The World of Plastics and Polymers In 1907 Leo Bakeland patented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic polymer.

This hard plastic was used as an electrical insulator and paved the way for the more than 60,000 different synthetic plastics on the market today. Each year companies manufacture more than 30 million tons of plastics that are used in myriad of applications. We wear clothes containing polyester and nylon fibers, eat food packaged in polyethylene containers, drink water delivered through polyvinyl chloride pipes, walk on carpets made of polyolefin fibers, and sleep on mattresses made of polyurethane foam. The variety of applications of synthetic polymers is mind-boggling. The table lists some of the major classes of polymers and describes some of their useful properties and uses. Uses of Polymers Polymer Properties Applications

neoprene polyamide (nylon) polyacrylonitrile

very chemical resistant, rubbery fibrous, strong, durable, moisture resistant resinous, fibrous, or rubbery, combines with butadiene and styrene to form hard, tough ABS copolymer can be molded by extrusion, chemically resistant fibers recover quickly after extension and absorb very little moisture. can be easily formed into lightweight containers

shoe soles, hoses, radiator hoses, wetsuits parachutes, carpet, ropes, formfitting skiwear, hosiery, swimware, boat sails ABS plumbing pipe, structural panels, kettle handles, housewares; Orlon fabric

polychlorotrifluoroethylene polyester

gaskets, linings for containers, parts for valves and pumps filters, conveyor belts, sleeping bag insulation, coat insulation, tire cords. Brand name polymers include: Dacron , Fortrel , Terylene ; Mylar & Lexan . milk, water, and juice containers; toys, liquid detergent bottles

polyethylene (high-density ) HDPE polyethylene (low-density) LDPE polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PETE) polyolefin

can be stretched into fine, bread bags, frozen food bags, tough, films. grocery bags strong, easily moldable, soft drink bottles, peanut butter jars, chemically resistant, light- salad dressing bottles, nonbreakable weight bottles fiber composed of at least hosiery, sportswear, undergarments, 85% polyethylene or pile fabrics, upholstery, outdoor polypropylene furniture, indoor carpeting, indooroutdoor rugs and carpets, filters, marine cordage, automobile seat covers, electrical insulation, carpet backing thermoplastic; resists attack by acids, alkalis, Styrofoam cups, grocery store meat trays, fast-food sandwich

polystyrene

and many solvents, does not absorb water; excellent electrical insulator. polysulfone tough, strong, stiff, chemically and thermally resistant strong, tough, waxy, nonflammable, chemically resistant, slippery surface, thermally stable

containers, video cassette cases, compact disk jackets, cafeteria trays, refrigerator insulation household and plumbing items, various automotive parts, wire coatings Viton : gaskets, bearings, linings for containers and pipes. Teflon : non-stick cookware, cooking utensils, pump valves, plumbing tape.

polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

polyurethane

flexible foams, highly flexible foams: upholstery material, elastic quick drying fibers, mattresses or hard-drying films rigid foams: cores for airplane wings fibers: spandex clothing fiber, support hosiery; Lycra , Numa , Spandelle , and Vyrene. hard films: polyurethane varnishes

polyvinyl alcohol colorless, water-soluble, flammable resin polyvinyl chloride rigid when unplasticized; flexible when plasticized

component in: adhesives, emulsifiers, lacquers, coatings, and films unplasticized form: water pipe, plumbing fittings, phonograph records, synthetic floor tiles, credit cards plasticized form: raincoats, shower curtains, and packaging films. protective films for: building sidings, pipes, corrosive chemical containers carpet backings; film-forming ingredient of water-based (latex) paints, adhesives, lacquers, and cements

polyvinyl fluoride polyvinylacetate

resistant to attack by chemicals or by weathering water-insoluble resin

Commodity Resins - Characteristics and Uses of Polymer Plastics Commodity polymers are produced in large quantities and are used as the raw materials for many plastic products. These resins are labeled as commodities because they are commonly used and are not refined or differentiated by the resin manufacturers. Commodity polymers, such as LDPE, PVC, and HDPE, are the least expensive plastic resins to produce. Alliance Polymers distributes engineering and commodity resins for the commercial and industrial markets.

