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Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

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Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
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The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
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The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
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In general, the term ‘aromatic’ indicates a pleasant smell or fragrance from fresh flowers, freshly prepared coffee, etc. In the early history of organic chemistry, many benzene derivatives were isolated from the pleasant odor oils of the plants. For example, vanillin was isolated from the oil of vanilla, methyl salicylate from the oil of wintergreen, and cinnamaldehyde from the oil of cinnamon. They all had a pleasant odor; hence the name aromatic was given.
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Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
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Accelerated weathering parameters for some aromatic engineering thermoplastics.

James E Pickett1, Olga Kuvshinnikova2, Li-Piin Sung3

  • 1Schenectady, NY, 12304, United States.

Polymer Degradation and Stability
|October 9, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Polymer photodegradation, including yellowing and gloss loss, was studied under simulated UV exposure. Temperature significantly accelerates degradation, while UV intensity does not affect the rate, indicating reciprocity.

Keywords:
Activation energyHumidityPoly(butylene terephthalate)PolycarbonateReciprocitySANWeathering

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Photodegradation Studies

Background:

  • Polymers like polycarbonate (PC), poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), PC/PBT blends, and poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) are susceptible to degradation from UV exposure.
  • Understanding photodegradation is crucial for predicting material lifespan and performance in various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of UV intensity, temperature, relative humidity (RH), and UV wavelength on the yellowing and gloss loss of PC, PBT, PC/PBT, and SAN containing 3% TiO2.
  • To determine the activation energies for yellowing and gloss loss in these polymer samples.

Main Methods:

  • Exposure of polymer samples (PC, PBT, PC/PBT, SAN with 3% TiO2) to NIST SPHERE for simulated photodegradation.
  • Systematic variation of UV intensity, temperature, RH, and UV wavelength.
  • Quantification of yellowing and gloss loss as degradation metrics.

Main Results:

  • Photodegradation rate was independent of UV intensity, obeying reciprocity.
  • Activation energies for yellowing were approximately 20 kJ/mol (PC, PC/PBT, SAN) and 16 kJ/mol (PBT). A 10°C temperature increase raised degradation rates by 20-30%.
  • Relative humidity effects varied: SAN degraded rapidly under dry conditions, while PBT showed no RH effect on yellowing. Shorter UV wavelengths impacted PC/PBT more than PC or PBT.

Conclusions:

  • Temperature is a critical factor accelerating polymer photodegradation, with significant increases in degradation rates observed for a 10°C rise.
  • UV intensity does not influence the rate of photodegradation, confirming reciprocity in the tested polymers.
  • Relative humidity and UV wavelength play specific roles in the degradation pathways of different polymers, highlighting the complexity of environmental effects on material stability.