Low water absorption

Key properties of cellulose nitrate are good dimensional stability, low water absorption, and toughness. Its disadvantages are its flammability and lack of stability to heat and sunlight. 

This thermoplastic shows good tensile strength, toughness, low water absorption, and good frictional properties, plus good chemical resistance and electrical properties. 

Unsaturated resias based on 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol are useful ia gel coats and ia laminating and molding resias where advantage is taken of the properties of very low water absorption and resistance to boiling water (6). Thermal stabiHty is imparted to molding resias, both thermoplastic (71,72) and thermoset (73—76), enabling retention of physical and electrical properties at elevated temperatures (77). Additionally, resistance to chemical and environmental exposure is characteristic of products made from these resias (78). 

The TPX experimental product of Mitsubishi Petrochemical Ind. (221) is an amorphous, transparent polyolefin with very low water absorption (0.01%) and a glass-transition temperature comparable to that of BPA-PC (ca 150°C). Birefringence (<20 nm/mm), flexural modulus, and elongation at break are on the same level as PMMA (221). The vacuum time, the time in minutes to reach a pressure of 0.13 mPa (10 torr), is similarly short like that of cychc polyolefins. Typical values of TPX are fisted in Table 11. A commercial application of TPX is not known as of this writing. 

The low water absorption of the polymer avoids the necessity of predrying before processing except where hygroscopic additives are present. 

Although poly(vinyl fluoride) resembles PVC in its low water absorption, resistance to hydrolysis, insolubility in common solvents at room temperature and a tendency to split off hydrogen halides at elevated temperatures, it has a much greater tendency to crystallise. This is because the fluorine atom (c.f. the chlorine atom) is sufficiently small to allow molecules to pack in the same way as polythene. 

Because of such desirable characteristics as low cost, good mouldability, excellent colour range, transparency, rigidity and low water absorption, polystyrene became rapidly developed. For many purposes, however, it was considered to be unacceptably brittle and this led to the development of the rubber-modified high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) and to the complex ABS, AMBS and... 

The pure hydrocarbon nature of polystyrene gives it excellent electrical insulation characteristics, as a result of both the fundamentally good characteristics of the material and to the low water absorption of such a hydrocarbon polymer. The insulation characteristics are therefore well maintained in humid conditions. 

As mentioned earlier, unmodified polystyrene first found application where rigidity and low cost were important prerequisites. Other useful properties were the transparency and high refractive index, freedom from taste, odour and toxicity, good electrical insulation characteristics, low water absorption and comparatively easy processability. Carefully designed and well-made articles from polystyrene were often found to be perfectly suitable for the end-use intended. On the other hand the extensive use of the polymers in badly designed and badly made products which broke only too easily caused a reaction away from the homopolymer. This resulted, first of all, in the development of the high-impact polystyrene and today this is more important than the unmodified polymer (60% of Western European market). 

The very low water absorption of bis-phenol A polycarbonates contributes to a high order of dimensional stability. Table 20.6 shows how the water absorption of j in thick samples changes with time and environmental conditions and the consequent influence on dimensions. 

Crystallisable polymers have also been prepared from diphenylol compounds containing sulphur or oxygen atoms or both between the aromatic rings. Of these the polycarbonates from di-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ether and from di-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)sulphide crystallise sufficiently to form opaque products. Both materials are insoluble in the usual solvents. The diphenyl sulphide polymer also has excellent resistance to hydrolysing agents and very low water absorption. Schnell" quotes a water absorption of only 0.09% for a sample at 90% relative humidity and 250°C. Both the sulphide and ether polymers have melting ranges of about 220-240°C. The di-(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulphoxide and the di-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)sulphone yield hydrolysable polymers but whereas the polymer from the former is soluble in common solvents the latter is insoluble. 

One particular feature of PPO is its exceptional dimensional stability amongst the so-called engineering plastics. It has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, low moulding shrinkage and low water absorption, thus enabling moulding to close tolerances. 

PPO forms one of a group of rigid, heat-resistant, more-or-less selfextinguishing polymers with a good electrical and chemical resistance, low water absorption and very good dimensional stability. This has led to a number of applications in television such as tuner strips, microwave insulation components and transformer housings. The excellent hydrolytic stability has also led to applications in water distribution and water treatment applications such as in pumps, water meters, sprinkler systems and hot water tanks. It is also used in valves of drink vending machines. 

The low water absorption. Moulding can usually be undertaken without the need for predrying the granules. 

