Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology

Faculty of Materials Technology

Chapter 1. Polymer Materials

Dr. Van-Tien Bui
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 84‐911552201
Organic polymers play a
crucial role in living things,
providing basic structural
materials and participating in
vital life processes.
 Content
1. Introduction (definitions, concepts,
IN A NUTSHELL
abbreviation)
2. Classification of Polymer
3. Polymer products
4. Characteristics of Polymer
 What is Polymer?
Poly = many
merous = parts
 Polymer, which is composed of
very large molecules, called
macromolecules, that are
multiples of simpler chemical
units called monomers
 The units interact together by
covalent bonds
 Repeating unit
A repeat unit or repeating
unit (or mer) is a part of
a polymer whose repetition
would produce the complete
polymer chain by linking the
repeat units together
successively along the chain, like
the beads of a necklace.

Monomer Repeating units

For example polyvinylchloride (PVC) consists of

many vinylchloride (-CH2-CHCl-) repeat units. And
polyethylene (PE) consists of many ethylene (-CH2-
CH2-) repeat units.
 Repeat
Units for
Ten of
the More
Common
Polymeric
Materials
Macromolecules
The molecules in polymers are gigantic in
comparison to the hydrocarbon molecules already
discussed; because of their size they are often
referred to as macromolecules.
Within each molecule, the atoms are bound together
by covalent interatomic bonds. For carbon-chain
polymers, the backbone of each chain is a string of
carbon atoms.
 Monomer
The term monomer refers to the
molecule that can react together with
other monomer molecules to form a
larger polymer chain or three-
dimensional network in a process called
polymerization.
 Functionality: the functionality is the number
Saturated & of bonds that a given monomer can form
Unsaturated
 Prepolymer
The term pre-polymer refers to a monomer or system of monomers that have been reacted to
an intermediate molecular mass state. This material is capable of further polymerization by
reactive groups to a fully cured, high molecular weight state. As such, mixtures of
reactive polymers with un-reacted monomers may also be referred to as pre-polymers.

Ex: Epoxy prepolymer Adduct Pre-polymer

+polyolic
Resins

+Reactive Finished
Pre-polymer UV curing coating
Diluent
 HOMOPOLYMER
A polymer which contains only a single type
of repeat unit is known as a homopolymer

EXAMPLES

Homopolymer Homopolymer polydime The homopolymer polyethylene

polystyrene thylsiloxane, a silicone. terephthalate has only one repeat
The main chain is unit.
formed of silicon and
oxygen atoms.
 4 TYPE of COPOLYMERS
1. Random copolymer the two
different units are randomly
dispersed along the chain

2. Alternating copolymer, the two

repeat units alternate chain
positions

3. A block copolymer is one in which

identical repeat units are clustered
in blocks along the chain

4. Finally, homopolymer side branches

of one type may be grafted to
homopolymer main chains that are
composed of a different repeat unit;
such a material is termed a graft
copolymer
 Copolymer example
Copolymer styrene-butadiene rubber: The repeat units based
on styrene and 1,3-butadiene form two repeating units, which can
alternate in any order in the macromolecule, making the polymer thus a
random copolymer.
Block Copolymer
Microphase
Separation
Classification of polymers
Classification

Source/ Usage
Structure Synthesis
Origin purpose

Natural Linear Addition

Elastomers
polymers polymers polymers

Semi-synthetic Branched chain Condensation

Fibers
polymers polymers polymers

Synthetic Cross-linked
Plastics
polymers polymers

Adhesive & Paint

 Natural Polymers

 Occur in nature
 Derived from a wide variety of
sources
 Widely used in a variety of
biomedical applications
Ex. Starch

Structure of the amylose molecule

Found in corn, rice, and potatoes
New aged polyme
Environmentally friendly
Ex: Cellulose
Ex: Chitosan

Deacetylation
Synthetic
polymers
Synthetic polymers are
man-made polymers and
are often derived from
oil. They are often
referred as “plastics”.
Common examples of
plastics are polyolefins,
such as polyethylene and
polypropylene and
nylons.
 Polymer products