BOPP labels

Polypropylene (PP) Similar to polyethylene, but each unit of the chain has a methyl group attached. This commodity plastic resin is translucent, autoclavable, and has no known solvent at room temperature. It is slightly more susceptible than polyethylene to strong oxidizing agents. This commodity polymer offers the best stress-crack resistance of the polyolefins. Products made of polypropylene are brittle at 0C and may crack or break if dropped from benchtop height. Polypropylene copolymer (PPC) An essentially linear copolymer with repeated sequences of ethylene and propylene, this commodity plastic resin combines some of the advantages of both polymers. PPCO is autoclavable, and offers much of the high temperature performance of polypropylene. It also provides some of the low-temperature strength and flexibility of polyethylene. Polypropylene Homopolymer (PPH) Grades of polypropylene commodity plastic resin are available for various fabrication processes such as injection molding, sheet and thermoforming, biaxially oriented film (BOPP), capacitor film, fiber spinning, and slit tape. Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE/TPO) A type of polyolefin, which, due to structure, molecular weight and chemistry, can be moulded into autoclavable parts, which are rubber-like in application and performance. This commodity plastic resin is used for several small caps and plugs on filtration and ultracentrifuge ware products.

LDPE stretch film

Polyethylene The polymerisation of ethylene results in an essentially straight chain, high molecular weight hydrocarbon. The polyethylene commodity plastic resins are classified according to the relative degree of branching (side chain

formation) in their molecular structures, which can be controlled with selective catalysts. Like other polyolefins, the polyethylenes are chemically inert. Strong oxidizing agents will eventually cause oxidation and embrittlement. These commodity polymers have no known solvent at room temperature. Aggressive solvents will cause softening or swelling, but these effects are normally reversible. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) Has more extensive branching, resulting in a less compact molecular structure.

HDPE crate regrind commodity

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) Has minimal branching, which makes it more rigid and less permeable than LDPE commodity plastic resin. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) Combines the toughness of low-density polyethylene with the rigidity of high-density polyethylene commodity polymers. Polystyrene (PS) Rigid and non-toxic commodity plastic resin, with excellent dimensional stability and good chemical resistance to aqueous solutions but limited resistance to solvents. This glass-clear material is commonly used for disposable laboratory products. Products made of polystyrene are brittle at ambient temperature and may crack or break if dropped from benchtop height. Polystyrene (HIPS & GPPS) GPPS commodity plastic resin is stiff and transparent but lacks adequate impact resistance for some applications. This is overcome in HIPS, in which butadiene rubber is incorporated. The rubber phase in HIPS produces a milky appearance caused by the rubber's light-scattering effect. The chemical resistance of GPPS is greatly improved by copolymerization with acrylonitrile monomer to produce the transparent polymer SAN. In ABS, the addition of butadiene rubber particles to the SAN matrix increases impact strength, but at the same time, the transparency is lost. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Similar in structure to polyethylene, but each unit contains a chlorine atom. The chlorine atom renders it vulnerable to some solvents, but also makes it more resistant in many applications. PVC commodity plastic resin has extremely good resistance to oils (except essential oils) and very low permeability to most gases. Polyvinyl chloride is transparent and has a slight bluish tint. Narrow-mouth bottles made of this material are relatively thin-walled and can be flexed slightly. When blended with phthalate ester plasticisers, PVC commodity plastic resin becomes soft and pliable, providing the useful tubing to be found in every well-equipped laboratory. Engineering Resins - Characteristics and Uses of Polymer Plastics

Engineering resins is the term for a group of polymer plastics which exhibit a greater tendency to form crystals in their solid state than their more amorphous cousins. The additional level of long-range order at the molecular scale produces a different set of physical properties which suit the engineering plastic resins to a wide variety of applications that amorphous resins cannot fill. In general, engineering plastic resins are physically stronger and less flexible than amorphous resins and show greater resistance to fatigue, friction and wear. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Products made from ABS plastic resin are found virtually everywhere; toys, office equipment, cars and trucks, kitchenware and even cosmetics rely on this engineering resin. This polymer adds the proven strength of plastics derived from acrylonitrile and styrene to the toughness of butadiene rubber. ABS polymers resist the action of many acids and bases as well as alcohols and oils. Impact resistance, high-temperature stability and good electrical characteristics fill out the ABS engineering plastic resin resume and recommend it for extensive use in manufacturing.

