Assignment 1

CBB 4423
1. What would be the mole percent of ethylene and vinyl chloride in a random
copolymer that contains ! wt" of each component#
2. Calculate the degree of polymeri$ation for a polyacetal molecule with a molecular
weight of 2%!!! amu.
3. What is the average molecular weight of polypropylene with a degree of
polymeri$ation of !!#
4. A blend of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride contains 1! mol " polyvinyl
chloride. What is the weight percentage polyvinyl chloride#
. A simplified mer formula for natural rubber &isoprene' is C(). Calculate the
molecular weight for a molecule of isoprene with a degree of polymeri$ation of
!!.
*. +etermine the mole fraction of polyvinyl chloride and polyvinyl acetate in a
copolymer having a molecular weight of ,!!!g-mol and a degree of
polymeri$ation of 12
.. (ow much sulfur must be added to 1!!g of butadiene rubber to crosslin/ 3" of
the mers. Assume all sulfur is used to crosslin/ the mer and that only one sulfur
atom is involved in each crosslin/ing bond..
i. 0001C(20C(2C(0C(2034
). What are 5W6 methods by which a linear chain polymeri$ation reaction can be
terminated in the following systems#
a. 7olution-slurry phase polymeri$ation using pero8ide initiator.
b. gas phase polymeri$ation% using catalyst.
,. (ow do side branches on polyethylene main chains affect the pac/ing of the
molecular chains in a solid polymer#
1!. (ow does branching of the polymer chains affect the tensile strength of solid bul/
polyethylene#
11. +istinguish between a homopolymer and a copolymer
12. 9or special application% :po8y resin is blended with 2! wt " of butadiene rubber.
0 What is the main purpose of the above blending#
0 +escribe the method of blending of the above polymers
0 Compare the method of blending if polypropylene is blended with butadiene
rubber.
13. What is the number and weight &;n and ;w'average molecular weight of a
polymer sample in which the polymer molecules can be divided into groups
with the following molecular weights &in g-mole'<
=roup 1 !%!!!
=roup 2 1!!%!!!
=roup 3 2!!%!!!
=roup 4 !!%!!!
=roup .!!%!!
5he ratios of the number of molecules in each group are
1<4<<3<1
14. =iven the following data% calculate the number average molecular weight and the
weight average molecular weight.
>i &8 1!
24
' . ) , 1! ) * 3 2 1
;i &8 1!
4
' 1 2 3 4 * . ) , 1!
1. A simplified mer formula for natural rubber &isoprene' is C(). Calculate the
molecular weight for a molecule of isoprene with a degree of polymeri$ation of
!!.