Asbestos may be used for improved heat and chemical resistance and silica, mica and china clay for low water absorption grades. Iron-free mica powder is particularly useful where the best possible electrical insulation characteristics are required but because of the poor adhesion of resin to the mica it is usually used in conjunction with a fibrous material such as asbestos. Organic fillers are commonly used in a weight ratio of 1 1 with the resin and mineral fillers in the ratio 1.5 1. 

Low water absorption and good chemical resistance, including resistance to stress cracking. 

Good dimensional stability, partially as a consequence of the low water absorption but also because of a low coefficient of thermal expansion. Capability of compounding to give UL94 V-0 flammability ratings. 

The finished mouldings have high dimensional stability, low water absorption and good resistance to tracking. They also exhibit good heat resistance and mouldings cU e said to have withstood temperatures of 200 C without undue deterioration. 

There is little call for these thermoplastics materials (marketed as Durethan U, Farbenfabriken Bayer) since they are about twice the price of nylons 66 and 6. Where a thermoplastic for light engineering purposes is required with a low water absorption, nylon 11, acetal resins and, in certain instances, polycarbonates are cheaper and, usually, at least as satisfactory. 

It is suggested that the first material to be considered is polypropylene. The polymer has a number of desirable properties, as discussed in Chapter 11. These include low density, reasonable toughness, flexibility and strength at normal room temperatures, good resistance to hot water for a moderate period, low water absorption, translucency and good surface finish. Furthermore, it is one of the cheapest materials currently available. 

There is a frequent dememd for materials suitable for housings for computer, domestic, electrical and automotive equipment. In these applications toughness, excellent surface finish, surface durability, reasonable rigidity, dimensional stability, good weathering behaviour and low water absorption are common requirements. In these applications ABS is frequently considered first but its limited deflection temperature and heat aging resistance may lead to other... 

Polyisobutylene has a similar chemical backbone to butyl rubber, but does not contain double carbon-carbon bonds (only terminal unsaturation). Many of its characteristics are similar to butyl rubber (ageing and chemical resistance, low water absorption, low permeability). The polymers of the isobutylene family have very little tendency to crystallize. Their strength is reached by cross-linking instead of crystallization. The amorphous structure of these polymers is responsible for their flexibility, permanent tack and resistance to shock. Because the glass transition temperature is low (about —60°C), flexibility is maintained even at temperatures well below ambient temperature. 

Articles made from polypropylene have good electrical and chemical resistance and low water absorption. Its other useful characteristics are its light weight (lowest thermoplastic polymer density), high abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, high impact strength, and no toxicity. Table 12-3 shows the properties of polypropylene. 

Low water absorption. In this respect certain fine clays are unsuitable. 

Most of over six million dentures produced annually in the USA are made of acrylics (PMMAs) that includes full dentures, partial dentures, teeth, denture reliners, fillings and miscellaneous uses. Plastics have been edging into the dental market for over a half century. Even before the introduction of acrylics to the dental profession in 1937, nitrocellulose, phenol-formaldehyde and vinyl plastics were used as denture base materials. Results, however, were not wholly satisfactory because these plastics did not have the proper requisites of dental plastics. Since then, PMMAs have kept their lead as the most useful dental plastics, although many new plastics have appeared and are still being tested. Predominance of PMMAs is not surprising, for they are reasonably strong, have exceptional optical properties, low water absorption and solubility, and excellent dimensional stability. Most denture base materials, therefore, contain PMMA as the main ingredient. 

Polystyrene One of the high volume plastics, is relatively low in cost, easy to process, has sparkling clarity, and low water absorption. But basic form (crystal PS) is brittle, with low heat and chemical resistance, poor weather resistance. High impact polystyrene is made with butadiene modifiers provides significant improvements in impact strength and elongation over crystal polystyrene, accompanied by a loss of transparency and little other property improvement. PS is used in many different formulations. 

Silicones Highest heat resistance, low water absorption, excellent dielectric properties, high arc resistance Compression molding, injection molding, encapsulation... 

Diallyl o-phthalate Good electrical insulation, low water absorption Compression molding... 

Excellent mechanical properties, dimensional stability, chemical resistance (especially alkalis), low water absorption, selfextinguishing (when halogenated), low shrinkage, good abrasion resistance, very good adhesion properties... 

High heat distortion, low water absorption, low elongation, good impact strength, good tensile and flexural strength... 

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