Introduction to polymers
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Contents

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Polymer materials
    • 1 1The growth of poymers
    • 1.2 Polymer types
      • 1.2.1 Natural and synthetic rubbers
      • 1.2.2 Thermoplastics and thermosets
      • 1.2.3 Consumption of plastics
    • 1.3 Product design and manufacture
      • 1.3.1 Parts consolidation
      • 1.3.2 Human/product interaction
      • 1.3.3 Speciality sectors
  • 2 Molecular engineering
    • 2.1 Understanding the polymer state
    • 2.2 Chain repeat units
    • 2.3 Chain configuration
      • 2.3.1 Structural isomerism
      • 2.3.2 Chain branching
      • 2.3.3 Geometrical isomerism
      • 2.3.4 Stereoisomerism
      • 2.3.5 Repeat unit placement
      • 2.3.6 Copolymers
    • 2.4 Chain conformations
    • 2.5 Structure-property relationships
      • 2.5.1 Homologous series
      • 2.5.2 Polymer families
      • 2.5.3 Structure and the glass transition temperature
      • 2.5.4 Melting and structure
    • 2.6 Molecular mass distribution
    • 2.7 Commercial polymers
      • 2.7.1 Thermosets
  • 3 Manufacture of monomers
    • 3.1 Primary sources of synthetic polymers
    • 3.2 Petrochemical processing
      • 3.2.1 Thermal cracking
      • 3.2.2 Ethane cracking
    • 3.3 Petrochemical intermediates and monomers
      • 3.3.1 Ethylene, propylene and butadiene
      • 3.3.2 Benzene, toluene and xylene
      • 3.3.3 Higher aromatics
    • 3.4 The petrochemical industry
  • 4 Polymerization
    • 4.1 Understanding the polymerization process
    • 4.2 Chain and step growth
    • 4.3 Chain growth polymerization
      • 4.3.1 Initiation
      • 4.3.2 Propagation
      • 4.3.3 Termination and transfer
      • 4.3.4 Ionic polymerization
      • 4.3.5 Co-ordination polymerization
    • 4.4 Step growth polymerization
    • 4.5 Copolymerization
      • 4.5.1 The copolymer equation
      • 4.5.2 Commercial copolymers
    • 4.6 Polymer grades
      • 4.6.1 Prices of polymers
      • 4.6.2 Material costs in manufacturing
  • 5 Physical properties of polymers
    • 5.1 The behaviour of polymers
    • 5.2 Viscoelasticity of polymers
      • 5.2.1 Elastic and viscoelastic behaviour
      • 5.2.2 Viscous behaviour
    • 5.3 Viscoelasticity and master curves
      • 5.3.1 Time-temperature superposition
      • 5.3.2 Effects of structure on viscoelasticity
    • 5.4 Dynamic mechanical properties
    • 5.5 Orientation in polymers
      • 5.5.1 Non-uniform mixtures
      • 5.5.2 Molecular orientation
    • 5.6 Crystallisation of polymers
      • 5.6.1 Morphology of polymer crystallites
      • 5.6.2 Structure and crystallinity
      • 5.6.3 Conformation and crystallinity
  • 6 Design in polymers
    • 6.1 A fresh approach?
    • 6.2 Manufacturing and process methods
    • 6.3 Materials selection
      • 6.3.1 Prototyping
    • 6.4 Case history: the Topper boat
      • 6.4.1 Materials selection
      • 6.4.2 Manufacturing the boat
    • 6.5 Market experience
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements

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