POLYMERS

STARPLAS CHEMISTRY

GENERAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS

In the case of polymerization, the starting material of the polymer or the substances that make up the polymer are called monomers. Long chain high molecular weight compounds formed by chemical bonds of many same or different atomic groups more or less regularly are called polymers .

Most polymers are formed by arranging a single type of monomer. Others may consist of two or three types of monomers combined. Among the characteristic properties of polymers , low density , low strength and high mechanical damping properties can be shown . Polymers are generally not resistant to low and high temperatures and are used at room temperatures. Polymers are produced at low cost and are therefore often preferred. Because they are light and workable, they can be used in many different areas. From the aerospace industry to the aircraft industry, high-tech polymers have begun to replace metals in many areas. They are also frequently preferred in the food industry due to their resistance to heat. Most substances in the polymer groups have been developed to improve the quality and usability of materials used in industry. It is widely used in photography , construction sector , transportation , health sector and textile . The use of plastic materials made of polymers is practical and takes up little space . Polymers can be natural and synthetic. Natural polymers , carbohydrates , silk , enzymes ; Examples of synthetic polymers are nylon, rubber, Teflon, PVC, and polyethylene.

Polymers are divided into three basic groups as thermoplastic, thermoset and elastomers.

Thermoplastic: They generally have low strength. Molecular chains are linear and linked by Van Der Waals. When high enough heat is given, the bond structures can break. By acting on each other, they become viscous liquid. The temperature we call the glass transition temperature can be called the breaking temperature of these bonds. If the polymer is cooled , the bonds are formed again and the viscous structure disappears . Therefore, thermoplastics are polymers suitable for recycling.

Thermosets: They have strong, hard but fragile structures. They are cross-linked, that is, they are linked to each other by covalent bonds. Thermoset plastics cannot be melted and naturally not recycled, as crosslinking puts sets of molecules in place. In order for the bonds to break down, they must be heated to a temperature above the glass temperature.

Elastomers: They are without form. The elastomers have a large amount of elastic deformability in their truss shape without sufficient damage. They form an amorphous degusel bonding complex by cross-linking the long molecular chains. This type of polymer, on the other hand, is much more prominent with its flexibility and robustness. The product produced in Elastomerter has a very high degree of flexibility. They can be changed easily in any impact, but they can return to their first production state very easily due to the polymer substances they contain.