Polyethylene polymers, properties

Polyethylene particle growth, over Ziegler-Natta catalysts, 26 530-531 Polyethylene polymer properties, control of, 17 703... 

The focus of commercial research as of the mid-1990s is on catalysts that give desired and tailored polymer properties for improved processing. Development of metallocene catalyst systems is an example. Exxon, Dow, and Union Carbide are carrying out extensive research on this catalyst system for the production of polyethylene and polypropylene. 

The properties of elastomeric materials are also greatly iafluenced by the presence of strong interchain, ie, iatermolecular, forces which can result ia the formation of crystalline domains. Thus the elastomeric properties are those of an amorphous material having weak interchain iateractions and hence no crystallisation. At the other extreme of polymer properties are fiber-forming polymers, such as nylon, which when properly oriented lead to the formation of permanent, crystalline fibers. In between these two extremes is a whole range of polymers, from purely amorphous elastomers to partially crystalline plastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonates, etc. 

Most polymer properties depend on the average DP. Figure 22.2(b, c), for polyethylene, shows two the tensile strength, and the softening temperature. DPs of less than 300 give no strength because the short molecules slide apart too easily. The strength rises with DP, but so does the viscosity it is hard to mould polyethylene if... 

IBI 1,4-Polyisoprene 1,4-Polybutadiene Poly(ethylene-co- propylene Polyethylene Inverse block polymer— properties dependent on composition... 

Intentional hranching may improve the properties of the product polymer through grafting. A graft copolymer can he obtained by creating active sites on the polymer backbone. The addition of a different monomer then reacts at the active site and forms a branch. For example, polyethylene irradiated with gamma rays and then exposed to a reactive monomer, such as acrylonitrile, produces a polyethylene-polymer with acrylonitrile branches ... 

Polymerizations catalyzed with coordination compounds are becoming more important for obtaining polymers with special properties (linear and stereospecific). The first linear polyethylene polymer was prepared from a mixture of triethylaluminum and titanium tetrachloride (Ziegler catalyst) in the early 1950s. Later, Natta synthesized a stereoregular polypropylene with a Ziegler-type catalyst. These catalyst combinations are now called Zieglar-Natta catalysts. 

The most common backbone structure found in commercial polymers is the saturated carbon-carbon structure. Polymers with saturated carbon-carbon backbones, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyacrylates, are produced using chain-growth polymerizations. The saturated carbon-carbon backbone of polyethylene with no side groups is a relatively flexible polymer chain. The glass transition temperature is low at -20°C for high-density polyethylene. Side groups on the carbon-carbon backbone influence thermal transitions, solubility, and other polymer properties. 

Polyetiiylene (PE) is one of the lowest-cost polymers. There are various types of polyethylene denoted by their molecular weight. This ranges from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) through uTtrahigh-molecular-weight (UHMW) polyethylene. Physical properties, processability, and other characteristics of the polyethylene vary greatly with the molecular weight. 

Andrew Peacock is a Development Associate with Tredegar Film Products, Richmond, Virginia. Previously he worked as a Senior Research Chemist with Exxon Chemical Company, Baytown, Texas. Publications include the Handbook of Polyethylene - Structures, Properties and Applications , nine patents in the field of polymer science, and numerous journal articles. Dr. Peacock received a B. Sc. in Chemistry from the University of London, England, an M. Sc. in Polymer Science and Technology from Lancaster University, England and a Ph. D. in Chemistry from the University of Southampton, England. 

Epacher, E., Krohnke, C. and Pukhanszky, B., Effect of Catalyst Residues on the Chain Structure and Properties of a Phillips Type Polyethylene, Polym. Eng. Set, 40, 1458 (2000)... 

Condensation monomers having the benzimidazolin-2-one ring system have found utility as modifiers in polyester synthesis. In particular, halogenated diols (73) and dicarboxylic acids (74) may be incorporated (78MI11100) into polyethylene terephthalate) or poly(butyl-ene terephthalate) at fairly low levels to impart flame retardancy. This can be accomplished without adverse effects upon other polymer properties. 

F.S. Qureshi, M.B. Amin, A.G. Maadhah, and S.H. Hamid, Weather-induced degradation of linear low density polyethylene Mechanical properties. Polym. Plast. Tech. Eng., 28 (7 8), 649-662 (1989). 

A family of ADMET model copolymers were synthesized and used to study the effects of regular microstructure on polymer properties, in particular functionahzed polyethylenes. The structure-property relationships of various ethylene copolymers can be clarified using these model systems. This is illustrated in Fig. 3 by the relationship of to functional group size. Future studies on these and similar systems should lead to fundamental discoveries concerning the class of materials known as polyethylenes and their physical properties. 

Recent developments in ADMET polymerization and its use in materials preparation have been presented. Due to the mild nature of the polymerization and the ease of monomer synthesis, ADMET polymers have been incorporated into various materials and functionaUzed hydrocarbon polymers. Modeling industrial polymers has proven successful, and continues to be appUed in order to study polyethylene structure-property relationships. Ethylene copolymers have also been modeled with a wide range of comonomer contents and absolutely no branching. Increased metathesis catalyst activity and functional group tolerance has allowed polymer chemists to incorporate amino acids, peptides, and various chiral materials into metathesis polymers. Sihcon incorporation into hydrocarbon-based polymers has been achieved, and work continues toward the application of latent reactive ADMET polymers in low-temperature resistant coatings. 

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