Thermoplastic polymers structures

The polymer molecular chains form the backbone of the thermoplastics polymer structure. The nature and orientation of the monomer units in the chain determine the primary structure of the polymer. This primary structure of the chain can be differentiated into three groups ... 

PET, PTT, and PBT have similar molecular structure and general properties and find similar applications as engineering thermoplastic polymers in fibers, films, and solid-state molding resins. PEN is significantly superior in terms of thermal and mechanical resistance and barrier properties. The thermal properties of aromatic-aliphatic polyesters are summarized in Table 2.6 and are discussed above (Section 2.2.1.1). 

Polymer structure and formulation. As an example, Woo et al. [7] measured OIT values for series of commercial PVC resins and polyester thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). The researchers used the ASTM D3895-80 procedure, but substituted air as the oxidising gas instead of pure oxygen. A dependency on thermal processing history of the TPE film samples appeared to influence the measured OIT in the PVC study, chemically different chain ends affected polymer stability and hence OIT values. 

Thermoplastic polymers can be heated and cooled reversibly with no change to their chemical structure. Thermosets are processed or cured by a chemical reaction which is irreversible they can be softened by heating but do not return to their uncured state. The polymer type will dictate whether the compound is completely amorphous or partly crystalline at the operating temperature, and its intrinsic resistance to chemicals, mechanical stress and electrical stress. Degradation of the basic polymer, and, in particular, rupture of the main polymer chain or backbone, is the principal cause of reduction of tensile strength. 

Liquid crystalline aromatic polyesters are a class of thermoplastic polymers that exhibit a highly ordered structure in both the melt and solid states. They can be used to replace such materials as metals, ceramics, composites and other plastics... 

Self-condensation of the potassium salt of 2-hydroxy-8-bromodibenzo-thiophene 5,5-dioxide in dimethyl sulfone gives a thermoplastic polymer of unit structure 150. ... 

In the previous chapter we talked about linear polymers and have mentioned the concept of cross-linking only in passing. Linear polymers are usually thermoplastic they soften or melt when heated and will dissolve in suitable solvents. They can be remelted and shaped into their finished product with no further chemical reactions. Thermoset resins, those having elaborately cross-linked three-dimensional structures, set or harden by undergoing a chemical reaction during the manufacture of finished products. They decompose on heating and are infusible and insoluble. Their chemistry and physical properties are quite different from thermoplastic polymers. The important ones are now discussed. 

Ring opening polymerization of cyclic monomers to yield thermoplastic polymers has been studied by a number of investigators [1-19] over the years. A variety of cyclic monomers ranging in structures from the more commonly encountered olefins, ethers, formals, lactones,... 

Polyethylene oxide) [25322-68-3] (PEO) is a water-soluble, thermoplastic polymer produced by the heterogeneous polymerization of ethylene oxide. The white, free-flowing resins are characterized by the following structural formula ... 

Polyesters are known to be produced by many bacteria as intracellular reserve materials for use as a food source during periods of environmental stress. They have received a great deal of attention since the 1970s because they are biodegradable, can be processed as plastic materials, are produced from renewable resources, and can be produced by many bacteria in a range of compositions. The thermoplastic polymers have properties that vary from soft elastomers to rigid britde plastics in accordance with the structure of the pendent side-chain of the polyester. The general structure of this class of compounds is shown by (3), where R = -(-CH2-) CH3, n = > 100, and m = 0 8. 

---