CHAPTER 7: SYNTHETIC MATERIALS IN INDUSTRY

7.1 Synthetic Polymers

1. Synthetic polymers polymers tht !" #e pro$%!e$ &" the l#ortory.
E'mples: sy"thet&! r%##er( sy"thet&! )#res * plst&!s.
+. Synthetic rubbers pro$%!e$ thro%,h the pro!ess o- polymer&.t&o" o-
mo"omers -rom petroleum/natural gas.
/. Sy"thet&! r%##er sho0s the -ollo0&", propert&es:
12 Res&st"t to h&,h tempert%re.
1#2 A#le to 0&thst"$ #$ 0ether.
1!2 Res&st"t to !hem&!l s%#st"!es 1!&$( l3l&s "$ or,"&! sol%t&o"s2.
1$2 4terproo-
1e2 A&rt&,ht
1-2 C""ot o'&$&.e es&ly #y o'y,e" * o.o"e.
1,2 5oo$ het * ele!tr&!l &"s%ltor.
1h2 L&,ht0e&,ht
1&2 Imp!t res&st"t
6. C" #e %se$ to m3e m"y pro$%!ts:
Sy"thet&! Polymers Mo"omers Chr!ter&st&!s Pro$%!ts
Styre"e7#%t$&"e
R%##er 1S8R2 Styre"e( #%t$&e"e
Elst&!( het res&st"t(
sho!3 #sor#e"t
Tyres( !o"9eyor #elts(
shoe soles( ,s3ets
8%tyl R%##er Iso#%tyle"e( Isopre"e
A#rs&o" res&st"t(
&mperme#le to ,s
I""er t%#&", o- tyres(
!o"t&"ers o-
!orros&9e !hem&!ls(
roo)", mter&ls
Neopre"e Chloropre"e
Het res&st"t(
elst&!( !" 0&thst"$
!orros&o"
S%r,&!l ,lo9es(
,sol&"e hoses( !r
!!essor&es

7.2 Plastics
1. Plst&!s m" m$e s%#st"!es !ompose$ o- or,"&! mole!%les.
+. Sy"thet&! res&" the mter&l to m3e plst&!.
/. 5e"erl !hr!ter&st&!s:
12 Chep "$ :e'&#le
1#2 Es&ly mo%l$e$ &"to $&;ere"t shpes.
1!2 Stro", #%t l&,ht
1$2 5oo$ &"s%ltors o- het "$ ele!tr&!&ty
1e2 Do "ot #%r" es&ly
1-2 C" #e $ye$ es&ly
1,2 Res&st"t to !hem&!ls "$ tt!3 o- m&!roor,"&sms
6. Thermoplastics * Thermosetts re + ,ro%ps o- $&;ere"t plst&!s:
Thermoplst&!s Thermosetts
Structure
Characteristi
cs
7 !" #e so-te"e$ or melte$ #y
het&",( hr$e"e$ #y !ool&",
repete$ly.
7 %s%lly :mm#le( :e'&#le(
stro", * $o "ot !o"$%!t
ele!tr&!&ty.
7 !""ot so-te"e$ or melte$ ,&"
o"!e set hr$.
7 %s%lly hr$( stro",( "o"7
:mm#le * $o "ot melt e9e" t
h&,h tempert%re.
Examples
Polyethene, polyvinyl chloride
(PVC),
Polystyrene, Perspex, nylon,
polyster
Urea-methanol, e!on, "a#elite,
poly$rethane, epoxy polymer,
%elamine
Products
Plst&! #,s( sheets( #ottles(
p&pes * te't&le )#res.
Pl%,s( so!3ets( !s&", o- ele!tr&!l
ppl&"!es( h"$le o- p"s "$
3ettles.
1. 8oth thermoplst&!s "$ thermosetts re ,oo$ &"s%ltor o- he$ * ele!tr&!&ty "$
"o"7#&o$e,r$#le.
+. The $&;ere"!es #et0ee" thermoplst&!s "$ thermosetts re:
Thermoplst&!s D&;ere"!es Thermosetts
Lo0 %eltin& Point H&,h
A#se"t Cross-lin#s Prese"t
Yes
'(ility to remo$lded )
recycled No
<le'&#le( !" #e #e"t es&ly *lexi(ility Not :e'&#le( !""ot #e #e"t
<lmm#le +,ect o- .eat No"7:mm#le
Sol%#le Sol$(ility in or&anic solvents Not sol%#le
/. Compos&te plst&! "e0 type o- plst&! 0h&!h &s $er&9e$ -rom !om#&"t&o" o-
9r&o%s types o- plst&!s. 1 E'mples: =e9lr( Mylr( <&#re,lss( Nome' * Te:o"2.
6. The !hr!ter&st&!s "$ %s,e o- !ompos&te plst&!s re s -ollo0e$:
Types o- Compos&te Plst&! Chr!ter&st&!s Us,es
=e9lr
7 type sy"thet&! plst&!
)#re.
7 > t&mes stro",er th" steel.
7 #%lletproo- 9ests( s&l#ots(
r!?%ets( !r tyres( hel&!opter
#l$es.
Mylr
7 stro", * l&,ht polyester.
7 hs h&,h het res&st"t *
&"s%lt&", propert&es.
7 ele!tro"&!s( p!3,&",( &""er
l&"&", o- stro"%ts s%&ts.
<&#re,lss
7 stro", * l&,ht mter&l.
7m$e #y m&'&", polyester
plst&!s 0&th ,lss )#res.
7 !r * eropl"e #o$&es(
#ot h%lls.
Nome'
7 h&,h per-orm"!e )#re.
7 hs het "$ :me
res&st"!e propert&es.
7 h"$ ,lo9es -or !r r!ers(
s%&t -or )re),hters.
Te:o"
7 hs lo0 -r&!t&o" * "t&7st&!3
propert&es.
7 !ot&", !oo3&", %te"s&ls *
"o"7l%#r&!te$ #er&",s.
7./ 0esponsi(le 'ttit$des in the 1isposal o- Synthetic Polymers
1. Improper $&sposl o- plst&! 0stes 0&ll poll%te the e"9&ro"me"t.
+. Incineration & landfll re + !ommo" metho$s &" $&spos&", plst&! 0stes.
/. Proper m",eme"t &" $&sposl the plst&! 0stes &"!l%$e:
12 e"!o%r,e the %se o- other lter"t&9e mter&ls 10oo$( l%m&"&%m(
por!el&"( ,lss2.
1#2 %se $e,r$#le plst&!s 1#&opolymers( sy"thet&! #&o$e,r$#le or
photo$e,r$#le plst&!s2.
1!2 Re$%!e( Re%se( Re!y!le 1/R2.