PLASTICS, WOOD AND RUBBER

POLYMER

 Polymer is a large molecule (macromolecule)

composed of repeating structural units.
 These subunits are typically connected by covalent
chemical bonds.
 Although the term polymer is sometimes taken to
refer to plastics, it actually encompasses a large
class of natural
and synthetic materials with a wide variety of
properties
CLASSIFICATION OF POLYMERS
Natural polymers
Based on origin Semi-synthetic polymers
Synthetic polymers
Linear polymers
Based on structure Branched chain polymers
Polymers

Cross-linked polymers
Elastomers
Fibers
Based on molecular forces
Thermoplastics
Thermosetting polymers
Addition polymers
Based on mode of polymerization
Condensation polymers
PLASTIC
 A plastic can be broadly defined as any non-metallic material that can be moulded to
desired shape
 Commonly defined as natural or synthetic resins which can be moulded, extruded,
cast or used as films or coatings
Classification of plastics
 Most commonly, plastics are classified into;
1. Thermoplastic
2. Thermosetting
THERMOPLASTIC POLYMER

 A thermoplastic, or thermosoftening plastic, is a plastic material, polymer, that

becomes soft or moldable above a specific temp and solidifies upon cooling.
 Can be heated and cooled a number of times, only they should not be heated above
their decomposition temperatures.
 They are main long chain straight or slightly branched and chains are held close to
each other by secondary weak forces of Vander Waal’s forces
 During heating the secondary forces are weakened and sliding of chains causes the
material to soften.
 EXAMPLES OF THERMOPLASTICS
Common thermoplastics are:

• Thermoplastic Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

• Thermoplastic High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
• Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)
• Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
• Polyethylene Terephtalate (PET)
• Nylon 6 (N6)
• Polyimide (PI)
• Polycarbonate (PC)
• Polysulfone (PSF)
 THERMOSETTING POLYMERS
 Thermosetting polymers have their chains cross linked by covalent bonds.
 The starting materials are placed into a mould to form the desired shape.
 The polymer is then heated (or initiated with uv light) and chemical reactions occur to
form the cross links between the chains.
 The resulting three dimensional solid structure cannot then be changed.
 Further heating will not cause the polymer to soften, melt or change shape (unlike
thermosoftening polymers).
THERMOSETS VS THERMOPLASTICS

Thermosetting materials Thermoplastic materials

1. Have three dimensional network of primary covalent bonds 1. Linear polymers without crosslinking and little or no
with crosslinking between chains branching
2. Are more stronger and harder than thermoplastics 2. Comparatively softer and less strong
3. Once hardened and set they do not soften with application 3. Can be repeatedly softened by heat and hardened by cooling
of heat
4. Cannot be used at comparatively higher temperatures as
4. Can be used at comparatively higher temperature without they will tend to soften under heat
damage
5. Usually supplied as granular materials
5. Usually supplied in monomeric or partially polymerized
6. Can fill the complicated mould quite easily
form
7. Scrap of these plastics can be recycled again
6. Cannot be recycled
Uses: Toys, combs, toilet goods, photographic films, insulating
Uses: Telephone receivers, electric plugs, radio & TV cabinets,
taps, hoses, electric insulation
camera bodies, automobile parts, circuit breaker switch panels
etc
 ADHESIVES
 An adhesive is a material used for bonding that exhibits flow at the time of application
 An adhesive is used for holding two surfaces together.
 The process to adhere on the surface is called the adhesion

