NAME: PAPAI SHAHA

PNR NO: 210101061030

ROLL NO: 42
DIV: B
COURSE: BTECH CIVIL
SUBJECT: APPLIED CHEMISTRY (17YBS102
SUB-TOPIC: CLASSIFICATION OF POLYMERS BASED ON
STRUTURE
What is Polymer??
A polymer is a chemical compound with molecules bonded together in long, repeating chains.
Because of their structure, polymers have unique properties that can be tailored for different uses.
Polymers are both man-made and naturally occurring. Rubber, for example, is a natural polymeric
material that has been used for thousands of years. It has excellent elastic qualities, the result of a
molecular polymer chain created by mother nature. Another natural polymer is shellac, a resin
produced by the lac bug in India and Thailand, which is used as a paint primer, sealant, and varnish.
The most common natural polymer on Earth is cellulose, an organic compound found in the cell
walls of plants. It is used to produce paper products, textiles, and other materials such as
cellophane.
The term polymer is commonly used in the plastics and composites industry, often as a
synonym for plastic or resin. Actually, polymers include a range of materials with a variety of
properties. They are found in common household goods, in clothing and toys, in construction
materials and insulation, and in numerous other products.
Properties:
Depending on the desired use, polymers can be fine-tuned to leverage certain advantageous
properties. These include:

Reflectivity: Some polymers are used to produce reflective film, which is used in a variety of light-
related technologies.
Impact Resistance: Sturdy plastics that can withstand rough handling are perfect for luggage,
protective cases, car bumpers, and more.
Brittleness: Some forms of polystyrene are hard and brittle and easy to deform using heat.
Translucence: See-through polymers, including polymer clay, are often used in arts and crafts.
Ductility: Unlike brittle polymers, ductile polymers can be deformed without falling apart. Metals
such as gold, aluminum, and steel are known for their ductility. Ductile polymers, while not as
strong as other polymers, are useful for many purposes.
Elasticity: Natural and synthetic rubbers have elastic properties that make them ideal for car tires
and similar products.

Examples:
Polypropylene (PP): Carpet, upholstery
Polyethylene low density (LDPE): Grocery bags
Polyethylene high density (HDPE): Detergent
bottles, toys
Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC): Piping, decking
Polystyrene (PS): Toys, foam
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon): Non-stick
pans, electrical insulation
Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA, Lucite,
Plexiglas): Face shields, skylights POLYMERS.
Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc): Paints, adhesives
Polychloroprene (Neoprene): Wet suits
CLASSIFICATION OF POLYMERS BASED ON
STRUCTURE

Based on their structure, the polymers can be classified into three types such
as:

(a) Linear Polymers

(b) Branched-chain Polymers
(c) Network or Cross linked Polymers
LINEAR POLYMER
In linear polymers the repeating units are joined together end to end in a single flexible chain. The
polymeric chains are kept together through physical attractions. These polymers have extensive Vander
Waals attractions keeping the chains together. Typically linear polymers are made from monomers with
single end group. Linear polymers containing side groups as part of monomer structure do not qualify as
branched polymers. Linear polymers are generally more rigid.
Example: PVC, Polystyrene, Nylon, and Polyamides.
Properties:
(1) High melting pion
(2) High density
(3) High tensile strength due to close packing of polymer chains
Application: food packaging, shampoo bottles, Milk, water,
and juice containers, grocery bags, toys, liquid detergent
bottles,Soft drink based cups, flower pots, drain pipes, signs,
stadium seats, trash cans, re-cycling bins, traffic barrier
cones, golf bag liners, toys
BRANCHED-CHAIN POLYMERS
Branched polymers have side chains or branches growing out from the main chain. The side chains or
branches are made of the same repeating units as the main polymer chains. The branches result from
side reactions during polymerization. Monomers with two or more end groups are likely to support
branching. For a polymer to classify as branched polymer the side chains or branches should comprise
of a minimum of one complete monomer unit. One of the most common example is low-density
polyethylene (LDPE) and has applications ranging from plastic bags, containers, textiles, and electrical
insulation, to coatings for packaging materials.
Branched polymers display lower density as consequence of reduced packing efficiency of
the branched chains. The length of the side chains or branches differentiates between long- or short-
branched polymers. Long branches could have comb-like, random, or star-shaped structures. While
the branches may in turn be branched however, they do not connect to another polymer chain.
Example: Polypropylene (sidechain –CH3), Amylopectin, and Glycogen.
Properties:
(1) Low melting point
(2) Low density
(3) Low Tensile Strength
Application: These polymers are hard,rigid
and brittle because of network structure .
CROSS LINKED POLYMER
Crosslinked polymers, as the name suggest, are polymers in which the adjacent polymer chains are
connected in a three-dimensional network structure. The connections are also known as crosslinks. The
crosslinks could be a consequence of covalent bonding between the chains or branches. Crosslinks
tend to be permanent in nature. Once the crosslinks between the chains develop the polymer then
becomes thermoset. Such polymers are characterized by their crosslink density or degree of crosslink
which is the indication of number of junction points per unit volume [3].
Example: Bakelite, Melamine, Formaldehyde resins, Vulcanized rubber etc.
Properties:
(1) They are hard
(2) They are rigid
(3) They are brittle due to their network structures
Application: Application Of LCM Cross Linking Polymer In Drilling
The use of Cross-Linked Polymers can be effective for dealing with
formation losses when traditional LCM treatments have been
unsuccessful for the following applications: Curing severe losses in
weak or fractured zones.
Linear Polymer:
(Example)

PVC Pipe Polystyrene Plastic Nylon

Branched-chain
Polymer:
(Example)

Polypropylene bag Polypropylenel

cuircuit
Cross linked
Polymer:
(Example)

Bekalite Vulcanized rubber Melamine

Basic Polymer Struture:

Thank You