Polymer Materials and Their Characterization

(PP-212)
Raza Muhammad Khan
khan.raza1@yahoo.com

Office Address: Department of Polymer and Petrochemical, NED

UET, Karachi.

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 TEXT/ REFERENCE BOOKS

Text Books:
1.Charles E Carraher, Jr. Polymer Chemistry (6th Edition), Marcel Dekker,
NY
2. Lutx J Grossman R. (2000) Polymer Modifiers and Additives, Marcel
Dekker, NY.

Reference Books:
1. Gabriel O. Shonaike, George P Simon, Polymer blends and Allyos
(Plastics Engineering)
2. T.R. Compton, Characterization of Polymers 2 Vol. Set, Smithers Rapra
(2008)
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 Course Learning
Outcomes/Objectives [CLO]:

1. EXPLAIN polymers and plastics according to their specific properties and

applications.

2.USE the theory of polymer additives and polymer blending for the improvement
in the properties of existing polymeric materials.

3. ANALYZE polymer/plastics as per standard methods of characterization.

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 3. Mechanical Properties
CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION
2. STRESS-STRAIN CURVE
3. SHORT TERM MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
3.1 Tensile Properties
3.2 Flexural Properties
3.3 Impact Properties
3.4 Compressive Properties
3.5 Shear Strength
3.6 Tear Strength
A. Initiation
B. Propagation
4. LONG TERM PROPERTIES
4.1 Creep Properties
4.2 Stress Relaxation
4.3 Fatigue Resistance

5. SURFACE PROPERTIES
5.1 Abrasion Resistance.
A. Transparent Plastics
B. Flat specimens
5.2 Hardness Test
5.3 Co-efficient of Friction
a) Stress: The force applied to produce deformation in a unit area of a test
specimen. Stress is a ratio of applied load to the original cross sectional area
expressed in lbs/in2.

b) Strain: The ratio of elongation to the gauge length of the test specimen, or
simply stated, change in length per unit of the original length. It is expressed as the
dimensionless quantity.

c) Gauge Length: The original length between two marks on the test piece over
which the change in length is determined.

d) Yield point: The first point of stress-strain curve at which an increase the strain
occurs without the increase in stress.
k) Elastic Modulus in tension (Young’s modulus): The ratio of tensile stress to
corresponding strain below the proportional limit. The stress-strain relationship of many
plastics does not conform to Hooke’s law throughout the elastics range but deviates their
form even at stress well below the yield stress.
 STRESS – STRAIN CURVE
STRESS – STRAIN CURVE: The mechanical behavior of plastics is defined by using the
stress-strain curve obtained in different modes like tension, flexure, compression or shear. The
curves obtained in different loading conditions broadly resemble each other. Typical stress and
strain curve of plastics obtained intension for constant rate of loading is given below in figure 1.
The polymers are broadly classified as per their strain behavior, which is the indication of
softness, brittleness, hardness and toughness. A hard & strong material has high modulus,
high yield stress, usually high ultimate strength & low elongation e.g. acetal. A hard & tough
material characterized by high modulus, high yield stress, high elongation at break & high
ultimate strength Polycarbonate is considered hard & tough material.
 TENSILE PROPERTIES

INTRODUCTION

The study of stress in relation to strain in tension depicts the tensile properties of the
material. The tensile elongation and modulus measurements are the most important
indications of strength in a material and are the most widely specified properties of plastics
material. The tensile properties is measurement of the ability of material to with stand forces
that tend to pull it apart and to determine to what extent material stretches before breaking.
Tensile modulus, an indication of the relative stiffness of a material, which is calculated from
a stress-strain curve.
DEFINITION
Tensile strength.
The maximum Tensile stress ( nominal) sustained by a test piece during a tension test or
Ultimate strength of a material subjected to tensile loading otherwise, it is a measurement of
the ability of a material to withstand forces that to pull it apart and to determine to what extent
the material stretches before breaking.

Tensile Modulus
The ratio of tensile stress to corresponding strain at the maximum load. It is an indication of
the relative stiffness of a material.
TEST METHOD:
A) Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics (ASTM D 638),
IS-8453, JIS-7113, ISO-1184, BS-2782

TEST SPECIMEN: - “Dumb-bell shaped”

GRIPS:

Wedge action grips

 FACTORS INFLUENCING:

a) Temperature and Humidity –Recommended Temperature and Humidity is 23oC and 55 –65 %.
Tensile Strength decreases as Temperature increases. Moisture works as plasticizer, so it causes
then decrease in Tensile Strength and increase the Elongation.

