Question

3080/5080 Materials Science and Engineering: Spring 2019 ead Ch. 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11 CHEN Home Work 19 due Tue, Apr 16 Review olved Problems 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.6, 10.7,10.8, 10.9, 10.1o 1. Distinguish between the i) structure, ii) processing and ili) properties of a) thermoplastic b) th eric material has a relaxation time of 25 days at 27°C when a stress of 7.0 MPa is applied. days will be required to decrease the stress to 4.0 MPa ? (b) What is the relaxatio erm oset polymers and c) elastomers. Use examples for each 2. A polym (a) How many time at 30°c if the activation energy for this process is 2 How many kilograms of sulfur are needed to cross-link 10% pf the cross link sites in 200 kg polyisoprene rubber? 3.

Answer 1

Thermoplastics

Molecules in a thermoplastic are held together by relatively weak intermolecular forces so that the material softens when exposed to heat and then returns to its original condition when cooled. Thermoplastic polymers can be repeatedly softened by heating and then solidified by cooling - a process similar to the repeated melting and cooling of metals. Most linear and slightly branched polymers are thermoplastic. All the major thermoplastics are produced by chain polymerization.

Thermoplastics have a wide range of applications because they can be formed and reformed in so many shapes. Some examples are food packaging, insulation, automobile bumpers, and credit cards.

Thermosets

A thermosetting plastic, or thermoset, solidifies or "sets" irreversibly when heated. Thermosets cannot be reshaped by heating. Thermosets usually are three-dimensional networked polymers in which there is a high degree of cross-linking between polymer chains. The cross-linking restricts the motion of the chains and leads to a rigid material. A simulated skeletal structure of a network polymer with a high cross-link density is shown at the right. Thermosets are strong and durable. They primarily are used in automobiles and construction. They also are used to make toys, varnishes, boat hulls, and glues.

Elastomers

Elastomers are rubbery polymers that can be stretched easily to several times their unstretched length and which rapidly return to their original dimensions when the applied stress is released. Elastomers are cross-linked, but have a low cross-link density. The polymer chains still have some freedom to move, but are prevented from permanently moving relative to each other by the cross-links. To stretch, the polymer chains must not be part of a rigid solid - either a glass or a crystal. An elastomer must be above its glass transition temperature, Tg, and have a low degree of crystallinity. Rubber bands and other elastics are made of elastomers.