Poly commercial applications

Having examined the properties of alkenes and introduced the elements of polymers and poly merization let s now look at some commercial applications of ethylene and propene... 

Miscellaneous Commercial Applications. Dimer acids are components of "downweU" corrosion inhibitors for oil-drilling equipment (see Petroleum Corrosion and corrosion inhibitors). This may account for 10% of current dimer acid use (71). The acids, alkyl esters, and polyoxyalkylene dimer esters are used commercially as components of metal-working lubricants (see Lubrication). Dimer esters have achieved some use in specialty lubricant appHcations such as gear oils and compressor lubricants. The dimer esters, compared to dibasic acid esters, polyol esters and poly(a-olefin)s, are higher in cost and of higher viscosity. The higher viscosity, however, is an advantage in some specialties, and the dimer esters are very stable thermally and can be made quite oxidatively stable by choice of proper additives. 

In the case of poly(alkoxyphosphazenes) (IV) or poly(aryloxyphos-phazenes) (V) a dramatic change in properties can arise by employing combinations of substituents. Polymers such as (NP CHjCF ) and (NP CgH,).) are semicrystalline thermoplastics (Table I). With the introduction of two or more substituents of sufficiently different size, elastomers are obtained (Figure 4). Another requirement for elastomeric behavior is that the substituents be randomly distributed along the P-N backbone. This principle was first demonstrated by Rose (9), and subsequent work in several industrial laboratories has led to the development of phosphazene elastomers of commercial interest. A phosphazene fluoroelastomer and a phosphazene elastomer with mixed aryloxy side chains are showing promise for military and commercial applications. These elastomers are the subject of another paper in this symposium (10). 

So far, commercial applications have been developed only for poly(3HB-co-3HV) (Biopol) by ICI [52,142]. This material has been processed into bottles for hair care products (Wella) and biodegradable motor oil [84]. Moreover, various containers, disposable razors, and food trays for holding portions of fish and meat in the refrigerated section of supermarkets were all manufactured from Biopol and sold in Japan [84,143]. In these cases, the rather expensive Biopol is used solely for its green image in order to increase product sales and to open up the market for other applications, which require biodegradability for functional reasons [18]. 

Biaxially Oriented Poly(Ethylene 2,6-Naphthalene) Films Manufacture, Properties and Commercial Applications... 

Many other crosslinking reactions are used in commercial applications. A variety of halogen-containing elastomers are crosslinked by heating with a basic oxide (e.g., MgO or ZnO) and a primary diamine [Labana, 1986 Schmiegel, 1979]. This includes poly(epichlorohydrin) (Sec. 7-2b-6) various co- and terpolymers of fluorinated monomers such as vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropene, perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether), and tetrafluoroethylene (Sec. 6-8e) and terpolymers of alkyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, and 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (Sec. 6-8e). 

Other polymers undergo cyclization, but there are no commercial applications. Poly (methacrylic acid) cyclizes by anhydride formation and poly(methyl vinyl ketone) by condensation (with dehydration) between methyl and carbonyl groups. 

Attempts to dope organic semiconductors have been made very early in the field, motivated by the prospect of possibly reaching metallic conductivities [108, 109]. These synthetic metals, however, have not been realized. While p-type doping could be obtained, for example, with iodine gases for poly-p-phenylene vinylene (PPV) derivatives, and n-type doping was demonstrated with sodium for a cyano-derivative of PPV, the doping levels obtained were not stable with time. The dopant molecules readily diffused into the organic semiconductor, yet also out of it. Due to the lack of stability, these approaches were not suitable for commercial applications. 

Modern polyimides are most likely an outgrowth of trying to find increased utilization of aromatic polycarboxylic acids as prepared by oxidation of poly-methylbenzenes, a major component in petroleum feedstocks. Therefore, it is not too surprising that the first commercial application of these materials appeared... 

It is evident that the area of water-soluble polymer covers a multitude of applications and encompasses a broad spectrum of compositions. Proteins (qv) and other biological materials are covered elsewhere in the Encyclopedia. One of the products of this type, poly(aspartic acid), may be developed into interesting biodegradable commercial applications (70,71). 

Researchers at Bayer AG addressed these critical issues and developed successful solutions enabling commercial application of Julia-Colonna-type epoxidation [35-40]. Starting with optimization of catalyst preparation, a straightforward synthesis based on inexpensive reagents and requiring a shorter reaction time was developed for the poly-Leu-catalyst [35], In particular, the reaction time for the new polymerization process was only 3 h when the process was conducted at 80 °C in toluene, compared with 5 days under classic reaction conditions (THF, room temperature). Furthermore, the catalyst prepared by the Bayer route is much more active and does not require preactivation [35-40],... 

