Poly weatherability

As the demand for rubber increased so did the chemical industry s efforts to prepare a synthetic sub stitute One of the first elastomers (a synthetic poly mer that possesses elasticity) to find a commercial niche was neoprene discovered by chemists at Du Pont in 1931 Neoprene is produced by free radical polymerization of 2 chloro 1 3 butadiene and has the greatest variety of applications of any elastomer Some uses include electrical insulation conveyer belts hoses and weather balloons... 

Poly(vinyl acetate) is used in latex water paints because of its weathering, quick-drying, recoat-ability, and self-priming properties. It is also used in hot-melt and solution adhesives. 

Vinyl fluoride (fluoroethene), is manufactured from the cataly2ed addition of hydrogen fluoride to acetylene. It is used to prepare poly(vinyl fluoride) which has found use in highly weather-resistant films (Tedlar film, Du Pont). Poly(vinyhdene fluoride) also is used in weather-resistant coatings (see Eluorine compounds, organic). The monomer can be prepared from acetylene, hydrogen fluoride, and chlorine but other nonacetylenic routes are available. 

Electrical Properties. Poly(methyl methacrylate) has specific electrical properties that make it unique (Table 4). The surface resistivity of poly(methyl methacrylate) is higher than that of most plastic materials. Weathering and moisture affect poly(methyl methacrylate) only to a minor degree. High resistance and nontracking characteristics have resulted in its use in high voltage appHcations, and its excellent weather resistance has promoted the use of poly(methyl methacrylates) for outdoor electrical appHcations (22). 

Vinyl Acetate—Ethylene Copolymers. In these random copolymers, the ratio of ethylene to vinyl acetate (EVA) is varied from 30—60%. As the vinyl acetate content increases, the oil and heat resistance increases. With higher ethylene content the physical strength, tensile, and tear increases. The polymers are cured with peroxide. The main properties of these elastomers include heat resistance, moderate oil and solvent resistance, low compression set, good weather resistance, high damping, exceUent o2one resistance, and they can be easily colored (see Vinyl polymers, poly(VINYL acetate)). 

Prevention of Soil Crusting. Acid-based fertilizers such as Unocal s N/Furic (a mixture of urea with sulfuric acid), acidic polymers such as FMC s Spersal (a poly(maleic acid) derivative originally developed to treat boiler scale) (58), the anionic polyacrylamides described previously, as weU as lower molecular weight analogues such as Cytec s Aerotil L Soil Conditioner, have all been used successfully in at least some circumstances to prevent the formation of soil cmsts. It is difficult to prove benefits in the laboratory, and field tests may give variable results depending on local weather conditions. 

As indicated in the previous section poly(methyl methacrylate) is a hard, rigid, transparent material. Commercial grades have extremely good weathering resistance compared with other thermoplastics. 

Poly(methyl methacrylate) may be blended with a number of additives. Of these the most important are dyes and pigments and these should be stable to both processing and service conditions. Two particular requirements are, firstly, that when used in castings they should not affect the polymerisation reaction and, secondly, that they should have good weathering resistance. 

The important features of rigidity and transparency make the material competitive with polystyrene, cellulose acetate and poly(methyl methacrylate) for a number of applications. In general the copolymer is cheaper than poly(methyl methacrylate) and cellulose acetate, tougher than poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene and superior in chemical and most physical properties to polystyrene and cellulose acetate. It does not have such a high transparency or such food weathering properties as poly(methyl methacrylate). As a result of these considerations the styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers have found applications for dials, knobs and covers for domestic appliances, electrical equipment and car equipment, for picnic ware and housewares, and a number of other industrial and domestic applications with requirements somewhat more stringent than can be met by polystyrene. 

In the early 1960s other terephthalates became available, particularly poly-(1,4-cyclohexylene terephthalate) Figure 21.10 (b)), with slightly higher and superior water and weathering stability to poly(ethylene terephthalate). Fibre and film forms became available. 

