Unit 4: Structure, Properties and Applications of

Polymers/Materials Applications
• In this session we will focus on the structure, typical properties and
examples of Polymers and applications of different groups of materials in
different products. We will also briefly review the concept of composites
and their applications.

• The main topics include: (1) Structure, Properties and Applications of

Polymers; (2) Thermoplastics, Thermosets and Rubbers; (3) Composite
and applications; (4) Other Structures

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 Learning Outcomes

At the end of this session you should be able to:

▪ Outline the structure of Polymers
▪ Understand different types of polymers (Thermoplastics,
Thermosets and Rubbers)
▪ Composites and material systems
▪ Give example materials and applications of polymers and
composites with reference to the function and property
requirements of the products/components.

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 Structure of polymers

▪ Polymers have large organic (hydrocarbon) molecules

▪ They consist of long-chain molecules consisting of a backbone
of carbon atoms with H, N, O, Cl or F
▪ Polymers have both primary and secondary bonds
➢Atoms within the chain are bonded together by covalent (primary)
bonds
➢Chains are bonded by van der Waals (secondary) bonds
▪ Polymers can be -
➢crystalline (regularly arranged molecules)
➢amorphous (randomly arranged molecules)
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 Structure of Polymers

The term polymer indicates that the compound consists of many (‘Poly’) repeating structural
units (‘Monomer’). e.g. Polyethylene (commonly called polythene)
H
H C2H4 ethylene
C C monomer containing
H H carbon-carbon
double bond

H H H H H H

C C C C C C Polyethylene
polymer
H H H H H H molecule

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 Different Types of Polymers

▪ There are THREE types of polymer -

thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers
▪ Thermoplastic polymers have long-chain molecules
of the general form
Where R is
H H
H for polyethylene (PE)
C C Cl for Polyvinylchloride (PVC)

R CH3 (methyl) for Polypropylene (PP)

H n
C6H5 (Phenyl) for Polystyrene (PS)

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 Structure of Polymers

secondary
bonding

Linear Branched Cross-Linked Network

Linear Adapted from Fig. 14.7, Callister & Rethwisch 8e.

Branched Cross-linked

Thermoplastics are linear or Elastomers are lightly cross-linked polymers

branched polymers e.g. rubber
e.g. polyethylene, Thermosets are highly cross-linked polymers
polypropylene e.g. bakelite, epoxy
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 Thermoplastics, Thermosets and Elastomers
THERMOPLASTICS (e.g.
polyethylene, polypropylene)
are linear or branch-chained
polymers. They are generally
soft and flexible and easily
stretched, as the chains can
slide past each other easily,
and they also have low
melting points. They become
softer and more flexible
when heated and then harder
again when the heat is
removed (i.e. the effect of
heat is reversible).
THERMOSETS (e.g.
bakelite, epoxy, polyester)
are heavily cross-linked
polymers that are rigid and
hard and these properties do
not change much with
temperature
Thermosets have higher
melting points than
thermoplastics and do not
soften when heated but they
char and degrade (e.g.
plastic cup). The effect of
heat is not reversible
ELASTOMERS (e.g.
rubber) are lightly cross-
linked polymers. Between
the cross-links the polymer
chains are flexible and free
to move (like a concertina).
Considerable extension is
possible without breaking
the cross-links and so
elastomers are capable of
being stretched to several
100% strain and can spring
back to their initial length.
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 Structure of a Polymer: Crystalline
and Amorphous structures
Polymers rarely 100% crystalline
▪ Difficult for all regions of all chains to
become aligned
crystalline
region
• Degree of crystallinity
expressed as % crystallinity.
-- Some physical properties
depend on % crystallinity.
-- Heat treating causes
crystalline regions to grow
and % crystallinity to
increase.
amorphous
region
Adapted from Fig. 14.11, Callister 6e.
(Fig. 14.11 is from H.W. Hayden, W.G. Moffatt,
and J. Wulff, The Structure and Properties of
Materials, Vol. III, Mechanical Behavior, John Wiley
and Sons, Inc., 1965.)
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 Properties and Applications of polymers

▪ Typical properties of polymers are:

➢Thermoplastics are soft and flexible
➢Thermosets are rigid and hard
➢Elastomers allow considerable elastic extension
➢Polymers in general have
➢ low thermal and electrical conductivity i.e.insulators

➢ low densities

➢ low stiffness

➢ properties that are very dependent on temperature

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 Applications of polymers

Practice: Add 3-5 Polymers with reference to

▪ Typical applications of polymers are: typical applications.
➢Bottles
➢Shopping basket
➢Bearing
➢Car bodies
➢Plastic tubes
➢ Electrical cables
➢……

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Review of the Structure and Properties of Composites

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STRUCTURE OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS:

Composites are materials composed of two different

materials bonded together.

Examples of composites are:

• glass fibres or particles surrounded by polymer
• ceramic particles in a metal (cermets)
• steel rods in concrete (reinforced concrete)
• wood and bamboo are naturally occurring composites

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➢ Composites can be designed to combine the good properties of
different types of materials while avoiding some of their
drawbacks.

➢ Composites that have fibres all aligned in the same direction will
have a higher strength and elastic modulus in the direction of the
fibres than in other directions.

➢ This needs to be made allowance for in the design of composites

and structures e.g. by weaving to give fibres in different directions
or by stacking layers of fibres in different directions.

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Examples of applications of composite materials are:
• Boat hull and mast structures
• Aircraft structures such as parts of wing, nosecone, cabin
flooring
• Car body parts

Practice: Add 3-5 Composites with reference to typical applications

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Other Type of Materials and Applications

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 Water

Covalent Boding

WATER is not a metal, not a Polarisation

ceramic not a polymer. This
is the limitation of the four
groups of classification
system. Hydrogen Bonding

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 APPLICATIONS OF WATER

❑Hydraulic systems

❑Energy production

❑Lubricants

❑Cleaning

❑Hydrogels

❑Water Jet Cutting

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Question 1: What properties are required of the material used for car exhaust
systems? What material might be suitable?
Question 2 What are the properties required of a material used for the bodywork
of cars. Suggest various materials that may be suitable.

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