Thermoplastics

Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich

Thermoplastics are polymers, which soften (becomes pliable and plastic) and melt when heated. In the melted conditions thermoplastics may be formed by various methods (injection molding, extrusion, Thermoforming).

No new cross-links form (no chemical curing) when a thermoplastic cools and harden. Thermoplastics may be reprocessed (re-melt) many times.

Molecules of most of thermoplastics combine long polymer chains alternating with monomer units.

Thermoplastic materials may contain filler materials in form of powder or fibers, providing improvement of specific material properties (strength, stiffness, lubricity, color etc.).

Thermoplastic groups:

• Polyolefines: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP).

• Styrenics: Polysterene (PS), Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS), Styrene-Acrylonitrile (SAN), Styrene/Acrylic (S/A), Styrene-Maleic Anhydride (SMA).

• Vinyls: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC).

• Acrylics: Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), Polyvinilchloride-Acrylic Blend (PVC/MA).

• Fluoropolymers: Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), *Ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA).

• Polyesters: Polyethylene Terephtalate (PET), Polyester PETG (PETG), Polybutylene Terephtalate (PBT), Polyarilate (PAR), Liquid Crystal Polyester (LCP).

• Polyamides (Nylons): Nylon 6 (N6), Nylon 66 (N66), Nylon 11 (N11), Nylon 12 (N12), Polyphtalamide (PPA), Polyamide-imide (PAI).

• Polyimides: Polyimide (PI), Polyetherimide (PEI).

• Polyethers: Polyacetal (POM), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyphenylene Oxide Blend (PPO), Polyaryletherketone (PAEK), Polyetheretherketone.
• Sulfur Containing Polymers: Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS), Polysulfone (PSF), Polyethersulfone (PES), Polyarylsulfone (PAS).

• Thermoplastic Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
• Thermoplastic High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Thermoplastic Polypropylene (PP)
• Thermoplastic Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
• Thermoplastic Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
• Thermoplastic Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)
• Thermoplastic Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
• Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)
• Ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE)
• Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE)
• Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP)
• Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE)
• Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)
• Thermoplastic Polyethylene Terephtalate (PET)
• Thermoplastic Polyamide (Nylon 6)
• Thermoplastic Polyimide (PI)
• Thermoplastic Polycarbonate (PC)
• Thermoplastic Polysulfone (PSF)
• Thermoplastic Polyamide-imide (PAI), electrical grade
• Thermoplastic Polyamide-imide (PAI), bearing grade

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• Polymer structure
• Glass transition
• Polymer materials (Introduction)
• Elastomers
• Thermosets
• Tribology of polymers
• Shore (Durometer) hardness test
• Methods of polymers fabrication
• Annealing of plastics
• Vulcanization of rubber
• Plastics welding
• Adhesives
• Paints
• Fluoropolymers
• Ion exchange resins
• Plastics recycling
• Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as solid lubricant

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