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P O LY M E R Q U E S T I O N S
An Introduction to Amorphous
Polymers
November 4, 2020
Glass certainly seems like a solid substance — it’s hard and brittle at
room temperature — but glass exhibits other properties that make it
unique, which is why chemists classify it as an amorphous solid.
Amorphous solids are those that have..
Glass certainly seems like a solid substance — it’s hard and brittle at room
temperature — but glass exhibits other properties that make it unique, which is why
chemists classify it as an amorphous solid. Amorphous solids are those that have
short-range order but no long-range order. In this case, order refers to how the
atoms in the material are arranged, and in glass, the atoms are not arranged in a
definite lattice pattern. Instead, they are loosely networked together so that the
distances between atoms can vary substantially, unlike in crystalline materials,
where atomic distances are much more consistent.
In this article, we will explore the characteristics of amorphous polymers, which are
an important class of materials that are used in a number of commercial products,
including latex binders and adhesives— the focus of Mallard Creek Polymers.
indicating when a material transitions from the solid phase to the liquid phase. For
example, the melting point of polypropylene, a crystalline polymer, is 175°C (347°F).
First, let’s consider a polystyrene polymer that has a high Tg around +105°C
(220°F). A polystyrene polymer would be in a glassy state until about 100° At
room temperature, which is approximately 25°C (77°F), the polymer would be
hard, brittle and strong. At the atomic level, we would see very little motion
around the bonds holding the atoms together. As the temperature approaches
100°C, the motion around the bonds would increase, and the material would
start to become less glass-like and more rubber-like.
Next, let’s consider a polybutadiene polymer with a low Tg, say -85°C (-121°F).
Now we would see something a little different. Room temperature would be
far higher than its glass transition temperature, so at 25°C, the polymer would
be softer, rubbery and elastic. And there would be significantly more motion
around the atomic bonds. To get to this polymer’s glassy state, we would need
to reduce the temperature below -85°C, which is quite cold.
It should also be noted that some polymers aren’t completely amorphous — they
are part crystalline and part amorphous. We’ll cover this in the next section.
There are other important characteristics of amorphous polymers, and chemists use
a variety of techniques to determine them. Let’s review three of the most common
methods:
difference between the applied force and measured response relates to the
malleability. The lower the measured response compared to the applied force,
the more liquid-like (viscous) and less solid-like (elastic) the polymer is.
By studying amorphous polymers using these and similar techniques, chemists can
build a profile of the category. Here are some of the common properties of
amorphous polymers:
This is not an exhaustive list, but it demonstrates how useful and versatile
amorphous polymers can be when their properties are carefully considered and
controlled. Depending on their precise design, amorphous polymers can be
customized for a wide range of applications in the nonwovens, adhesives, textiles,
printing and packaging, paints and coatings, construction and paper industries.
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