CRYSTALIZATION, MELTING, GLASS

TRANSITION
 Crystallization:
 Polymers can crystallize upon cooling from the melt,
mechanical stretching or solvent evaporation.

 Crystallization affects optical, mechanical, thermal and

chemical properties of the polymer.
 Glass transition:The glass-transition temperature of a material
characterizes the range of temperatures over which this glass
transition occurs.
 It is always lower than the melting temperature

 Melting behavior of semicrystalline polymers is intermediate between

that of crystalline materials (sharp density change at a melting
temperature) and that of a pure amorphous material (melting can be
only defined from viscosity).
 MOLECULAR CHARACTERISTIC
MOLECULE STRUCTURE
Differences in structure will effect the physical properties of polymer

Divided into four types:-

Linear – Van der waals and secondary bonding

Branches - Chain packing efficiency is reduced compared to linear polymers -
lower density
Cross linked - Chains are connected by covalent bonds. Often achieved by
adding atoms or molecules that form covalent links between chains. Many
rubbers have this structure.
Network - 3D networks made from trifunctional mers. Examples: epoxies,
phenolformaldehyde
 Stereoisomerism: atoms are linked together in the same order, but can
have different spatial arrangement

Isotactic configuration: all side groups R are on the same side of the chain.

Syndiotactic configuration: side groups R alternate sides of the chain.

Atactic configuration: random orientations of groups R along the chain.

 Isomerism: Hydrocarbon compounds with same composition may have
different atomic arrangements.

Two types of isomerism are possible:

 stereoisomerism
 geometrical isomerism

 Geometrical isomerism: consider two carbon atoms bonded by a double

bond in a chain.

Cis-polyisoprene Trans-polyisoprene
MOLECULAR WEIGHT

 Important because it determines many physical properties.

 The number average molecular weight is the statistical average

molecular weight of all the polymer chains

 If the molecular weight too low, the transition of temperature and

the mechanical properties will be generally too low for the polymer
material to have any useful commercial applications.