PC water bottles

Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) PBT engineering plastic resins are used to fabricate components found in computer keyboards, appliances, fluid handling systems, cars and trucks, electrical connectors, and industrial systems and controls. This product list is a testament to the versatility of the compound and is a direct result of its many outstanding characteristics. Stability and resistance to temperature extremes, along with a superior ability to be molded into complex or fine shapes makes PBT one of the most important engineering polymers. Polycarbonate (PC) Polycarbonate is a transparent engineering plastic resin that finds use in eyeglass lenses, compact discs and DVDs, and the protective coverings for vehicle headlight lamps. Polycarbonate is often used in electrical insulators, and in the manufacturing world, this tough, temperature resistant polymer is used to construct industrial equipment housings and windows that must withstand high temperatures and pressures. Capable of being machined on standard metalworking equipment without chipping or splitting, yet tougher than die-cast aluminum, polycarbonate remains a viable engineering plastic resin. Whether the application demands low-temperature impact resistance and thermal stability or the ability to be easily processed and hold color well, engineering polymers have the characteristics needed to meet performance requirements while allowing manufacturers to keep production costs to acceptable levels. Alliance Polymers creates engineering resins, plastics and polymer products that make the world go round.

PC / ABS regrind

PC/ABS A true industrial thermoplastic, this engineering resins blend combines the most desirable properties of both materials; excellent features of ABS and the superior mechanical properties and heat resistance of polycarbonate. PC-ABS blends are widely used in automotive, electronics and telecommunications applications. This engineering plastic resins blend is ideal for the rapid production of prototypes, tooling and the direct (tool-less) manufacturing of production parts. PC/PBT A compounded engineering plastic resins blend of Polycarbonate and PBT. The PC contributes impact, stiffness and heat resistance, while the PBT contributes chemical resistance. The usual moisture sensitivity of the crystalline PBT is overcome by the PC in the blend. Some grades are made using PET instead of PBT engineering resin. Nylon (NYL) polyamide A group of linear polymers with repeating amide linkages along the backbone. These engineering plastic resins are produced by an amidation of diamines with dibasic acids, or polymerisation of amino acids. Nylon is strong and tough. It resists abrasion, fatigue and impact. Nylon offers excellent chemical resistance with negligence permeation rates when used with organic solvents. However, these engineering polymers have poor resistance to strong mineral acids, oxidizing agents and certain salts.

Nylon 6 or 66 ( filled or unfilled)

Nylon 66 (Polyamide 66) resin A thermoplastic resin with excellent mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. It is used as raw materials of fiber, film and engineering plastic. Engineering plastic resins are replacing the previous metals at a rapid pace. Nylon has a proven record of outstanding service in a wide range of applications for all industries. Acetal (ACL) , or polyoxymethylene

A tough, strong material with excellent physical and mechanical properties. This engineering plastic resin is produced by polymerisation of formaldehyde. Acetal retains its dimensions and other properties at elevated temperatures. ACL engineering polymers offer excellent resistance to most organic solvents and fair to good resistance to strong acids and bases. Naturally opaque. Reinforced with glass fibres for increased stiffness when moulded into test tube racks. Polyethylene Terephthalate G Copolymer (PETG) Similar to many other engineering plastic resins. However, its glass-like clarity, toughness and excellent gasbarrier properties make it an outstanding choice for storing biologicals . Tests have shown PETG to be biologically equivalent to, or better than Type 1 borosilicate glass bottles for cell culture applications. In tests using a wide variety of cell lines, PETG engineering plastic resin was determined to be non-cytotoxic, and media stored in PETG bottles demonstrated proliferative and morphological characteristics comparable to control media. In fact, the PETG bottles allowed growth of good monolayers directly on the surface of the bottle. PETG can be sterilized with radiation or compatible chemicals but cannot be autoclaved. Chemical resistance is fair. Polyphenylene Oxides (PPO) This family of engineering plastic resins is characterized by outstanding dimensional stability at elevated temperatures, broad temperature-use range, outstanding hydrolytic stability and excellent dielectric properties over a wide range of frequencies and temperatures. Polysulfone (PSF) Like polycarbonate, PSF is clear, strong, non-toxic and extremely tough engineering plastic resin . PSF is less subject than PC to hydrolytic attack during autoclaving and has a natural straw-coloured cast. PSF is resistant to acids, bases, aqueous solutions, aliphatic hydrocarbons and alcohols. PSFengineering polymer is composed of phenylene units linked by three different chemical groups-isopropylidene, ether and sulfone. Each of the three linkages imparts specific properties to the polymer, such as chemical resistance, temperature resistance and impact strength. Polyurethane (PUR) Belongs to the class of thermosetting polymers and contains the characteristic urethane (O-CO-NH) group formed in the typical condensation polymerisation. PUR engineering plastic resins are useful in different types of products as for example elastomers. Polyurethane elastomers have extremely good abrasion resistance and hardness, combined with good elasticity and resistance to greases, oils and solvents.