Polymers

Question 1

What is thermoforming?

Answer 1

Thermoforming can be heated and shaped many times in various ways

Question 2

What is thermosetting?

Answer 2

Thermosetting can only be heated once

Question 3

Types of thermoforming polymers?

Answer 3

High impact polystyrene (HIP)
High-density polythene (HDPE)
Polyethylene Terephthate (PET)
Acrylic(PMMA)
Polyproplyene (PP)
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Question 4

Types of Thermosetting polymers?

Answer 4

Urea Formaldehyde (UF)
Polyster resin
Phenol Formaldehyde (PF)
Melamine Formaldehyde (MF)
Exposy Resin

Question 5

Properties of acrylic (PMMA)?

Answer 5

Hard
excellent optical quality
Good resistance to weathering
Scratches easily

Question 6

Properties of High-impact polystyrene (HIPS)

Answer 6

Tough, hard and rigid
Good impact resistance
Lightwieght

Question 7

Properties of High-density polythene (HDPE)

Answer 7

Hard and stiff
Excellent chemical resistance

Question 8

Properties of polypropylene (PP)?

Answer 8

Tough
Good heat and chemical resistance
Lightweight
Fatigue resistant

Question 9

Properties of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)?

Answer 9

Hard and tough
Good chemical and weather resistance
Low cost
Can be rigid and felxible

Question 10

Properties of polyethylene terephthate (PET)

Answer 10

Tough and durable
Lightweight
Food safe
Impearable to water
Low cost

Question 11

Propertis of Exposy resin?

Answer 11

Electrical insulator
Good chemical and wear resistance

Question 12

Properties of melamine formaldehyde (MF)?

Answer 12

Stiff, hard and strong
Excellent resistance to heat, scratching and staining

Question 13

Properties of phenol formaldehyde (PF)?

Answer 13

Hard
Heat and chemical resistant
Good electrical insulator

Question 14

Properties of polyester resin?

Answer 14

Brittle but becomes tough when laminated with glass fibre
Hard and resistant to UV

Question 15

Properties of urea formaldehyde?

Answer 15

Stiff and hard
Heat resistant
Good electrical insulator

Question 16

Common uses of acrylic (PMMA)?

Answer 16

Car light units, bath tubs, shop signage and displays

Question 17

Common uses of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS)?

Answer 17

Children’s toys, yoghurt pots, refrigerator liners

Question 18

Common uses of high density polythene (HDPE)?

Answer 18

Washing up bowls, buckets, milk crates bottles and pipes

Question 19

Common uses of polypropylene (PP)?

Answer 19

Toys, DVD and blu-ray cases, food packaging film, bottle caps and medical equipment

Question 20

Common uses of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)?

Answer 20

Pipes, gluttering, window frames

Question 21

Common uses of polyethylene terephthate (PET)

Answer 21

Drinks bottles, food packaging

Question 22

Common use of exposy resin?

Answer 22

Adhesives such as araldite, PCB component encapsulation

Question 23

Common uses of Melamine formaldehyde (MF)?

Answer 23

Kitchen work-surface laminates, tableware

Question 24

Common uses of phenol formaldehyde (PF)

Answer 24

Electrical fittings, saucepan, handles, bowling bowls

Question 25

Common uses of polyster resin?

Answer 25

GRP boats, car body panels

Question 26

What is Melamine

Answer 26

It is found in the manufacture of picnic crockery. It is hard so it resists scratching which enables it to maintain its aesthetics. It is more durable than ceramic alternatives

Question 27

What are additives?

Answer 27

Where polymers can be further enhanced

Question 28

Types of additives?

Answer 28

Plasticisers- Soft and flexible (often PVC)
Pigments- changes colour
Stabilisers- withstand UV light damage (outdoor products
Fillers

Question 29

Types of polymer manufacture?

Answer 29

Injection moulding
Extrusion
Blow moulding
Line bending
Vacuum forming

Question 30

Process of injection moulding?

Answer 30

Granules are fed into hopper
Screw in the chamber sends granules forward
Heated jackets melt the polymer
Screw winds back and ram comes forward into position
Mould is closed as ram forces melt into mould
Plastic is allowed to cool