General classification of adhesives

I. Thermosetting adhesives:
Most of thermosetting adhesives are based on epoxies, polyesters, polyimides and phenolics.
II. Thermoplastic adhesives
Polyamides, cyanoacrylates, polyacrylates, polyvinyl acetate (PVA)
III. Elastomeric adhesives
Typical elastomeric adhesives are based on natural rubbers, silicones, acrylonitride butadiene (nitrile),
neoprene, Butyl, polyurethane, styrene-butadiene.
PROPERTIES OF PLASTICS
i. Light weight
ii. Low thermal conductivity
iii. A wide range of colours
iv. Resistance to deterioration by moisture
v. Low electrical conductivity
vi. Fairly good resistance offered to attack by inorganic acids, based and salts
vii. Good tensile strength
viii. Good resistance to peeling
ix. Good sound absorption properties
COMMERCIAL FORMS OF PLASTICS

i. Plastic sheets

ii. Plastic tiles

iii. Plastic laminates

iv. Plastic panels

v. Plastic pipes
ELASTOMERS
ELASTOMERS

 Elastomers (commonly known as rubber) are polymers that have high viscosity as
well as elasticity and therefore are known to be viscoelastic.
 The molecules of elastomers held together by weak intermolecular forces, generally
they exhibit low Young’s modulus and high yield strength or high failure strain.
 They inherit the unique property of regaining original shape and size after being
stretched to a great extent.
 TYPES OF ELASTOMERS
1. Saturated Elastomers:
 Sulphur vulcanization can not cure them.
 They showcase superior stability against oxygen, radiation, heat, and ozone.
 Comparably they are less reactive.
 Their reactivity is limited to certain circumstances and conditions.
 Polyacrylic rubber and silicone rubber are examples of saturated elastomers.
2. Unsaturated Elastomers:
 They can be cured with the Sulphur vulcanization process.
 Butyl rubber and natural polyisoprene are examples of unsaturated elastomers.
 TYPES OF RUBBER
 The rubber is of the following two types:
(1) Natural rubber
Tis variety of rubber is obtained from latex or viscous milky juice tapped from rubber trees
The natural rubber has high strength, low hysteresis and good resistance to tear and flex cracking. But it is
easily affected by gasolines and solvents.
(2) Synthetic rubber
 Produced by artificial chemical process
 Grouped into two categories:
i. General purpose synthetic rubber: Most important all-purpose rubber is Styrene-Butadiene rubber
(SBR)
ii. Special Purpose Synthetic rubbers: Butyl, Nitrile, Polysulphide, EPR (Ethylene Propylene Rubber)
 TYPES OF RUBBER
(i) SBR
 Styrene-butadiene or styrene-butadiene rubber describe families of synthetic rubbers derived from styrene and
butadiene.
 SBR is a general purpose rubber made up of 75% styrene and 25% butadiene joined in a co-polymer
 These materials have good abrasion resistance and good aging stability when protected by additives.

(ii) Polysulphide rubbers

 a synthetic rubber that is a product of the polycondensation of dihalides of aliphatic compounds (for example,
ethylene dichloride or propyl dichloride) with polysulfides of alkali metals (e,g sodium polysulfide)
 Polysulfide rubbers are special purpose polymers characterized by high resistance to swelling in solvents, fuels, and
oils; resistance to sunlight; moisture and gas impermeability; and stability during storage
 These properties result from the high sulfur content and the absence of unsaturated bonds in the macromolecules.
 Polysulfide rubbers are used in rubberizing fuel storage tanks and in the manufacture of oil- and gasoline-resistant
tubing and of gastight diaphragms for gas meters.
TYPES OF RUBBER

(iii) Butyl rubber

 is a synthetic rubber, a copolymer of isobutylene with isoprene.
 Valued for its chemical inertness, impermeability to gases, and weatherability

Uses of butyl rubber

i. Due to its low gas and vapor permeability, butyl rubber is an important material in the manufacturing of tubeless tires,
inner tubes, sports-ball bladders, glove-box gloves, etc.
ii. As a waterproofing material, it is applied as a liner in tanks and ponds.
iii. It is used as a patching material for membrane roofs and as a sealant for insulated windows.
iv. Combined with other chemicals, polyisobutylene makes oil and fuel additives and demisting agents for machining
lubricants.
v. As a vibration dampener, butyl rubber is used for shock mounts, suspension bushings, and car- and truck-body
mounts. Speaker cone edges are often made from butyl rubber today where once they were commonly made of foam.
TYPES OF RUBBER
(iv) Nitrile rubber
 also known as Buna-N or NBR (nitrile-butadiene rubber)
 an oil-resistant synthetic rubber produced from a copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene.
 Its main applications are in fuel hoses, gaskets, rollers, and other products in which oil resistance is required.