More recent examples include end-functionalized multiarmed poly (vinyl ether) (44), MVE/styrene block copolymers (45), and star-shaped polymers (46—48). With this remarkable control over polymer architecture, the growth of future commercial applications seems entirely likely. 

Solvent-free polymer-electrolyte-based batteries are still developmental products. A great deal has been learned about the mechanisms of ion conductivity in polymers since the discovery of the phenomenon by Feuillade et al. in 1973 [41], and numerous books have been written on the subject. In most cases, mobility of the polymer backbone is required to facilitate cation transport. The polymer, acting as the solvent, is locally free to undergo thermal vibrational and translational motion. Associated cations are dependent on these backbone fluctuations to permit their diffusion down concentration and electrochemical gradients. The necessity of polymer backbone mobility implies that noncrystalline, i.e., amorphous, polymers will afford the most highly conductive media. Crystalline polymers studied to date cannot support ion fluxes adequate for commercial applications. Unfortunately, even the fluxes sustainable by amorphous polymers discovered to date are of marginal value at room temperature. Neat polymer electrolytes, such as those based on poly(ethyleneoxide) (PEO), are only capable of providing viable current densities at elevated temperatures, e.g., >60°C. 

T nterest in polyether-ester block copolymers that are both thermoplastic - and elastomeric continues at a sustained pace (1-9). Most of the recent communications have dealt with the tetramethylene terephthalate/ poly(tetramethylene ether) terephthalate copolymers which are continuing to find increased use in commercial applications requiring thermoplastic elastomers with superior properties. 

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) was the backbone of this growing industry. The unprecedented inertness of this polymer under thermal, chemical, and biological environments, coupled with its unique physical behavior, led to a myriad of commercial applications. Its uses include mechanical applications, in which stability in hostile environments was the desired attribute surface treatments, in which low surface energy was the important feature and cosmetic and biomedical applications, in which the biological inertness of the material was exploited. During this period, this new and healthy industry was expanding in all directions. 

Polymer photodetectors, on the other hand, are rapidly becoming feasible for commercial applications. Recently a full-color optical scanner was made from an array of 102 polymer photodiodes [315]. Poly(3-octyl thiophene), P30T, was chosen as the polymer for the scanner because its band gap is 1.9 eV (650 nm), which allows it to absorb light at all wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Red, green, or blue filters were placed in front of the photodiodes to make them sensitive to a particular color. This prototype scanner demonstrates the feasibility of making large two-dimensional full-color detector arrays on a wide variety of surfaces. 

Organic matrices are divided into thermosets and thermoplastics. The main thermoset matrices are polyesters, epoxies, phenolics, and polyimides, polyesters being the most widely used in commercial applications (3,4). Epoxy and polyimide resins are applied in advanced composites for structural aerospace applications (1,5). Thermoplastics Uke polyolefins, nylons, and polyesters are reinforced with short fibers (3). They are known as traditional polymeric matrices. Advanced thermoplastic polymeric matrices like poly(ether ketones) and polysulfones have a higher service temperature than the traditional ones (1,6). They have service properties similar to those of thermoset matrices and are reinforced with continuous fibers. Of course, composites reinforced with discontinuous fibers have weaker mechanical properties than those with continuous fibers. Elastomers are generally reinforced by the addition of carbon black or silica. Although they are reinforced polymers, traditionally they are studied separately due to their singular properties (see Chap. 3). 

Tphe surface activity of block copolymers containing dimethylsiloxane units as one component has received considerable attention. Silicone-poly ether block copolymers (1,2,3) have found commercial application, especially as surfactants in polyurethane foam manufacture. Silicone-polycarbonate (4, 5), -polystyrene (6, 7), -polyamide (8), -polymethyl methacrylate (9), and -polyphenylene ether (10) block copolymers all have surface-modifying effects, especially as additives in other polymeric systems. The behavior of several dimethylsiloxane-bisphenol A carbonate block copolymers spread at the air—water interface was described in a previous report from this laboratory (11). Noll et al. (12) have described the characteristics of spread films of some polyether—siloxane block co-... 

The first commercial application of pervaporation was for ethanol-water separation. The dilute solution produced by fermentation is distilled to produce an overhead product with 90 to 95 percent alcohol (close to the azeotrope), and this solution is fed to the membrane unit to give nearly pure ethanol (99.9 percent). The permeate stream with about 20 to 40 percent alcohol is recyled to the distillation column. The vapor-liquid equilibrium curve and the vapor and liquid compositions for a poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane are shown in Fig. 26.16. The membrane gives a permeate that is always richer in water than the liquid, in contrast to distillation, where alcohol is the more volatile component over most of the range. The shape of the curve for permeate composition indicates strongly... 

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