BASIC CONCEPT OF POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Question 1

Is a substance composed of macromolecules.

Answer 1

polymer

Question 2

Is a molecule of high relative molecular mass, the structure of
which essentially comprises the multiple repetition of units derived, actually or conceptually, from molecules of low relative molecular mass.

Answer 2

macromolecule

Question 3

The term polymer stems from the Greek roots poly (_____) and
meros (_____).

Answer 3

many; part

Question 4

Polymer designates a molecule made up by the repetition of some simpler unit called a ____.

Answer 4

mer

Question 5

Polymers are prepared by joining a large number of small molecules called _____.

Answer 5

monomers

Question 6

On ____, polymer definition is coined by ____.

Answer 6

1833, John Jacob Berzelius

Question 7

The Horners Company of
London recorded use of horn and tortoiseshell as the predominant early natural plastic.

Answer 7

1284

Question 8

On ____, modern definition of polymer by _____.

Answer 8

1920; Hermann Staudinger

Question 9

British explorers discovered the Ancient Mayan civilization in
Central America. The Mayans are assumed to be among the first to find an application for polymers,
as their children were found playing with balls made from local rubber trees.

Answer 9

1500

Question 10

Charles Macintosh uses rubber gum for making waterproof garments.

Answer 10

1823

Question 11

Anselme Payen identified a compound extracted from wood which he named cellulose.

Answer 11

1838

Question 12

Eduard Simon discovered polystyrene.

Answer 12

1839

Question 13

He discovered vulcanization by combining natural rubber with sulfur and heating it in 270 F

Answer 13

Charles Goodyear

Question 14

Goodyear patents the vulcanization of rubber

Answer 14

1844

Question 15

Christian Friedrich Schonbein synthesized nitrocellulose (nitrated cellulose)

Answer 15

1846

Question 16

Alexander Parkes patents the first thermoplastic (Parkesine) made by adding plasticizer to nitrocellulose.

Answer 16

1856

Question 17

The Hyatt brothers (John Wesley and Isaiah) in America produced celluloid from cellulose nitrate mixed with camphor. This was unstable and subsequently led to the development of cellulose acetate.

Answer 17

1868

Question 18

Eugen Baumann was one of
the first people to create polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Answer 18

1872

Question 19

Viscose silk (rayon) was developed by Cross and Bevan.

Answer 19

1892

Question 20

Leo Baekeland produced phenol-formaldehyde, the first truly synthetic plastic, Bakelite. Cast with
pigments to resemble onyx, jade, marble, and amber, it has come to be known as phenolic resin.

Answer 20

1907

Question 21

Fritz Klatte discovered polyvinyl acetate and patented the manufacturing process for PVC.

Answer 21

1912

Question 22

B. F. Goodrich discovered how to make sheets and adhesives from poly(vinyl chloride)—and the “vinyl age” began.

Answer 22

1926

Question 23

‘Scotch’ tape, the first transparent sticky tape invented in US by 3M Company.

Answer 23

1930

Question 24

The first industrially practical polyethylene synthesis was discovered by Eric Fawcett and Reginald Gibson at the Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) works in Northwich, England.

Answer 24

1933

Question 25

Melamine formaldehyde resins were developed.

Answer 25

1933

Question 26

Wallace Carothers, working for DuPont invented polyhexamethylene-adipamide.
DuPont named this product nylon.

Answer 26

1935

Question 27

The Wulff Brothers in Germany produced commercially viable polystyrene.

Answer 27

1936

Question 28

Otto Bayer patented polyurethane.

Answer 28

1937

Question 29

Roy Plunkett, working for DuPont,
accidentally discovered polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE),
trademarked Teflon

Answer 29

1938

Question 30

Polyetheylene terephthalate (PET),
a saturated polyester patented by John Rex Whinfield and James Tennant Dickson.

Answer 30

1941

Question 31

The polyethylene bag makes its first
appearance

Answer 31

1950

Question 32

Polyethylene terephthalate beverage bottles introduced

Answer 32

1973

Question 33

First Blue HDPE pressure pipes for potable water introduced into UK.

Answer 33

1980

Question 34

Nano-Technology applied to polymer
and composite applications

Answer 34

2000s

Question 35

Scientists at Rice University, Texas have created a new super polymer material that can stop a 9mm bullet and seal the hole behind it.

Answer 35

Bullet Proof Polymer

Question 36

Developed by the University of Sheffield to mimic haemoglobin, for use in trauma situations where blood is needed quickly.

Answer 36

Plastics Blood

Question 37

A polymer solar cell that can produce electricity from sunlight by the photovoltaic effect provides a lightweight, disposable and inexpensive alternative to traditional solar panels.

Answer 37

Plastic Solar Cells

Question 38

Medical grade and implantable biomaterials such as PEEK will be used in neurological applications to help control epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and brain trauma.

Answer 38

Implantable Polymers

Question 39

Space Flights Lightweight carbon composite materials will be crucial in the realization of sub-orbital tourist spaceflights.

Answer 39

Commercial