Condensed Encyclopedia of Polymer Engineering Terms

378 Pages·2001·41.959 MB·English

by  Nicholas P Cheremisinoff Consulting Engineer

Condensed Encyclopedia of Polymer
Engineering Terms
Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff, Ph.D.
:. UTTERWORTH
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1.Polymers-Encyclopedias. 2.Plastics-Encyclopedias. 3.
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PREFACE
This volume has been prepared as a concise reference to assist practitioners who
work with polymers. It is intended as a general resource for engineers, chemists,
technologists, and technicians, as well as for students. Working definitions and
explanations are given for nearly four hundred termsencounteredinindustry. The
intent of the volume is to provide the user with sufficient background on key
terminology. Most terms are cross-referenced to other terminology, so that the
reader canobtainageneralbackgroundandworkingdefinitionforthesubjectentry
covered. Inanumber ofcases references arecitedsothattheuser canobtain more
in-depth informationand engineering data and formulas.
Theuser isencouragedtoheavilyaccesstheInternetwhenreferringtothisvolume.
TheWorldWideWebcanbeusedasaprimarysourcefordetailed informationand
supplier specific information on the properties of many of the elastomers and
plastics discussed in the volume. The author has compiled an extensive list of
suppliers and trade names for commercial polymers, which is included in the
volume.
The volume is organized in a straight alphabetical listing. As such, no table of
contents isincluded. Theuser caneither scanthesubjectentries byletter category,
orreview thesubjectindexattheendofthevolumetofindterms thatare included.
Immediately before the first subject entry, the user will find an extensive table of
abbreviations forpolymer andplastic products. The user should refer to this table
whenlookingupinformationonspecificpolymers. Polymerpropertydata for neat
(i.e., unvulcanized) plastics andelastomers are averagevalues reportedby several
suppliers of these materials. Properties data should not bemisconstrued as grade
specific, but rather general.
In addition to specific polymers, subject entries on equipment, processing and
compounding techniques, synthesis, andqualitycontrol testmethods are included.
Rubber and plastic compounders, polymer processing engineers, product
development specialists, aswellasstudentswilllikelyfindthisvolumeuseful. The
author has tried touse industry descriptionsofterms for themostpart, asopposed
to oligarchical definitions. References to specific trade names and polymer
producers is not an endorsement of products on the part of the author or the
publisher.Likewise,theomissionofspecificproductandcompanynamereferences
should not be viewed as a lack of endorsement. This volume is intended as a
general aidtoindustry andacademiaandnotanexhaustive review oftheindustrial
press and scientific literature.
Thevolumeisbynomeansintendedtobedefinitive. Indeed, manyimportantterms
have been omitted and not all subject entries are treated in balance. It is planned
that this volume will be added to over the years to enhance its service to industry
and students.
AspecialthanksisextendedtoButterworth-Heinemannfortheir fineproductionof
this volume.
Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff, Ph.D.
v
ABOUT THEAUTHOR
Nicholas P. Cheremisinoffis a technical and business development consultant to
both the private sector and government agencies, specializing in pollution
preventionandenvironmental strategies. Hehas more than20 years experience in
thepetrochemicalsindustry, whichincludesindustryexperienceinpolymerproduct
development, processingtroubleshooting,productfailureanalysisandredesign,and
market development. AmonghismanyclientsareSunykongCorp. ofSouthKorea,
Avtovaz Auto Making Corp. of Russia, OHIS Chemical Corp (PVC and Chlor
Alkalidivisions)ofMacedonia, theWorld BankOrganization, theU.S. Trade and
Development Agency, the U.S. Department ofEnergy, Bateman Engineering of
Israel, theU.S. ExportImportBank,andothers. Dr. Cheremisinoffhascontributed
extensively to the industrial press, having authored, co-authored, or edited more
than 150 technical books. He received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in
chemical engineering from Clarkson College of Technology. The author can be
contacted by email [email protected].
