Chemical and Physical

Properties
MFG 355
Ultraviolet (UV) Light Degradation
Oxidation
Plastic paint
Chemical resistivity and solubility
None
Swelling/softening
Dissolving
Reacting
PE and H
2
O
Nylon and H
2
O
PVC and ketone
PVOH and water Cellulosics
and acids
Increasing Chemical Reactivity to Plastic
Chemical Resistivity and Solubility
PS exposed to gasoline
Chemical Nature and Solvent-
solute Interactions
Polar effects
Like with like
Steric effects
Crystallinity
Physical property
effects on solvent-
solute interactions
Solvent size
Swelling

Like to like polar polymer
Thermodynamics of Solvent
Interactions
Equation
G = H TS
Negative G is favorable
Negative H means bonds are forming
Positive S is standard (increasing)
When does each term dominate to give a negative
G?
Plasticizers
Increase swelling
Randomness
Plasticizers can migrate out

Solvent Welding

Water Repellent
Surface tension must be LOW
Silicones = 24 dyne/cm
PTFE = 19 dyne/cm
PVC = 37 dyne/cm
Water wicking
Corrosion-Resistant
Availability of electrons
Polymers are better than metals
Fluoropolymerstightly attached
Electron shielded
Chlorine attachment (blocks electron
availability)
Coatings
Decorative and protective
Adhesion
Weatherability
Water solubility

Environmental Resistance and
Weathering
Environmental Stress Cracking
Hawaii Story
Crosslinked, LLDPE
Banana Plantation
Drawdown
Crazing
Cracks at stress areas
Permeability
Diffusion Coefficient
D = D
o
e
-A/RT
Ficks Laws of diffusion
J = -D dc/dx
Barrier Properties
dc/dt = D d
2
c/dx
2
Gas (vapor) Permeation
Polar groups (solubility) to solvent or gas
Intermolecular size (distance)
Crosslinking and crystallinity
Electrical Properties
Resistivity (10
18
10
-6
)
Dielectric Strength
Arc Resistance
Dielectric Constant
Dissipation Factor (heat up)
Conductive Polymers
H
H
H
H
C
n
C C C ( )
H
H
H
H
C
n
C C C ( )
Conductive Polymers


Material
Conductivity (Ohm-cm)
-1

Silver 6.25 x 10
5

Copper 5.85 x 10
5

Gold 4.44 x 10
5

Polyacetylene (doped) .6.0 x 10
4
- 1.5 x 10
5

Steel .6.0 x 10
4

Silicon 1.56 x 10
-3

Carbon, graphite .1.0 x 10
-3

Polyacetylene (unmodified) .1.0 x 10
-11
to .1.0 x 10
-15

Carbon, diamond .1.0 x 10
-14

Alumina ceramic .1.0 x 10
-15

Epoxy .1.0 x 10
-15

Polyethylene, medium density .1.0 x 10
-16

Teflon .1.0 x 10
-18

Optical Properties
Light Transmission
Clear
Translucent
Opaque
Colorants
Dyes
Pigments
Surface Reflectance

Transparency
Non-crystalline
Index of refraction low
Total luminous transmittance high
Plastic Identification
Spectroscopy

Flammability
Self-extinguishing
Halogen effects (oxygen)
Fillers (Al
2
O
3
3H
2
O) (heat)
Aromatics (fuel)
Silicones (fuel)
Fuel Oxygen
Heat
Flammability Tests
Vertical
and
horizontal
burn tests
Limiting Oxygen Index

Chamber
Sample
Sample holder
Gas manifold
N
2
O
2

Flammability Tests
Radiant panel
Cone calorimeter
Flexibility
CH
2
, O are flexible
PE, Polyisoprene, PEO, Siloxanes
Polybutylene terephthalate is more flexible
than PET
Pendant groups
Crystallinity reduces flexibility
Copolymers
Plasticizers (soluble)
Heat Resistance
Stiffening groups along the chain
Phenyl groups
T
g

goes up since it takes more heat to move
molecules
Strong intermolecular H-Bonding
Crystallinity increases heat resistance
Insulating Polymers
Non-polar is better
Foams
Air is an insulator
Toughness
Backbone Structure
Pendant Groups
Thank You
Flammability Tests
Limiting
oxygen
index (LOI)
Adhesives
Bonding (chemical) between surfaces is best
Crosslinking agents (ie siloxanes)
Solvent based
Latex adhesives good flow into crevices for
mechanical attachment
Pressure-sensitive polymer flow (mechanical)
Hot melt polymer flow
Reactive low molecular weight to get stronger
End Groups