Miss Bhaga
Chapter 17: Polymers
Learning Objectives:
• To understand the primary sources materials for producing
polymers.
• Be able to recognise and characterise different types of polymers.
• Understand the physical and working properties for a range of
thermoforming and thermosetting polymers. Critical Thinker
Key Self
• WTo
hreds:
Manager
rm oset
t in
g
• Ther
moplast
• Vacu ic
um Form
• Injec
tion
mouldin
• Blow g
mouldin
g
Miss Bhaga
Starter Activity
An awards organisation are looking to create a
series of acrylic trophies.
What finishing technique could be used:
(I) to give one side a more opaque appearance?
(ii) to add a pattern or logo that lightly indents the surface?
You have
5
minutes!
Miss Bhaga
Starter Activity
Examiner
Answers:
What finishing technique could be used:
(I) to give one side a more opaque appearance? Frosting
(ii) to add a pattern or logo that lightly indents the surface?
Frosting Etching
Etching
Miss Bhaga
Polymers- Thermoplastics
Plastics are mainly synthetic materials derived from finite
petrochemical resources such as: oil, gas and coal, but are
increasingly produced from sustainable sources such as
vegetable starches. These are also some naturally occurring
plastics such as amber & rubber.
Plastics are categorised in two types:
Thermoplastics:
Thermoplastics are flexible, especially when
heated. The structure of thermoplastics are
loosely entangled with very few cross links.
This allows the chains to easily slide past each
when heated. The can be formed into complex
shapes & many can be reformed multiple
times. Thermoplastics are commonly used in
processes such as vacuum forming, injection
moulding and blow moulding. They are also
easier to recycle.
Miss Bhaga
Polymers- Thermosetting
Thermosetting:
Thermosetting plastics or thermosets are more rigid and, as the
name suggests, once they are formed or ‘set’ they cannot be
reformed. The long polymer chains have many more cross links
between them which stops the molecular chains in the plastic
moving.
As a result, they are generally harder and more brittle than
thermoplastics.
They make excellent electrical insulators and good resistance to
heat and chemicals.
When thermosets are heated, they tend to burn rather than melt,
making most thermosetting plastic difficult to recycle.
Miss Bhaga
Polymers-
Thermoforming
Common Thermoforming
Plastic:
The following table gives
the properties of the most
commonly used plastics.
Most have similar
properties but they all have
slight variations and some
have specific applications.
Miss Bhaga
Polymers- Thermosetting
Common Thermosetting
Plastic:
The properties of the most
commonly used
thermosetting plastics are
similar to each other but
most are quite easily
distinguished from
thermoplastic. They are
rigid but brittle and they
are all better withstanding
heat.
Year 10 Miss
Polymers- Thermosetting
Bhaga
Exam Question:
Q1:
What are the basic common properties that nearly
all plastics possess?
Examiners Answer:
Q2:
Justify which category of plastic would be best
suited to making drinking straws?
Year 10 Miss
Polymers- Thermosetting
Bhaga
Exam Question:
Q1:
What are the basic common properties that nearly
all plastics possess?
Examiners Answer:
Q2:
Justify which category of plastic would be best
suited to making drinking straws?
Miss Bhaga
Plenary
Testing your knowledge!
Please complete the exam
questions activity by clicking
on the icon below!
Miss Bhaga
Starter Activity
Examiner Answer:
What properties of silk Light weight, cool when body
make it suitable for is hot and warm when cold,
luxury items of quick drying
clothing?
Miss Bhaga
Availability of Textiles
Textiles are highly adaptable and can be constructed to maximise
different properties including a very high strength to weight ratio,
which means less material can be used to make strong & robust
products.
Availablity of Textiles:
Textiles are available in many different forms including rolls,
Yarns & fibres. They can be made into a multitude of shapes
and products using different processing methods. Some textiles
can be very cheaply produced and some are extremely
expensive, especially when using rare fibres and labour
intensive techniques.
Categories of Textiles: The categories of textile that are
covered in this chapter include:
• Natural fibres • Woven fabric
• Synthetic fibres • Non-woven and knitted textiles
• Blended and mixed fibres