Polymer products

Plastics Elastomers Fibers Coating, adhesives

Thermoplastics Thermosetting
1.5 THERMOPLASTIC AND THERMOSETTING POLYMERS

With regard to behavior at elevated

temperatures, polymers are classified as
either thermoplastic or thermosetting.
• Thermoplastic polymers have linear
and branched structures; they soften
when heated and harden when
cooled.
• In contrast, thermosetting polymers,
once they have hardened, will not
soften upon heating; their structures
are crosslinked and network.
Synthetic polymers: Thermoplastic examples
Ex. Polyvinyl chloride

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is one of the most

widely used polymers in the world. Due to
its versatile nature, PVC is used extensively
across a broad range of industrial, technical
and everyday applications including
widespread use in building, transport,
packaging, electrical/electronic and
healthcare applications.
Ex. Polystyrene
Polystyrene is a versatile plastic used to make a wide
variety of consumer products. As a hard, solid plastic, it is
often used in products that require clarity, such as food
packaging and laboratory ware. When combined with
various colorants, additives or other plastics,
polystyrene is used to make appliances, electronics,
automobile parts, toys, gardening pots and equipment
and more.
 Ex. Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate, also known as PC
resin, is a type of engineering
plastic, which is a generic term for
plastics that are specially designed
for enhanced strength, temperature
resistance, and other mechanical
properties. Polycarbonate resin is
primarily used for industrial
applications, such for machine parts
and electronic components, where
its light weight and superior shock
absorption qualities provide a
distinct advantage over heavier,
more rigid materials.
 Polyimide resins are produced by the condensations reaction of aromatic
primary diamines with aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides. Because of
Ex. Polyimides the presence of aromatic rings in them, they have excellent thermal and
chemical properties, and they can withstand high temperatures. They are
widely used in the production of sockets, bushings, and bearings as they
exhibit high mechanical strength and are water-resistant.
Ex. Polyurethane Pic. http://www.taichin.com
 Synthetic polymers: Thermoset
 Thermosetting materials have a three-dimensional crosslinked molecular structure due to which they are
much stronger than thermoplastics materials.
 The higher the density of cross-links, the higher will be their ability to maintain their rigid shape.

 Thermoset plastics are chemical

resistant and can survive against
both organic and inorganic acids. PDMS Phenolic
 The density of thermosetting
materials depends on their
constituent components.
 These materials lose their
elasticity upon heating and Etc. Epoxy UPE
become brittle in nature.
Resins
 Thermosets can’t be reformed and
recycled once they set their shape.
 Thermoset materials maintain
their stability at both high and low
temperatures. Silicon MF
Resins
 Because of its
electrical nonconductivity and heat-
resistant properties it became a great
commercial success. It was used in
electrical insulators, radio and
telephone casings, and such diverse
products as kitchenware, jewelry, pipe
stems, children's toys, and firearms.

Ex: Bakelite
 Comparation
Thermoset Thermoplastic
Polymers Polymers
Strong chemical bond between molecules which do Weak chemical bond between molecules that can
not separate on heating. be broken by heating.
High Heat and Chemical resistance Lower Heat and Chemical resistance
They are hard and brittle They are elastic and flexible.
Organic solvents can cause damage to
They do not dissolve in organic solvents
Thermoplastics
On heating they will scorch and not melt On heating they will soften and ultimately melt
Economical Raw material Easy repair characteristics
High Durability Low Durability
Highly adaptable design process with ability to Surface formation is less hardened due to flexible
thick and thin wall formation nature.
Good Impact Resistance Impact resistance is very poor
Elastomer
An elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity (i.e.
both viscosity and elasticity) and with weak intermolecular forces,
generally low Young's modulus and high failure strain compared with
other materials.
An elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity (i.e.
both viscosity and elasticity) and with weak intermolecular forces,
generally low Young's modulus and high failure strain compared with
other materials.