vi
ABBREVIATIONS OF POLYMERS
ABR Acrylate-butadiene rubber
ABS Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene rubber
ACM Acrylate rubber
AES Acrylonitrile-ethylene-propylene-styrene quater-polymer
AMMA Acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate copolymer
ANM Acrylonitrile-acrylate rubber
APP Atactic polypropylene
ASA Acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate terpolymer
BUR Brominated isobutene-isoprene, (butyl) rubber
BR Cis-l,4-butadiene rubber (cis-l,4-polybutadiene)
BS Butadiene-styrenecopolymer (see also SB)
CA Cellulose acetate
CAB Cellulose acetate-butyrate
CAP Cellulose acetate-propionate
CF Cresol-formaldehyde resin
CRC Epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide rubber
CRR Epichlorohydrinrubber (see also CO)
CMC Carboxymethyl cellulose
CN Cellulose nitrate (see also NC)
CNR Carboxynitroso, rubber; (tetrafluoroethylene-tri
fluoronitrosomethane-unsat. monomer terpolymer)
co Poly[(chloromethyl)oxirane]; epichlorohydrin rubber (see also
CRR)
CP Cellulose propionate
CPE Chlorinatedpolyethylene
CR Chloroprene rubber
CS Casein
CSM Chlorosulfonatedpolyethylene
CTA Cellulose triacetate
CTFE Poly(chlorotnfluoroethylene); (see also PCTFE)
EAA Ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer
EVA Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer
EC Ethyl cellulose
ECB Ethylene copolymerblends with bitumen
ECTFE Ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer
vii
EEA Ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer
EMA Ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer or ethylene-maleic
anhydride copolymer
EP Epoxy resin
E/P Ethylene-propylene copolymer (see also EPM, EPR)
EPDM Ethylene-propylene-nonconjugated diene terpolymer (see also
EPT)
EPE Epoxy resin ester
EPM Ethylene-propylene rubber (see also E/P, EPR)
EPR Ethylene-propylene rubber (see also E/P, EPM)
EPS Expandedpolystyrene; polystyrene foam (see also XPS)
EPT Ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (see also EPDM)
ETFE Ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer
EVA, E/VAC Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer
EVE Ethylene-vinyl ether copolymer
FE Fluorine-containing elastomer
FEP Tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene rubber; see PFEP
FF Furan-formaldehyde resins
FPM Vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene rubber
FSI Fluorinated silicone rubber
GR-I Butyl rubber (former US acronym) (see also IIR, PillI)
GR-N Nitrile rubber (former US acronym) (see also NBR)
GR-S Styrene-butadiene rubber (former US acronym; see PBS, SBR)
HDPE High-density polyethylene
HEC Hydroxyethylcellulose
HIPS High-impactpolystyrene
HMWPE High molecular weight polyethylene
IIR Isobutene-isoprene rubber; butyl rubber (see also GR-I, Pllsl)
IPN Interpenetrating polymernetwork
IR Synthetic cis- I .4-oolyisoprene
LDPE Low-density polyethylene
LLDPE Linear low density polyethylene
MABS Methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
MBS Methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene terpolymer
MC Methyl cellulose
MDPE Medium-density polyethylene (ca. 0.93-0.94 g/cm')
MF Melamine-formaldehyde resin
MPF Melamine-phenol-formaldehyde resin
NBR Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber; nitrile rubber; GR-I
viii
NC Nitrocellulose; cellulose nitrate (see also CN)
NCR Acrylonitrile-chloroprene rubber
NIR Acrylonitrile-isoprene rubber
NR Natural rubber (cis- 1,4-polyisoprene)
OER Oil extended rubber
OPR Propylene oxide rubber
PA Polyamide (e.g., PA 6,6 = polyamide 6,6 nylon 6,6 in U.S.
literature)
PAA Poly(acrylic acid)
PAl Polyamide-imide
PAMS Poly(alpha-methylstyrene)
PAN Polyacrylonitrile (fiber)
PARA Poly(arylamide)
PB Poly(I-butene)
PBI Poly(benzimidazoles)
PBMA Poly(n-butyl methacrylate)
PBR Butadiene-vinyl pyridine copolymer
PBS Butadiene-styrene copolymer (see also GR-S, SBR)
PBT,PBTP Poly(butylene terephthalate)
PC,PCO Polycarbonate
PCD Poly(carbodiimide)
PCTFE Poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene)
PDAP Poly(diallyl phthalate)
PDMS Poly(dimethylsiloxane)
PE Polyethylene
PEA Polv(ethyl acrylate)
PEC Chlorinatedpolyethylene (see also CPE)
PEEK Poly(arylether ketone)
PEl Poly(ether imide)
PEO,PEOX Poly(ethylene oxide)
PEP Ethylene-propylene polymer (see also E/P, EPR)
PEPA Polyether-polyamide block copolymer
PES Polyethersulfone
PET,PETP Poly(ethylene terephthalate)
PF Phenol-formaldehyde resin
PFA Perfluoroalkoxy resins
PFEP Tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer; FEP
PI Polyimide
PIB Polyisobutylene,
PillI Isobutene-isoprene copolymer; butyl rubber; GR-I
PIBO Poly(isobutylene oxide)
PIP Synthetic poly-cis-l,4-polyisoprene; (also CPI, IR)
PIR Polyisocyanurate
PMA Poly(methyl acrylate)
ix
PMI Polymethacrylimide
PMMA Poly(methyl methacrylate)
PMMI Polypyromellitimide
PMP Poly(4-methyl- I-pentene)
PO Poly(propylene oxide); or polyolefins; or phenoxy resins