(v) EPR rubber

 EPR rubber is based on ethylene and propylene monomers, with no unsaturation
 Has excellent ozone resistance and very good resistance to heat and oxidation
 offer good performance in polar fluids such as alcohols, water, steam, coolants etc., but perform badly in nonpolar fluids
such as hydrocarbon oils, lubricants and greases.
 Used in automotive seals, glass run channels, radiators, garden and appliance hoses, tubing, belts, roofing membranes,
expansion joints, rubber mechanical goods, plastic impact modification and motor oil additive applications.
 more prevalently used as an insulator for high-voltage cables
PROPERTIES OF RUBBER
i. It can absorb shocks due to impact.
ii. It can contain liquids and gases.
iii. It creeps or extends or undergoes slow deformation in length as a result of applied force or stress.
iv. It is a bad conductor of heat.
v. It is plastic in nature and hence it can be moulded to the desired shapes.
vi. It is possible to alter considerably its properties by the processes of vulcanizing and compounding.
vii. It possesses the quality of flexibility.
viii. It resists abrasion in a better way.
ix. The natural rubber should be protected from sunlight and should not be allowed to come in close contact with
oils, organic liquids, etc.
x. The outstanding property of rubber is that it is capable to undergo great deformation without being structurally
damaged. It is thus reasonably elastic.
xi. The synthetic rubber offers great resistance to acids, petroleum products, etc.
USES OF RUBBER

i. It is used as a gasket to make doors and windows air tight as in case of

refrigerators, vehicles, air-conditioned rooms, etc.
ii. It is used as a lining material for parts of machines subjected to heavy friction and
for tanks to be used in the chemical processes.
iii. It is used for preparing tyres of vehicles and machines.
iv. It is used to prepare rubber threads which are useful as wires, ropes, etc.
v. It is widely used for absorbing shocks and for reducing vibrations in machines.
vi. The synthetic rubber, in particular, may be used for hose-pipes to carry petrol and
kerosene oils, gaskets, insulation for high tension wires, etc.
FORMS OF RUBBER
 The important forms of rubber are as follows:

i. Crepe rubber
ii. Foam rubber
iii. Guayule rubber
iv. Gutta percha rubber
v. Polybutadiene rubber
vi. Smoked rubber
vii. Sponge rubber.
WOOD
 STRUCTURE OF WOOD

 In the tree trunk there are three main

sections,
I. the heartwood, which is physiologically
inactive,
II. the sapwood, where all conduction and
storage occurs,
III. and the bark, which protects the interior of
the tree trunk.
 The two main types of tree, softwoods and
hardwoods, have distinct internal structures.
 STRUCTURE OF WOOD
 Closest to the edge there's a moist, light, living layer
called sapwood packed with tubes called xylem that help
a tree pipe water and nutrients up from its roots to its
leaves;
 inside the sapwood there's a much darker, harder, part of
the tree called the heartwood, which is dead, where the
xylem tubes have blocked up with resins or gums and
stopped working.
 Around the outer edge of the sapwood (and the trunk) is a
thin active layer called the cambium where the tree is
actually growing outward by a little bit each year,
forming those famous annual rings that tell us how old a
tree is.
STRUCTURE OF WOOD
Bark
 Bark surrounds the central cylinder of
wood.
 It is differentiated into:
I. inner bark, which is relatively light-
coloured and conducts synthesized
food from the leaves downward,
II. and outer bark, which is dark-
coloured and dry, with an insulating
function
 STRUCTURE OF WOOD
Earlywood and latewood
 Growth rings are visible because of macroscopic
differences in structure between earlywood and latewood
—i.e., wood produced in the spring and later in a season
of growth.
 The two kinds of wood may differ in density, colour, or
other characteristics.
 In coniferous species, latewood is darker in colour and
has a greater density.
 In the wood of broad-leaved species, the presence of
pores is a characteristic macroscopic feature of growth
rings.
 STRUCTURE OF WOOD
Heartwood and sapwood
 In many tree species the central part of the
transverse section of trunk is darker in colour than
the peripheral wood. This inner part is called
heartwood, and the surrounding zone sapwood.
 Sapwood comprises the newer growth rings and
participates in the life processes of a tree.
 As the diameter of the tree increases with growth,
the older, inner layers no longer take part in the
transport and storage of water and nutrients and
become heartwood.
 STRUCTURE OF SOFTWOOD AND HARDWOOD
 Softwoods are made of tracheids and parenchyma, and hardwoods of vessel members, fibres, and parenchyma.
 A few hardwood species contain tracheids, but such instances are rare.