This polymer has a slightly stiffer chain and hence slightly higher melting point and heat distortion temperatures than poly(ethylene terephthalate). Films are available (Kodel-Kodak) which have been biaxially stretched about 200% from polymer with molecular weights of about 25 000. They are similar electrically to poly(ethylene terephthalate), are weaker mechanically but have superior resistance to water and in weathering stability. Some properties are given in Table 25.6. 

Resistance to weathering. Zinc oxide and magnesium oxide stabilize poly-chloroprene against dehydrochlorination. Further, zinc oxide helps vulcanize the rubber, and magnesium oxide reacts with /-butyl phenolic resin to produce a resinate which improves heat resistance of solvent-borne polychloroprene adhesives. 

Weathering Many plastics has short lives when exposed to outdoor conditions. The better materials include acrylic, chlorotri-fluorethylene, vinylidene fluoride, chlorinated polyether, polyester, alkyd, and black linear poly-ethylene. Black materials are best for outdoor service. Some of the styrene copolymers are suitable for certain outdoor uses (Chapter 2, WEATHERING/ ENVIRONMENT). 

AB-type polycondensations, 330 AB-type polymers, 135 Accelerated weathering tests, 245 Acceptor-catalytic polyesterification, 75 4-Acetoxy benzoic acid, poly esterification of, 74... 

The metals sulfides are the most dangerous since after aerobic weathering they are transformed into water-soluble sulfates of different metals. Accordingly, in the areas of non-ferrous and rare metal ore exploration and treatments, the acid sulfate landscapes are formed with high content of toxic metals. The biogeochemical technogenic provinces are known, for instance, copper-nickel provinces in the Kola Peninsula, Fennoscandia molybdenum provinces in the Caucasian region, copper and chromium-nickel ones in the South Ural, poly-metal ones, in the Pacific coast of eastern Eurasia (Russia, China, and Korea), etc. 

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), an amorphous plastic material, is extremely stable to aging and to weathering it is hard and glass clear. 

Varghese JK, Na SJ, Park JH, Woo D, Yang I, Lee BY (2010) Thermal and weathering degradation of poly (propylene carbonate). Polym Degrad Stab 95 1039-1044... 

More than 800 million pounds of EPM and EPDM polymers were produced in the United States in 2001. Their volume ranks these materials fourth behind styrene-1,3-butadiene copolymers, poly( 1,4-butadiene), and butyl rubber as synthetic rubbers. EPM and EPDM polymers have good chemical resistance, especially toward ozone. They are very cost-effective products since physical properties are retained when blended with large amounts of fillers and oil. Applications include automobile radiator hose, weather stripping, and roofing membrane. 

For example, blending with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) has been suggested. PMMA exhibits excellent weatherability, mechanical properties and surface scratch resistance and thus, is widely... 

Traditional ASA compositions and such with improved weatherability are shown in Table 12.6. The nylon 6,6 compounds are added as the color retention agent in place of the poly(ester)s of the conventional composition (30). 

Because of the extraordinary outdoor weatherability of ASA, it is being molded and extmded in various door and window frame applications. Likewise, in commercial construction, thermoplastic elastomers are finding increasing use in window-wall constructions. Poly(vinyl chloride) strips have been used as thermal breaks in aluminum windows, and aluminum doors and frames have been clad with PVC. A dual-wall, internally-ribbed construction, like that used for siding, has been used for door and window frames and sashes in mild climates. 

Siloxane elastomers present an attractive alternative to the butadiene acrylonitrile elastomers most often used for epoxy modification. Poly(dimethyl siloxanes) exhibit glass transition temperatures well below those of butadiene acrylonitrile modifiers (minimum —123 °C vs. about —40 °C) and also display very good thermal stability13, 14). Other favorable and potentially useful attributes include good weatherability, oxidative stability, and moisture resistance. Finally, the non-polar nature and low surface energy of poly(dimethyl siloxanes) constitute a thermodynamic driving force... 

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