POM Polyoxymethylene, polyformaldehyde
POP Poly(phenylene oxide) (also PPO/PPE)
PP Polypropylene
PPC Chlorinatedpolypropylene
PPE Poly(phenylene ether)
PPMS Poly(para-methylstyrene)
PPO Poly(phenylene oxide) (also PPO/PPE)
PPOX Poly(propylene oxide)
PPS Poly(phenylene sulfide)
PPSU Poly(phenylene sulfone)
'PPT Poly(propylene terephthalate)
PS Polystyrene
PSB Styrene-butadiene rubber (see GR-S, SBR)
PSF,PSO Polysulfone
PSU Poly(phenylene sulfone)
PTFE Poly(tetrafluoroethylene)
P3FE Poly(trifluoroethylene)
PTMT Poly(tetramethylene terephthalate) = poly(butyleneterephthalate)
(see also PBTP)
PUR Polyurethane
PVA,PVAC Poly(vinyl acetate)
PVAL Poly(vinyl alcohol) (also PVOH)
PVB Poly(vinylbutyral)
PVC Poly(vinyl chloride)
PVCA Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (also PVCAC)
PVCC Chlorinatedpoly(vinyl chloride)
PVDC Poly(vinylidene chloride)
PVDF Poly(vinylidene fluoride)
PVF Poly(vinyl fluoride)
PVFM Poly(vinyl formal) (also PVFO)
PVI Poly(vinyl isobutyl ether)
PVK Poly(N-vinylcarbazole)
PVP Poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)
RF Resorcinol-formaldehyde resin
SAN Styrene-acrylonitnle copolymer
x
SB Styrene-butadiene copolymer
SBR Styrene-butadiene rubber (see also GR-S)
SCR Styrene-chloroprene rubber
S-EPDM Sulfonated ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers
SHIPS Superhigh-impactpolystyrene
Sl Silicone resins; poly(dimethylsiloxane)
SIR Styrene-isoprene rubber
SMA Styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer
SMS Styrene-alpha-methylstyrenecopolymer
TPE Thermoplastic elastomer
TPR 1,5-trans-Poly(pentenamer)
TPU Thermoplastic polyurethane
TPX Poly(methyl pentene)
UF Urea-formaldehyde resins
UHMW-PE Ultrahigh molecular weight poly(ethylene) (also UHMPE)
(molecular mass over 3.1 x 106g/mol)
UP Unsaturatedpolyester
VC/E Vinyl chloride-ethylenecopolymer
VC/E/VA Vinyl chloride-ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer
VC/MA Vinyl chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer
VC/MMA Vinyl chloride-methyl methacrylate copolymer
VCIOA Vinyl chloride-octyl acrylate
VC/VAC Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer
VC/VDC Vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride
VF Vulcan fiber
XLPE Cross-linkedpolyethylene
XPS Expandable or expandedpolystyrene; (see also EPS)
xi
A
ABS (ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE STYRENE)
ABS is a terpolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene. Unusual
compositions are about 50 %styrene with the balance divided betweenbutadiene
and acrylonitrile. There are a considerable number of variations possible leading
to a large number of commercially available grades. Many blends with other
materials such as polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonates and polysulfones have been
developed and are among the most commonclass of plastics used inelectroplated
metal coatings for decorativehardware. The primaryadvantages ofthisplastic are
good impact resistance with toughness and rigidity; metal coatings have excellent
adhesion to ABS; the plastic can be formed into articles using conventional
thermoplastic methods; and it is a lightweight plastic. The disadvantages ofthis
material are poor solvent resistance; low dielectric strength; grades are only
available with low elongation properties; and it has a low continuous service
temperature.
As noted, ABS is produced by a combination of the three monomers:
acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. Each of the monomers impart different
properties:hardness,chemicalandheatresistancefromacrylonitrile;processability,
gloss and strength from styrene; and toughness and impact resistance from
butadiane. Morphologically, ABS is an amorphous resin.
The polymerizationofthe three monomers produces a terpolymer, which has
two phases: a continuous phase of styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) and a dispersed
phase ofpolybutadienerubber. Theproperties ofABSare affected by the ratios of
the monomers and the molecular structure ofthe two phases. This allows a good
deal of flexibility inproductdesign and consequently, as already noted, there are
literally hundreds of commercial grades. Commercially available grades offer
differentcharacteristics such asmedium tohigh impact, lowtohigh surface gloss,
and highheat distortion.
Applications
The most commonapplications for this plastic are as follows:
Automotive Hardware: instrument and interior trim panels, glove compartment
doors, wheel covers, mirror housings, etc.
Appliance Cases: refrigerators, small appliance housings and power tools
applications such as hair dryers, blenders, food processors, lawnmowers, etc.
Miscellaneous: pipe, telephone housings, typewriterhousings, typewriterkeys and
various plated items.
Properties
Table 1 provides some of the general properties of this polymer based on
average properties reported for different grades; note the use of the following
1