•Natural polyisoprene: cis-1,4-polyisoprene natural rubber (NR) and

trans-1,4-polyisoprene gutta-percha
•Synthetic polyisoprene (IR for isoprene rubber)
•Polybutadiene (BR for butadiene rubber)
•Chloroprene rubber (CR), polychloroprene, Neoprene, Baypren etc.
•Butyl rubber (copolymer of isobutene and isoprene, IIR)…
(A) is an unstressed polymer; (B) is the same polymer
under stress. When the stress is removed, it wil
return to the A configuration. (The dots represent
cross-links)
 Ex. Silicon Resins

Silicon resins have many applications due to their strong

3D network structure. They have the general formula
RnSiXmOy, where R is usually Methyl or Phenyl, and X is
the functional group (H, OH, Cl) or Alkoxy group (OR).
These resins form very hard, heat and water resistance
films, and show outstanding dielectric properties.
Applications in paints, coatings, sealants, silicone fluids,
and electrical industries due to their reliability and
durability. Silicon resin is widely used in art and craft for
making various silicon items. They are also used in the
healthcare sector because of their biocompatible nature.
ELASTOMER- EX. Polydimethylsiloxane
 Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), also known
as dimethylpolysiloxane or dimethicone, belongs to a
group of polymeric organosilicon compounds that are
commonly referred to as silicones.
 PDMS is optically clear and, in general, inert, non-toxic,
and non-flammable. It is one of several types of silicone
oil (polymerized siloxane). Its applications range from contact
lenses and medical devices to elastomers; it is also present
in shampoos (as it makes hair shiny and slippery), food
(antifoaming agent), caulk, lubricants and heat-resistant tiles.
PDMS
applications
 Polymer fiber
• Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often
incorporate fibers, for example carbon fiber and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.
• Polymer fibers are intensively used in biomedical engineering because of similarity with the
extracellular matrix and due to their versatility. The methods of obtaining polymer fibers are diverse.
• Natural polymers, such as collagen, silk, and cellulose, can be used to fabricate a fiber network in which
cells can attach and proliferate.
 Ex. Nylon fibers

Nylon 6 and 66
fibers are used
in carpet man
ufacture.
Nylon is one kind
of fibers used
in tire cord.

Ex. Polyester fibers

 Coating
 Polymer coatings serve as protective
and decorative layers on the surface
of consumer goods.
 Coatings are tailored to provide
specific characteristics, such as wear,
corrosion, chemical and weathering
resistance, to improve thermal
conductivity, to provide electrical
insulation, and in the case of some
polymers, to provide solid lubrication
and low friction. Thermal spray (TS)
Ex. Polyurethane and cold dynamic spray or simply
cold spray (CS) are the main
coating techniques employed to coat
polymers onto substrates.
However, durable and very slow to degrade, plastic
materials that are used in the production of so many
products all, ultimately, become waste with staying power.
Our tremendous attraction to plastic, coupled with an
undeniable behavioral propensity of increasingly over-
consuming, discarding, littering and thus polluting, has
become a combination of lethal nature.
Microplastics are fragments of any type of plastic
less than 5 mm (0.20 in) in length. They cause
pollution by entering natural ecosystems from a
variety of sources, including cosmetics, clothing, food
packaging, and industrial processes.

Microplastics find their way into the food we eat, the water
we drink and even the air we breathe. By some estimates,
people consume more than 50,000 plastic particles per year
– and many more if inhalation is considered. Microplastics
were found in every human tissue and also been found in
80% of 22 anonymous blood samples, meaning they can be
transported around the human body. In December 2020,
microplastic particles were found in the placentas of
unborn babies for the first time.
 Starch

Green Polymeric
materials and
sustainable
Biodegreable Composite
development
Gelatin

Chitosan
 Agriculture waste

The agro-wastes may be horticultural,

aquacultural or kitchen wastes and
contain important biocompounds such
as lignin, cellulose, chitin and
polyphenolic compounds.

Nanosilica, nanocellulose, carbon nanodots can

be obtained directly from the agro-wastes
while metals, metal oxides and
nanocomposites are prepared from the extract
of the agro-wastes. These nanomaterials have
wide applications in nanomedicine, opto-
electronics, environmental remediation, water
treatment, catalysis and so on.
Thanks!