Polymer FACT-SHEETS
ChE 412/512 Mini-Presentation Assignment
Electronic Fact Sheets & PowerPoint Files due to cbrazel@eng.ua.edu by 5:00 pm March 10
Presentations on March 11
ASSIGNMENT
Each student will select a different polymer on March 2.
Compile a fact sheet (1 page) of chemical and physical properties, chemical structure, trade names,
examples of products this polymer is used in, and what unique properties the polymer has (e.g., tough
mechanical strength, optically clear, high temperature resistant, etc.). Something on the history of the
material would be nice if you can find it- When was it discovered, first made industrially, what was it’s
first use? Unfortunately, one polymer may have many properties that can be varied by copolymerization,
additives, molecular weight, etc., so not all information will be appropriate or easily available for each
polymer. Information that would be useful to include:
What are some of the (common) trade names?
What is the production rate per year?
What products is it used in?
What are the range of properties that it has- flexibility, Tg, tensile/impact strength
What companies make this material?
What is the chemical structure? Is it made by condensation or free radical plyztn?
Is it used as a linear, branched or crosslinked polymer?
What solvents dissolve it? How is it modified? (plasticizers??)
How is it processed? gas-phase rxn, solution polymerization, reactive extrusion?
Any crystallinity?
HELPFUL RESOURCES
Some
useful
resources
include
websites
such
as
the
macrogalleria
at
USM
(http://www.pslc.ws/mactest/level2.htm)
and
other
links
from
the
course
homepage
(www.bama.ua.edu/~cbrazel). The Thomas Registry (link from homepage) requires free registration but
can provide links to suppliers of particular chemical/industrial products. Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS) for the monomer and polymer can also provide useful chemical data. I have two books in my
office: Concise Polymeric Materials Encyclopedia (very good, brief overview of many polymers) and
Polymer Handbook (mainly data, similar to the CRC handbook, but for polymers). The Rodgers Library
is also an excellent resource. (Many polymers have their own entry in the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of
Chemical Technology- in the reference section- 1st floor), as well as the Handbook of Material Selection
for Engineering Applications (TA403.4.H37- reference@ Rodgers).
TOPIC ASSIGNMENT
Each person will be assigned a different polymer on Tuesday, Mar. 2. If you have a particular polymer
that you want to investigate, you can request that on Mar. 2.
IN-CLASS
Prepare a 3-4 minute Powerpoint presentation of the polymer, and a 1-page ‘fact sheet’ for reference.
I will make copies of the fact sheets & they will become part of your class notes. The Powerpoint
presentations will be combined into a single presentation for in-class discussion on March 11.
Visual aids- Examples of products or pictures (from a web site, etc.) that will help explain the products
made from this polymer are encouraged. (right click, copy & paste works great for Powerpoint)
GRADING
This assignment counts for 5 % of the course grade. Grading will be on:
75 % accuracy, thoroughness, & technical presentation of the ‘fact sheet’, and
25 % in-class presentation- communication effectiveness
---- a list of polymers is included on page 2, and a sample FACT SHEET is on page 3 ----
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Polyethylene (HDPE/LDPE)
Polypropylene, PP
Poly(ethylene terephthalate), PET
Poly(tetrafluoroethylene), PTFE, Teflon
Poly(vinyl chloride), PVC
Polystyrene, PS
Poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA
Polycarbonates
Polyamides (Nylon 6,6)
Polyesters
Polyurethanes, PU
Poly(acrylic acid), PAA
Poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone), PVP or PNVP
also written as poly(vinyl pyrrolidinone)
Polyisoprene
Polybutadiene (cis, trans & vinyl)
Poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), ABS
Aramids
Poly(cyanoacrylate)s
Poly(p-phenylene sulfide)
Poly(dimethyl siloxane), Silicone
Poly(vinyl acetate)
Poly(ethylene oxide)
Starch (amylose & amylopectin) & Cellulose
Polyimides
POLY(2-HYDROXYETHYL METHACRYLATE)
Abbreviations:
PHEMA
Trade Names:
product
no trade names of note, not sold as polymer; made directly into final
Monomer Synonyms: 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol monomethacrylate, glycol
methacrylate, HEMA
Chemical Structure: Repeat unit H2C=C(CH3)(COOCH2CH2OH)
Monomer Properties: density 1.03 -1.08 g/ml
boiling point 205-208 C
melting point -12 C
MW = 130.14 g/gmol
Polymer Properties:
hydrophilic
thermoset
biocompatible (low protein adsorption)
usually crosslinked
swellable in water (a hydrogel)
can be made isotactic or syndiotactic
chemically stable
copolymers used to improve tensile strength
gas permeability (O2) for contact lenses
optically clear
Reaction Mechanism: free radical; simultaneous crosslinking copolymerization; molded
Products Used in:
contact lenses (soft), biomaterials, drug delivery coatings, catheters,
dialysis membranes; artificial cornea
Historical:
first used in contact lenses in the early 1970s
Commercial Suppliers: because PHEMA is usually mold-casted into a final product, it is not
available commercially as a polymer. The monomer is available from:
Atofina, Dow Chemical, others