Plastic material heterogeneous

When this is done it is seen that in all cases plastics materials, before compounding with additives, consist of a mass of very large molecules. In the case of a few naturally occurring materials, such as bitumen, shellac and amber, the compositions are heterogeneous and complex but in all other cases the plastics materials belong to a chemical family referred to as high polymers. 

Mechanical properties of secondary plastic materials obtained by recycling of post-consumer plastic containers for liquids are very poor. This is due to the incompatibility between component potymers (PET, PVC, and PE) and degradation of components diming the heterogeneous reprocessing. 

The resistance of plastic materials to exposure to chemicals depends on the chemical composition and structure of the plastic (composition of the polymer, composition and loading level of fillers and additives), on the composition of the acting medium, and on exposure conditions. Because reactions with plastics and elastomers take place in a heterogeneous system (solid/liquid or solid/gaseous), their progress is strongly influenced by diffusion processes [32]. 

Thermal Conductivity. More information is available relating thermal conductivity to stmctural variables of cellular polymers than for any other property. Several papers have discussed the relation of the thermal conductivity of heterogeneous materials in general (187,188) and of plastic foams in particular (132,143,151,189—191) with the characteristic stmctural variables of the systems. 

You can observe heterogeneous nucleation easily in carbonated drinks like "fizzy" lemonade. These contain carbon dioxide which is dissolved in the drink under pressure. When a new bottle is opened the pressure on the liquid immediately drops to that of the atmosphere. The liquid becomes supersaturated with gas, and a driving force exists for the gas to come out of solution in the form of bubbles. The materials used for lemonade bottles - glass or plastic - are poor catalysts for the heterogeneous nucleation of gas bubbles and are usually very clean, so you can swallow the drink before it loses its "fizz". But ordinary blackboard chalk (for example), is an excellent former of bubbles. If you drop such a nucleant into a newly opened bottle of carbonated beverage, spectacular heterogeneous nucleation ensues. Perhaps it is better put another way. Chalk makes lemonade fizz up. 

Unlike incompatible heterogeneous blends of elastomer-elastomer, elastomer-plastic, and plastic-plastic, the reactively processed heterogeneous blends are expected to develop a variable extent of chemical interaction. For this reason the material properties, interfacial properties, and phase morphology of reactively processed blends would differ significantly from heterogeneous mixtures. 

Heterogeneous compatible blends of preformed elastomers and brittle plastics are also an important route for the development of blends of enhanced performance with respect to crack or impact resistance. Polycarbonate blends with preformed rubber particles of different sizes have been used to provide an insight into the impact properties and the fracture modes of these toughened materials. Izod impact strength of the blends having 5-7.5 wt% of rubber particles exhibits best overall product performance over a wide range temperature (RT to -40°C) [151-154]. 

Anisotropic material In an anisotropic material the properties vary, depending on the direction in which they are measured. There are various degrees of anisotropy, using different terms such as orthotropic or unidirectional, bidirectional, heterogeneous, and so on (Fig. 3-19). For example, cast plastics or metals tend to be reasonably isotropic. However, plastics that are extruded, injection molded, and rolled plastics and metals tend to develop an orientation in the processing flow direction (machined direction). Thus, they have different properties in the machine and transverse directions, particularly in the case of extruded or rolled materials (plastics, steels, etc.). 

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