Unit 1.

PLASTICS &POLYMERS (10hrs)

• Polymers- Types of polymers natural & synthetic polymers-characteristics and examples.

General characteristics and applications of polymers such as Polythene (LDPE &HDPE),
polypropylene, PVC, Poly styrene. Artificial fibers -examples Plastics- Thermoplastics
and thermosetting plastics- Characteristics and examples.. Elastomers Natural and
synthetic rubbers-Vulcanization(mention only. Biodegradable polymers .examples.
benefits of biodegradable plastics. Importance of plastic recycling.

Polymers
• Polymers are complex materials with very high molecular mass obtained by linking many
simple molecules.

• These are materials made of long, repeating chains of molecules.

• The materials have unique properties, depending on the type of molecules being bonded
and how they are bonded

Types of polymers
• Polymers are both man-made and naturally occurring

• Types of polymers:- natural and synthetic polymers

• Natural Polymers:-Natural polymers are found in natural sources such as plants and
animals.

• Cotton, Coconut fiber, Jute and Silk are some of the natural polymers.
 Cellulose:- Cellulose is a naturally occurring polymer obtained by polymerization of
glucose. It is found in plenty in nature as cotton,jute etc.

• Cellulose:- The most common natural polymer on Earth is cellulose, an organic

compound found in the cell walls of plants

• Cellulose is a naturally occurring polymer obtained by polymerization of glucose.

• It is found in plenty in nature as cotton,jute etc.

• It is used to produce paper products, textiles, and other materials such as cellophane.

• Rayon:- Rayon is regenerated cellulose.

• Substances that contain cellulose (e.g. woodpulp) are first dissolved in carbon disulphide
and then made into pulp by adding alkali.

• This is viscose. This viscose is then passed through very small holes into a dilute acid
solution.

• In this acid solution, the cellulose fibres are regenerated.

This is known as artificial silk or Rayon.

• Natural rubber:- The monomer present in natural rubber is isoprene.

• So natural rubber is poly isoprene.

• Properties:- Low hardness, easily flammable, Dissolves in organic solvents, Loses

stability at high temperature, Less elastic

Vulcanisation of rubber:- It is the process of treating rubber with sulphur . The property
of rubber will be improved by vulcanisation as sulphur linkages were formed between the
polymer chains

SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

• Synthetic polymers are produced commercially on a very large scale and have a wide
range of properties and uses.

• The materials commonly called plastics and are all synthetic polymers.

• Due to their relatively low cost, ease of manufacture, versatility, and imperviousness to
water, plastics are used in an enormous and expanding range of products, from paper
clips to spaceships.
• Man-made or synthetic polymers include materials such as polyethylene, the most
common plastic in the world found in items ranging from shopping bags to storage
containers,

• polystyrene, the material used to make packing peanuts and disposable cups.

• Some synthetic polymers are pliable (thermoplastics), while others are permanently rigid
(thermosets).

• Still others have rubber-like properties (elastomers) or resemble plant or animal fibers
(synthetic fibers).

• These materials are found in all sorts of products, from swimsuits to cooking pans.
 General characteristics and applications of certain polymers
• POLY ETHYLENE :- These are Polymers of ethylene

• Poly ethylene are of two types . LDPE (Low Density Poly Ethylene ) and HDPE (High
Density Poly Ethylene).

• LDPE(Low Density Poly Ethylene):- These are highly branched, inert to chemicals and
extremely flexible.

• Uses of LDPE:- Used for squeeze bottles and many attractive containers, for making
electrical insulators, pipes etc.

• HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene) :- Its density is very high compared to LDPE. It is
much stiffer than LDPE and has higer tensile strength and hardness and more resistant to
chemicals than LDPE.

• Uses of HDPE:- Used in the manufacture of toys and other household articles.

• POLY PROPYLENE:- Polymer of propylene- These are highly crystalline, and linear. It
is resistant to acids alkalies and oils.

• USES OF POLYPROPYLENE:- Components made from polypropylene are used in

appliances such as refregerators,radios and TV’s.

• It is also used for producing package films. pipes, storage tanks, seat covers and ropes.

• POLY STYRENE:- Polymer of styrene

USES:-
Polystyrene is widely used in manufacture of articles such as moulded containers, lids, jars,
bottles, radio and TV cabinets, toys and many household items.

