Lecture 05: Polymer Processing Techniques

Vocabulary flashcards covering polymer processing techniques from Lecture 05.

Polymer Types

Materials including plastics, elastomers, fibers, coatings, adhesives, foams, and films.

Plastics

Polymeric materials used in general-purpose applications, exhibiting varying degrees of rigidity, flexibility, and crystallinity; can be thermoplastic or thermosetting.

Elastomers

Polymeric materials that display rubbery-like behavior and high degrees of elastic deformation; amorphous and crosslinked.

Vulcanization

Process often used in the crosslinking of elastomers.

Fibers

Polymers capable of being drawn into long filaments with a high length-to-diameter ratio, commonly used in the textile industry and composite materials.

Additives

Materials combined with a polymer to beneficially change its properties, either by altering the molecular structure or adding a second phase.

Fillers

Additives that strengthen a polymer or reduce cost.

Plasticizers

Additives that soften a polymer and improve flow properties.

Adhesives

Substances used to bond together the surfaces of two solid materials, utilizing mechanical and/or chemical bonding mechanisms.

Films

Polymeric materials used in the form of thin layers for packaging, textiles, and other uses.

Foams

Plastic materials containing a high volume percentage of small pores and trapped gas bubbles, used for cushioning, packaging, and thermal insulation.

Forming Techniques for Plastics

Techniques used to shape polymeric materials, including extrusion, injection molding, compression molding, blow molding, and casting.

Forming Techniques for Thermoplastics (TP)

Forming of polymeric materials at elevated temperatures. Scrap pieces may be remelted and reformed into new shapes

Forming Techniques for Thermosetting (TS)

Fabrication of polymers in two stages: preparation of a linear prepolymer and curing to form a crosslinked or network structure.

Molding

Method for forming plastic polymers by forcing pelletized plastic into a mold cavity at elevated temperature and pressure.

Spinning

The process by which fibers are formed from bulk polymer material (melt, dry and wet).

3D Printing of Polymers

Advanced manufacturing techniques where polymers are built layer by layer, using methods like fused deposition modeling and stereolithography.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

A 3D printing technique where a filament of polymer is heated and extruded layer by layer.

Stereolithography (SLA)

A 3D printing technique using a photosensitive resin that is cured by a laser beam layer by layer.