Environmental test chamber to study tensile properties at different temperature

b) Test Speed – 0.05 mm/min. to 500mm/min. Elongation is high when Test Speed is
minimum i.e. 0.05 mm/min and is lower when Test Speed is maximum i.e. 500 mm/min.

c) Method of specimen Preparation – Molecular Orientation has a significant effect on tensile

Strength values. A load-applied parallel to the direction of molecular orientation may yield
higher value than the load applied perpendicular to the orientation. The opposite is true for
elongation.

d) Effect of Plasticizer and filler – Soften the material, brings down the Tensile Strength and
increase Elongation.

e) Crystallinity – With the increase of Crystallinity, Tensile Strength increases.

 FLEXURAL PROPERTIES
INTRODUCTION:
These test methods cover the determination of flexural
properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics, including high-modulus composites
and electrical insulating material in the form of rectangular bars molded directly or cut
from sheets, plates, or molded shapes. These test methods are generally applicable to rigid
and semi-rigid materials. However, flexible strength cannot be determined for those
materials that do not break or that do not fail in the outer fiber.
Two test methods are describes are as follows:
(i) Test method 1: A three point leading system utilizing central leading on a simply
Supported beam
(ii) Test method 2: A four point leading system utilizing two load equally spaced from
their adjacent support points with a distance between load points of either 1/3 or 1/2 of the
support span.
DEFINITION:

Flexural Strength
Flexural strength is the ability of the material to withstand bending forces applied
perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. The stresses induced due to the flexural load are a
combination of compressive and tensile stresses.
It is a three-point loading system utilizing center loading on a simple supported beam. A bar of
rectangular cross section rest on two supports & is loaded by means of a loading nose midway
between the support the maximum axial fiber stresses occur on a line under loading nose.

Force involved in bending a simple beam

Close-up of a specimen shown in flexural testing apparatus
 IMPACT PROPERTIES

INTRODUCTION:

The impact properties of the polymeric materials are directly related to the overall toughness
of the materials. Toughness is defined as the ability of the polymer to absorbed applied energy.
The area under the stress-strain curve is directly proportional to the toughness of a material.

The higher the impact strength of a material, the higher the toughness and vice versa. Impact
resistance is the ability of material to resist breaking under a shock loading ‘or’ the ability to
resist the fracture under stress applied at high speed.

Impact properties of the polymers are often modified simply by an impact modifier such as
butadiene rubber or certain acrylic polymers.
DEFINITION

IMPACT TEST:
Impact test is a method of determining the behavior of material subjected to
shock loading. The quantity usually measured is the energy absorbed in fracturing in a
single blow.

IMPACT STRENGTH:
Energy required fracturing a specimen subjected to shock loading.
TEST METHOD:
Test Method for Impact Resistance of Plastics & Electrical Insulating Material
(ASTM D 256 A & B), ASTMD1822, JISK-7111 &7112

The impact test methods are as following:

(1) Pendulum impact tests

(i) Izod impact test
(ii) Charpy impact test

(2) Falling weight impact test

(a) Drop weight (top) impact test
TEST SPECIMENS
Falling-Weight Impact Test:

 The falling impact test, also known as the drop impact test or the variable-height impact
test, employs a falling weight.
 The energy required to fail the specimen is measured by dropping a known weight from a
known height onto a test specimen.
 This test is also very suitable for determining the impact resistance of plastic films, sheets
and laminated materials.

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 HARDNESS TEST

INTRODUCTION:
The popularity of hardness test is clearly due to the relative simplicity of
this type of measurement and its success in quality control applications acts as an indicator
surface durability.

This test method covers two procedures for testing the indentation hardness of plastic and
related plastic electrical insulating material by means of the Rockwell hardness tester.

Hardness measurement of plastics usually is forcing a standard indentor – often a hardened

steel ball under a known load into a flat surface of material and measuring the degree of
penetration.
DEFINITION:

Hardness:- Hardness is defined as the “resistance of a material to deformation”

particularly permanent deformation, indentation, or scratching.

Unit:- Rockwell Hardness – Number reading in M, L or R scales

Durometer Hardness – Number