Polymeric Materials

Polymeric Materials

1. Thermosets

   • This refers to the irreversible polymerization
   • This type of polymer is cured by chemical reaction or heat
     • Becomes infusible and insoluble

2. Thermoplastics

   • Represented by a large range of plastic materials
   • There are three types of thermoplastic polymers
     • Crystalline thermoplastics
       • Usually translucent with molecular chains which present a regular arrangement.
       • These polymers have more mechanical impact resistance
         • Examples: Polypropylene (PP) | Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) | High-density Polyethylene (HDPE).
     • Amorphous thermoplastics
       • Usually transparent with the molecules arranged randomly
         • Examples: Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) | Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) | Polycarbonate (PC) | Polystyrene (PS) | Acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene (ABS).
     • Semi-crystalline polymers
       • Present combined properties of crystalline polymers and amorphous polymers.
         • The representative polymers of this group are polyester polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyamide Imide (PAI).

3. These polymers present unique properties (physical, thermal and electrical) that make them suitable for many applications.

   • The injection modeling process is the main technique of polymer processing which allows the fabrication of different kinds of parts, such as the computer mouse.

4. These plastic materials can be modeled into a variety of products for a wide range of applications due to the fact that thermoplastic polymers are inexpensive, lightweight and durable.

   • This increased significantly the production of plastics in the last decades
     • Accumulation of discarded end-of-life plastics
     • Debris in landfills and in natural habitats worldwide
       • This is causing a big problem in the whole world
         • This has been attempted to be solved with recycled plastics
           • Chemical recycling
           • Mechanical recycling
           • Leading to products ready to be used in determined conditions, in the most economic, ecological and rational way.
     • Management methods related to constantly growing resources of plastics

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