PVC
• Polyvinyl chloride is produced by polymerization of the vinyl chloride monomer 
 • POLY VINYL CHLORIDE(PVC):- Polymer of vinyl chloride- It is resistant to acids and
alkalies and is the cheapest and most widely used plastics globally.

• PVC is not stable beyond 200 0c and will degenerate at this temperature

• Uses:- Used for large scale production of cable insulations,equipment parts,pipes ,

laminated materials and in fibre manufacture.

• polyvinyl chloride (PVC, or vinyl) is used in a variety of applications in the building and
construction, health care, electronics, automobile and other sectors, in products ranging
from piping and siding, blood bags and tubing, to wire and cable insulation, windshield
system components and more.

Artificial fibers
• Synthetic fibers are made of synthetic materials, usually formed through chemical
processes.

• The fibers are generally extracted during the chemical process using a spinneret, which
is a device that takes polymers to form fibers.

• The textile industry began creating synthetic fibers as cheaper and more easily mass-
produced alternatives to natural fibers.

• Fibres which are manufactured in laboratories and are not directly obtained from any
living source are called artificial fibres.

• Examples: Rayon, Nylon, Polyester, Acrylic and Aramid.

• Polyester. Polyester is a synthetic fiber created from coal and petroleum. Polyester is
characterized by its durable nature; however the material is not breathable and doesn’t
absorb liquids well so is not recommended for the summer months.

Rayon. Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber made from reconstituted wood pulp. Even though rayon
is made from plant fibers, it is considered semi-synthetic because of the chemicals, like sodium
hydroxide and carbon disulfide, used in the production process. Rayon can be an imitation form
of silk, wool, and other fabrics.

• Spandex. Also known as Lycra or elastane, Spandex is a synthetic fiber characterized by

its extreme elasticity. Spandex is blended with several types of fibers to add stretch and
used for everything from jeans to athleisure to hosiery. Fun fact: Spandex is an anagram
of the word expands.
 • Acrylic fibers. Acrylic fibers are synthetic fibers made from polymers formed by
acrylonitrile or vinyl cyanide. Acrylic is often considered an imitation wool as a result of
its heat retention qualities. It’s often used to create fake fur and fleece.

• Microfibers. Microfibers are incredibly thin and short, with a diameter of less than 10
micrometers that are popular in cleansing clothes thanks to their dirt-trapping ability.
They are generally made of polyester and can be woven or non-woven

• Plastics

polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped. This property of plasticity,
often found in combination with other special properties such as low density, low electrical
conductivity, transparency, and toughness, allows plastics to be made into a great variety of
products

Thermoplastics and thermosetting

• Thermoplastics are the plastics that do not undergo chemical change in their
composition when heated and can be molded again and again and reshaped

• Examples include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, pvc, and (PTFE).

• Thermosetting plastics can melt and take shape once; after they have solidified, they
stay solid. They cannot be remolded.

• In the thermosetting process, a chemical reaction occurs that is irreversible.

• Eg . Bakelite. Epoxy resines, Poly acrylonitrile , terylene etc

7 Common Types of Plastic

• 1) Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)

• 2) High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

• 3) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl)

• 4) Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

• 5) Polypropylene (PP)

• 6) Polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam)

• 7) Other.
 • Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)

• This is one of the most commonly used plastics. It’s lightweight, strong, typically
transparent and is often used in food packaging and fabrics (polyester). 

• Examples: Beverage bottles, Food bottles/jars (salad dressing, peanut butter, honey, etc.)
and polyester clothing or rope.

• High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

• Collectively, Polyethylene is the most common plastics in the world, but it’s classified
into three types: High-Density, Low-Density and Linear Low-Density. High-Density
Polyethylene is strong and resistant to moisture and chemicals, which makes it ideal for
cartons, containers, pipes and other building materials. 

• Examples: Milk cartons, detergent bottles, cereal box liners, toys, buckets, park benches
and rigid pipes.

• 3) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl)

• This hard and rigid plastic is resistant to chemicals and weathering, making it desired for
building and construction applications; while the fact that it doesn’t conduct electricity
makes it common for high-tech applications, such as wires and cable. It’s also widely
used in medical applications because it’s impermeable to germs, is easily disinfected and
provides single-use applications that reduce infections in healthcare. On the flip side, we
must note that PVC is the most dangerous plastic to human health, known to leach
dangerous toxins throughout its entire lifecycle (eg: lead, dioxins, vinyl chloride).  

