low temperatures and
have low impact strengths.
FATIGUE: experience fatigue failure under conditions of cyclic loading.
Occurs at stress levels that are lower than the yield strength.
TEAR STRENGTH AND HARDNESS: tear strength – the energy required to
tear apart a cut specimen. Hardness – material’s resistance to scratching and
penetration. Polymers are softer than ceramics and metals.
QUESTION 11:
Tabulate 4 factors that influence the mechanical properties of semi-
crystalline polymers.
ANSWER 11:
Molecular Weight Tensile strength increases with increasing molecular weight. (TS = - )
Degree
Degree of
of Tensile
Tensile modulus
modulus increases
increases with
with degree
degree of
of crystallinity.
crystallinity. Increasing
Increasing
Crystallinity
Crystallinity crystallinity
crystallinity of
of aa polymer
polymer enhances
enhances its
its strength
strength and
and tends
tends to
to become
become
more
more brittle.
brittle.
Pre-deformation
Pre-deformation by
by Stiffness
Stiffness and
and strength
strength are
are enhanced
enhanced by
by permanently
permanently deforming
deforming the
the
Drawing
Drawing polymer in tension.
polymer in tension.
Heat treating Leads to an increase in the percent crystallinity and crystallite size
Heat treating Leads to an increase in the percent crystallinity and crystallite size
and perfection.
and perfection.
Increasing the annealing temperature leads to an increase in tensile
Increasing the annealing
modulus, increase in yieldtemperature leads
strength and to an increase
reduction in tensile
in ductility.
modulus, increase in yield strength and reduction in ductility.
QUESTION 12:
Briefly explain what is meant by the crystallization, melting and
glass transition of polymers.
ANSWER 12:
Crystallization: randomly oriented molecules in the liquid phase transform into chain-folded crystallites
that have aligned molecule structures.
Melting: It corresponds to the transformation of a solid material with a ordered structure into a viscous
liquid with a random structure.
The glass transition: It occurs in amorphous regions of polymers. Gradual transformation from a liquid
into a rubbery material and then to a rigid solid.
QUESTION 13:
Plot a specific volume versus temperature graph upon cooling from liquid melt for
A. totally amorphous
B. semi-crystalline
C. crystalline
Polymers.
ANSWER 13:
QUESTION 14:
Name 4 factors that will decrease chain flexibility and thus increase
the glass transition temperature (Tg).
ANSWER 14:
- Bulky side groups
- Polar groups
- Double bonds and aromatic groups in the backbone, which tend to stiffen the
polymer chain.
-increasing the molecular weight
QUESTION 15:
Name, define and give 2 examples, where possible, of 7 types of
polymers.
ANSWER 15:
1. Plastics materials that have some structural rigidity under load.
Polyethylene, polypropylene
2. Elastomers materials that may experience large and reversible elastic deformations
Chloroprene, Styrene-butadiene copolymer
3. Fibersmaterials that have been drawn into long filaments and are used in the textile industry
4. Coatings materials applied to the surface of other materials to serve a specific purpose.
latexes, varnish
5. Adhesives substance used to bond together the surfaces of 2 materials
polyurethanes, epoxies
6. Foams materials with a high volume percentage of small pores and trapped gas bubbles.
Commonly used for cushions or packaging.
polyurethane, rubber, polystyrene
7. Films used in packaging of food products, textile products. Materials with low density, high degree
of flexibility and high tensile and tear strengths
Polyethylene, cellophane
QUESTION 16:
True or false:
(a) to be considered a plastic the linear or branched polymers must
be used above their glass transition temperatures (amorphous) or
below their freezing temperatures (semi-crystalline).
(b) Polyesters have excellent electrical properties and low costs.
ANSWER 16:
(a) False
to be considered a plastic the linear or branched polymers must be used below their
glass transition temperatures (amorphous) or below their melting temperatures (semi-
crystalline).
(b) True
QUESTION 17:
Choose which of the following are possible functions of coatings:
(a) protect the item from the environment
(b) to improve the strength of the item
(c) to improve the item’s appearance
(d) to provide electrical insolation
(e) to increase the costs of the item
ANSWER 17:
a, c, d
QUESTION 18:
Tabulate the difference between mechanical and chemical bonding.
ANSWER 18:
Mechanical Actual penetration of the adhesive
into the surface pores and crevices.
Chemical Intermolecular forces between the
adhesive and adherent.
QUESTION 19:
Name a few advantages and disadvantages of adhesives over other
joining technologies.
ANSWER 19:
Advantages Disadvantages
lighter weight Service temperature limitations
Ability to join dissimilar materials (polymers maintain their
and thin components mechanical integrity only at
relatively low temperatures, and
Better fatigue resistance strength decreases rapidly with
Lower manufacturing costs increasing temperature.
QUESTION 20:
Name 3 uses and characteristics of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight
polyethylene and Liquid crystal polymers.
ANSWER 20:
Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Liquid crystal polymers
polyethylene
Characteristics Characteristics
1. Extremely high impact resistance 1. Excellent thermal stability
2. Outstanding resistance to wear and
abrasion 2. Melt viscosity is low
3. Great sound damping and energy 3. High impact strengths
absorption
Uses Uses
1. Bulletproof vests 1. Electronics industry (brackets)
2. Fishing line 2. Medical equipment (Sterilize components)
3. Photocopiers
3. Blood filters
QUESTION 21:
Tabulate the difference between addition polymerization and
condensation polymerization.
ANSWER 21:
Addition Condensation
Process by which monomer units are attached Formation of polymers by stepwise
one at a time in chainlike fashion to form a intermolecular chemical reactions that may
linear macromolecule. involve more than one monomer species
QUESTION 22:
Name 3 stages of addition polymerization and represent the bonding
using a sketch
ANSWER 22:
Initiator
Propagation
Termination
QUESTION 23:
Name and describe 4 polymer additives
ANSWER 23:
1. Fillers these are added to improve the strength, abrasion resistance, toughness and thermal
stability of polymers
2. Plasticizers enhances the flexibility, ductility and toughness
3. Stabilizers counteract deteriorative processes due to exposure to light and gaseous species in
atmosphere
4. Colorants used to impart specific colors
5. Flame retardants enhances the flammability resistance