Thermoplastic Types

Polyamide Resins. Another class of polyamide resins, in addition to the Hquid resins used as epoxy hardeners, are the thermoplastic type, prepared generaHy by the condensation reaction of polyamines with polybasic fatty acids. These resins find use in certain hot-melt adhesives, coatings, and inks. Diamines, typicaHy EDA (233), are the principal amine reactant however, tri- and tetramines are sometimes used at low levels to achieve specific performance. 

Polymer-matrix materials include a wide range of specific materials. Perhaps the most commonly used polymer is epoxy. Other polymers include vinyl ester and polyester. Polymers can be either of the thermoset type, where cross-linking of polymer chains is irreversible, or of the thermoplastic type, where cross-linking does not take place but the matrix only hardens and can be softened and hardened repeatedly. For example, thermoplastics can be heated and reheated, as is essential to any injection-molding process. In contrast, thermosets do not melt upon reheating, so they cannot be injection molded. Polyimides have a higher temperature limit than epoxies (650°F versus 250°F or 350°F) (343°C versus 121°C or 177°C), but are much more brittle and considerably harder to process. 

Figure 7.4. (a) Thermoplastic types recent patents for the same period... 

The Mohs scale is useful for defining the scratch resistance of plastics relative to those things with which the plastic may come in contact during its service life. It is of limited value, however, for differentiating between the scratch resistance of the various plastics, since practically all of them, including both the thermosetting and the thermoplastic types,... 

Figure 6. Adhesion at the rubber-resin interface in the rubber-reinforced thermoplastics, type III (assuming that most of the grafting takes place on the surface of latex particles)...

Thermoplastic Type Designation Max. Continuous Service Temperature Comments... 

Thermoplastic type Screw zone length Compression ratio... 

To the thermoset type belong bismaleimides and bisnadimides as well as oligomeric end capped imides. End capping occurs with reactive phen-ylethyl groups. These types are used for reactive injection molding and related techiuques. The chemistry of formation of the imide moiety is quite similar for both the thermoset type and the thermoplastic type. There are several monographs on PIs. Bismaleimides are a separate subclass... 

TP Thermoplastic type GF Glass fiber reinforced type TS Thermosetting type... 

This group is very stable and plays no part in the reaction (except if it is the linear thermoplastic type). The reactivity of the remaining types originates from the presence of... 

Examples of inert or extender fillers include china clay (kaolin), talc, and calcium carbonate. Calcinm carbonate is an important filler, with a particle size of about 1 pm. It is a natural product from sedimentary rocks and is separated into chalk, limestone, and marble. In some cases, the calcium carbonate may be treated to improve interaction with the thermoplastic. Glass spheres are also used as thermoplastic fillers. They may be either solid or hollow, depending on the particular application. Talc is a filler with a lamellar particle shape. It is a namral, hydrated magnesium silicate with good slip properties. Kaolin and mica are also natural materials with lamellar structures. Other fillers include woUastonite, silica, barium sulfate, and metal powders. Carbon black is used as a filler primarily in the rnbber industry, but it also finds application in thermoplastics for conductivity, for UV protection, and as a pigment. Fillers in fiber form are often used in thermoplastics. Types of fibers inclnde cotton, wood flour, fiberglass, and carbon. Table 1.3 shows the fillers and their forms. An overview of some typical fillers and their effect on properties is shown in Table 1.4. Considerable research interest exists for the incorporation of nanoscale fillers into polymers. This aspect will be discussed in later chapters. 

Phenolic resins are prepared by a step-growth polymerisation of formaldehyde and phenol or phenol derivative using an acid or a base catalyst. The product type and the quality largely depend on the ratio of the reactants used and the nature of the catalyst. Phenolic resins are available in two varieties 1) novolac, which is a thermoplastic type and can be used as it is or can be cured with hexamethylene tetramine (HMTA) to get a crosslinked structure. This can also be viewed as a reactive intermediate, and can be transformed into other groups so different types of structures can be generated and 2) resole, which is a multifunctional reactive compound and can be cured thermally without a catalyst or an acid catalyst. 

The general formula of an emulsified polyurethane or aqueous dispersion used for adhesive purposes is shown in Fig. 8.11. Aqueous polyurethane dispersions usually have 40% solids of a thermoplastic type (for aqueous inertness), aliphatic diisocyanate polymer (for light stability) and an anionic surfactant is used. However, if a polyurethane ionomer is prepared this does not contain added emulsifier, the polyurethane itself having its own emulsifier function. The incorporation of this function in the polyurethane chains as (a) sodium sulphonate or (b) sodium carboxylate groups is seen in Fig. 8.11. 

Acrylic resins are a thermoplastic type of resins formed by derivatives of acrylic acid (CH2=CH-C00H). The acrylic group is a vinyl group (CH2=CH-) (Fig. i). The monomers in acrylic resins are acrylic acids and methacrylic acids and their esters, cyanoacrylic acid and its esters, and acrylamides and acrylonitrile. Numerous different acrylic monomers therefore exist and, as a result, a multitude of different polymers and resins are produced. 

PPG Industries has introduced MatVantage - a continuous strand mat for pultrusion, offering unique laminate characteristics - and new low-catenary conventional rovings plus three new chopped strands for thermoplastics. Type 2016 roving is for direct-draw filament winding for oilfield composite pipe and... 

The polymer matrices in advanced thermally conductive composites include thermosetting and thermoplastic types. Figure 11.1 shows thermal conduction properties of some typical polymer matrices. The most used polymers for composite... 

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