Examples: Plumbing pipes, credit cards, human and pet toys, rain gutters, teething rings, IV
fluid bags and medical tubing and oxygen masks

•  Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

• A softer, clearer, and more flexible version of HDPE. It’s often used as a liner inside
beverage cartons, and in corrosion-resistant work surfaces and other products. 

• Examples: Plastic/cling wrap, sandwich and bread bags, bubble wrap, garbage bags,
grocery bags and beverage cups.

• Polypropylene (PP)

• This is one of the most durable types of plastic. It is more heat resistant than some others,
which makes it ideal for such things as food packaging and food storage that’s made to
hold hot items or be heated itself. It’s flexible enough to allow for mild bending, but it
retains its shape and strength for a long time.
 • Examples: Straws, bottle caps, prescription bottles, hot food containers, packaging tape,
disposable diapers and DVD/CD boxes (remember those!).

• 6) Polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam)

• Better known as Styrofoam, this rigid plastic is low-cost and insulates very well, which
has made it a staple in the food, packaging and construction industries. Like PVC,
polystyrene is considered to be a dangerous plastic. It can easily leach harmful toxins
such as styrene (a neurotoxin), which can easily then be absorbed by food and thus
ingested by humans.

• Examples: Cups, takeout food containers, shipping and product packaging, egg cartons,
cutlery and building insulation.

Elastomers
• Elastomers are polymers that are having a viscosity as well as elasticity and therefore
are known as viscoelasticity. The molecules of elastomers held together by weak
intermolecular forces, generally they exhibit low Young's modulus and high yield
strength or high failure strain.

• Rubber is an example of an elastomer type polymer, where the polymer has the ability to
return to its original shape after being stretched or deformed.

• The rubber polymer is coiled when in the resting state. The elastic properties arise from
the its ability to stretch the chains apart, but when the tension is released the chains snap
back to the original position.

• The majority of rubber polymer molecules contain at least some units derived from
conjugated diene monomers

Natural Rubber
• Natural rubber is an addition polymer that is obtained as a milky white fluid known as
latex from a tropical rubber tree.

• Natural rubber is from the monomer isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene), which is a

conjugated diene hydrocarbon .

• In natural rubber, most of the double bonds formed in the polymer chain have the cis
configuration, resulting in natural rubber's elastomer qualities.

• Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered that by mixing sulfur and rubber, the
properties of the rubber improved in being tougher, resistant to heat and cold, and
increased in elasticity.
 • This process was later called vulcanization after the Roman god of fire.

• Vulcanization causes shorter chains to cross link through the sulfur to longer chains.

• The development of vulcanized rubber for automobile tires greatly aided this industry

• Synthetic rubber:- Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR):- SBR is a copolymer of styrene and
butadiene These are having High frictional force ,Not easily broken Resists ozone, Gets
easily oxidized Uses:- Used in tyres and foot wears

• Neoprene rubber:- It is obtained by the polymerisation of Chloroprene. It is not easily

flammable, Does not easily react with oils and solvents. Stable at high temperature.
Uses:-Used in Cable insulation, Conveyer belt in coal mines and for Making hose

Biodegradable Plastics (Bioplastics)

• Derived from plant sources such as sweet potatoes, sugarcane, soya bean oil and corn
starch.

• They are environmentally friendly because their production releases less CO 2, which is
thought to cause global warming

• The material returns to its natural state when buried in the ground.(microorganisms will
break it down into carbon dioxide and water).

Biodegradable Plastics (Bioplastics)

• Examples: - polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone(PCL), polyhydroxybutyrate

covalerate (PHBV), and polyesteramide

• Uses : - in automoble interiors, in consumer electronics, in the manufacture of casings

and wrappings, used in packing of food materials, in shopping bags etc.

• They are used for making artificial fibers, medical products and construction materials.

Importance of plastic recycling

• The production of plastics increased markedly over the last 60 years.

• Current levels of their disposal and usage generate several environmental problems.

• Recycling is the important actions currently available to reduce these impacts.

• Recycling provides opportunities to reduce oil usage, carbon dioxide emission and the
quantities of waste requiring disposal
• Advances in technologies and systems for the collection, sorting and reprocessing of
recyclable plastics are creating new opportunities for recycling.