1.8 Performance Characteristics of Polymers Flashcards
Give the 6 stock forms of polymers
- Granules
- Sheet
- Film
- Rods and other extruded form, tubes, bars
- Foam
- Powder
Define thermoplastic polymer and give five examples
A material that can be reheated and reshaped repeatedly, allowing it to be recycled after its initial use.
- LDPE
- HDPE
- PP
- HIPS
- ABS
- PMMA (acrylic)
- Nylon
- uPVC
- PVC
State three properties/characteristics of LDPE
- Lightweight
- Low level of rigidity
- Good chemical resistance
- Low stiffness
State two uses of LDPE
- Detergent bottles
- Toys
- Carrier bags
- General packaging
- Food wrap film
State three properties/characteristics of HDPE
- Tough
- Good chemical resistance
- Good stiffness
- Weather proof
State two uses of HDPE
- Bottles
- Crates
- Buckets
- Bowls
State three properties/characteristics of PP
- Lightweight
- Food-safe
- Good impact resistance
- Good chemical resistance
- Tough
State two uses of PP
- Kitchen products
- Medical equipment
- Rope
- Folders
State three properties/characteristics of HIPS
- Good impact resistance
- Good stiffness
- Lightweight
- Hard
- Tough
State two uses of HIPS
- Yoghurts pots
- Refrigerator linings
- Single-use drinks cups
- Toilet seats
State two properties/characteristics of ABS
- Tough
- Hard
State two uses of ABS
- Safety helmets
- Toys
- Computer housing
- Rigid luggage
State three properties/characteristics of PMMA
- Tough
- Hard
- Good chemcial resisatcne
- Food-safe
- Durable
- Easily machined
State two uses of PMMA
- Illuminated signs
- Car light casings
- Baths
- Lightning units/covers
State three properties/characteristics of Nylon
- Tough
- Corrosion resistance
- Good temperature resistance
- Low coefficient of friction
State two uses of Nylon
- Gears
- Textiles
- Bearings
- Curtains rails
State three properties/characteristics of uPVC
- Rigid opaque
- Tough
- Hard
- Good weathering resistance
- Good chemical resistance
State two uses of uPVC
- Windows frames
- External doors
- Water service pipes
- Guttering and downpipes for buildings
State three properties/characteristics of PVC
- Tough
- Good weathering resistance
- Good chemical resistance
- Flexible
State two uses of PVC
- Hose pipes
- Cable insulation
- Medical grade tubing
Define thermoset polymer and give three examples
A material that, when heated, undergoes a chemical change whereby the molecules from rigid cross-links. They cannot be reheated and reshaped.
- Urea-formaldehyde (UF)
- Melamine formaldehyde (MF)
- Polyester resin
- Epoxy resin
State three properties/characteristics of UF
- Hard
- Tough
- Good electrical insulator
- Brittle
State two uses of UF
- Electrical fittings
- Adhesives
State three properties/characteristics of MF
- Hard
- Opaque
- Tough
- Heat resistant
- Food safe
- Chemical resistant
State two uses of MF
- Decorative laminates
- Picnic ware
- Buttons
State three properties/characteristics of polyester resin
- Rigid
- Heat resistant
- Chemical resistant
- Brittle
State two uses of polyester resin
- Castings
- Car parts
- Chair seats
State three properties/characteristics of epoxy resin
- Rigid
- Hard
- Tough
- Chemical resistant
State two uses of epoxy resin
- Adhesives
- Surface coatings
- Cardiac peacemaker
- Aerospace
Define elastomer and give three examples
A material that can be deformed under pressure and that returns to its original shape when pressure is released
- Natural rubber
- Butadiene rubber (BR)
- Neoprene
- Silicone
State three properties/characteristics of natural rubber
- High tensile strength
- Low elongation
- Good hardness
- Tough
- Electrical insulator
- Good cold resistance
State two uses of natural rubber
- Tyres
- Tubes
- Hoses
- Footwear
- Toys
State three properties/characteristics of BR
- Tough
- Excellent wear resistance against friction
- Good thermal resistance against friction
- Electrical insulator
State two uses of BR
- Vehicle tyres
- Shoe soles
- Toys
State three properties/characteristics of neoprene
- Good thermal resistance
- Toughness
- Good oil and chemical resistance
- Excellent weather resistance
- Good abrasion resistance
- Electrical insulator
State two uses of neoprene
- Wet suits
- Laptop cases
- Industrial wires insulation
- Transmission belts
State three properties/characteristics of silicone
- Poor abrasion resisatnce
- Good thermal resistance
- Good weather resistance
- Good lubricating qualities
- Electrical insulator
State two uses of silicone
- Flexible ice cube trays
- Bakeware
- Cooking utensils
- Medical uses as lubrication for prosthetics