Polymers

everything about polymers

What is number 1

PEt

what is number 2

HDPE

what is number 3

PVC

What is number 4

LDPE

What is number 5

PP

What are the options for numbner 6

PS

EPS

what are the options for number 7

nylon

Acrylic

TPE

ABS

5 thermosetting pilymers

urea formaldehyde

Melamine formaldehyde

Phenol formaldehyde

Epoxy resin

Polyester resin

PET

clear, tough

Moisture and gas-barrier

Water bottles

HDPE

range of colours, hard, stiff, chemical resistance

Milk crates, bottles

PVC

stiff hard tough, chemical and weather resistant

Pipes, guttering, roof sheets

LDPE

range of colours, tough flexible

squeeze bottles, bin liners

PP

hard, lightweight, good chemical resistance, can be sterilised

Medical equipment syringes, crates, string

Polystyrene

range of colours, stiff, hard, lightweight

Disposable plates, cups

EPS

lightweight, absorbs shock, sound and heat insulation

Protective packaging

nylon

hard, tough, resilient to wear self-lubricating, resistant to high temps

Gear wheels, bearings

acryllic

stiff, hard, clear, durable outdoors, easily machined

Baths, illuminated signs, aircraft canopies

TPE

mix of thermoplastics and elastomers, flexible, tough, watch straps, scuba diving masks

ABS

tough, high impact strength, lightweight

Kitchenware, safety helmets, car parts, telephones

monomer?

molecule that can be bonded to other identical polymers to make a polymer

polymer

Substance that has a molecular structure built up from a large number of monomers bonded

synthetic

a manufactured substance that imitates a natural product

urea formaldehyde

stuff, hard, brittle, heat resistance, good electrical insulator, range of colours

name elastomers

silicone

Neoprene

Butadiene rubber

Fluoroelastomer

silicone?

heat and oil resistance

Flexible baking trays, bathroom sealant

neoprene

Weather resistance, flame reatardent

wetsuits

name the additives

plasticisers

Pigments

Stabilisers

Fillers

Catalysts

Antioxidants

what do plasticisers do?

improve flow properties for moulding

PVC for tough drain pipes, but add plasticiser to make it good for garden hose

pigments?

add colour

stabilisers?

prevent damage from UV light, which may cause polymers to become brittle

fillers

powdered solids, bulk up polymers, reduce costs, improve strength, reduce brittleness

catalysts

speed up rate of synthesis of polumers

antioxidants

prevent oxidation

how much waste an adult male makes

1 tonne

downcycling

recycling into a lower quality product

polymerisation

process of joining small molecules to make polymers

additives are?

substances added to polymers to improve their mechanical properties

stock forms of polymers

sheets

Granules

Rods

Extruded sections

Tubes

Foamed

Powdered

Reels

what are sheets used for

signage, roofing panels

what are granules used for

injection moulding, melt quicker

what are rods used for

CNC machining

what are powdered used for

coating on metal surfaces

what are reels used for

plastic wire used on certain 3D printers

standard components

nuts and bolts

Wasters

Wall plugs

End caps

Plastic gear wheels

wastage

cutting away material to leave a desired shape

line bending

bending a polymer sheet after softening a narrow strip

vacuum forming

producing thin hollow items over a shaped mould

Vacuum sucks plastic onto mould

DCM?

dichloromethane

Solvent used to join polymer pieces together

finishing

degating

Deflashing

Cleaning

co-injection moulding

an injection moulding process that uses two different polymers

flash

excess material formed between the joint of a mould

gate

the entry pivot for moulten plastic to flow into a mould

self-finishing

a material that requires no further coatings or finishing processes