Overview of Structure of
Polymers
Ming Wei, Carol Barry, Joey Mead
Department of Plastics Engineering
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Introduction
• The mechanical properties of polymers depend on the chemical compositions and structures of the polymer at the molecular and supermolecular levels
•
•
•
•
Molecular weight (how long is the chain)
Chain flexibility (Tg)
Chain regularity (can it crystallize?)
Strength of intermolecular forces
• Before start, let’s see some elementary ideas concerning the properties of polymers. Outline
1. What are polymers? Is the polymer a thermoplastic or thermoset?
2. What is the polymer’s molecular weight and molecular weight distribution?
3. What is the polymer’s morphology?
4. What are the polymer’s characteristics?
5. What additives have been incorporated into the resin?
1. Polymers
Polymers - long chain molecules
Features of polymeric materials
• Chain entanglement
• Time scale of motion
• Summation of intermolecular forces Thermoplastics
Thermoplastics
• Polymers with linear or branched chains
• May be dissolved or remelted
LDPE
HDPE
LLDPE
thermoplastic particles heat
plastic melt grind
cool
plastic product Thermosets
12-15% of plastics resins1
Thermosets
• During processing covalent bonds (cross-links) are formed between polymer chains
• Cross-links prevents the polymer from dissolving or melting
heat
thermoset resin plastic
“melt”
cure
plastic product grind
1
M. Sepe, Injection Molding Magazine, September (1999).
Types of Thermoset Polymers
Thermoset resins
• e.g., epoxy, polyester, urethane, phenolics, urea formaldehyde
• Relatively short polymer chains
• Develop high levels of cross-linking
1
cross-linked phenolic1
http://www.iupac.org/didac/Didac%20Eng/Didac04/Content/POL20.htm
Types of Thermoset Polymers
Thermoset rubber
• e.g., nitrile rubber, butyl rubber
• Very long polymer chains
• Develop moderate levels of cross-linking
1
http://www.matter.org.uk/glossary/detail.asp?dbid=81
Types of Thermoset Polymers
Lightly cross-linked polymers
• e.g., cross-linked PE (XLPE)
• Modified thermoplastic resins
• Contain < 20% cross-links
http://www.specialchem4polymers.com/documents/indexa bles/contents/37/images/peroxrubberp2_3image4.gif 2. Molecular Weight
• Length of polymer chains can be varied
• Not all chains have exactly the same length
Molecular weight
• Average chain length
Molecular weight distribution
• Range of chain lengths
http://wwwcp.tphys.uni-heidelberg.de/Polymer/day1/p5.htm
Molecular Weight (MW)
Number-average molecular weight
• Indicates mean chain length
• Correlates with modulus, Tg, etc.
Number of chains
Mn
Mw
Mz
Length of polymer chain
Weight-average molecular weight
• Counts longer chains
• Correlates with viscosity and impact strength z-average molecular weight
• Counts longest chains
• Related to melt strength (ability to stretch the molten polymer)
Measured with gel permeation chromatography (GPC) or dilute solution viscosity
Molecular Weight, continued
Molecular weight of thermoplastics inferred from melt flow
• i.e., melt index (MI or MFI)
– Mass of material that flows through a barrel and die
(capillary) using a specified weight and time
– Units: g/10 min. or dg/min.
http://www.mgaresearch.com/Temp_Materials_Site/Temp_Materials_Site/extrusion.htm http://cappa-d.mcmaster.ca/facilities/images/melt-index.GIF Molecular entanglement
Increases viscosity
e.g., PMMA sheet
Increases melt strength
e.g., pipe and blown film grade PE’s
Increases impact strength
Intermolecular attraction and end groups
• Affects tensile and flexural properties • Influence transition temperatures Properties which depend on:
Effects of Molecular Weight
Molecular
entanglement
End groups or intermolecular attraction
Molecular Weight
Effect of MW on Properties of PC
Property
Melt index
Units
High MW Low MW
g/10 min.
4
15
Flow length1
mm
495
668
Yield strength
MPa
61.4
60.0
%
6.7
6.5
Tensile modulus