Softwoods
 The wood of softwood species is composed predominantly of tracheids.
 These cells are mainly longitudinal, or axial—their long axis runs parallel to the axis of the trunk (vertical in the
standing tree).
 Axial parenchyma is present in certain softwood species, but radial parenchyma is always present and constitutes
the rays, sometimes together with radial tracheids.
Hardwoods
 In hardwoods the proportion of constituent cell types—vessel members, fibres, and parenchyma—depends mainly
on species.
 Vessel members and fibres are always present and axially oriented; axial parenchyma is seldom absent.
SOFT WOODS
 softwoods, have vertical cells,
tracheids, 2 to 4 mm long and
roughly 30 μm wide.
 These cells are used for support
and conduction; they have an open
channel and a thin cell wall
 The storage cells, parenchyma, are
found in the radial direction. Cross-section of tracheid cell typical of a softwood
 HARDWOODS
 Broad-leaved trees are called hardwoods.
 The vertical cells in hardwoods are mainly fibres, which are 1 to 2
mm long and 15 μm wide. These are thick-walled with a very
narrow central channel and are for support only. These cells are
unsuitable for conduction, and so the tree needs vessels for this
purpose.
 Vessels are either xylem, which are dead cells that carry water and
minerals, or phloem, which are live cells and transport energy
sources made by the plant. Vessels are 0.2 to 1.2 mm long, open-
ended and are stacked vertically to form tubes of less than 0.5 mm
in diameter.
Cross-section of fibre cell
 Hardwoods also have a small number of tracheid cells, and found in hardwoods
parenchyma cells are still present radially for storage.
 Both balsa and greenheart wood are examples of hardwoods.
WOOD PRESERVATION
Seasoning
 Seasoning is the process of drying timber to remove the bound moisture contained in
walls of the wood cells to produce seasoned timber.
 Seasoning can be achieved in a number of ways, but the aim is to remove water at a
uniform rate through the piece to prevent damage to the wood during drying
 Seasoned timber tends to have superior dimensional stability than unseasoned timber
and is much less prone to warping and splitting in service.
 In higher grades of timber, particularly hardwoods, the process of seasoning can
enhance the basic characteristic properties of timber, increasing stiffness, bending
strength and compression strength.
 CHEMICAL PRESERVATION OF WOOD

 Wood can be protected from the action of destructive agents such as fungi, insects, and
marine organisms by impregnation with toxic chemicals.
 Wood can be made resistant to fire with chemical retardants.
 Wood to be treated with preservative is prepared by removing bark (as a rule) and
excess moisture (to below the fibre saturation point; see the section Hygroscopicity),
machining to final shape, and drilling holes or making incisions to facilitate entrance of
the preservative.
 Preservatives can be applied by brushing, spraying, dipping, steeping, sequential
immersion in hot and cold baths, and diffusion (applied to green wood), but
impregnation under pressure in closed tanks or cylinders is the most efficient method.