Solutions for Fundamentals of Modern Manufacturing, 3/e (published by Wiley) MPGroover 2007

8 POLYMERS
Review Questions
8.1

What is a polymer?
Answer. A polymer is a compound comprised of long-chain molecules that consist of repeating units,
called mers, connected end to end.

8.2

What are the three basic categories of polymers?

Answer. The categories are (1) thermoplastics, (2) thermosetting polymers, and (3) elastomers.

8.3

How do the properties of polymers compare with those of metals?

Answer. In general, polymers have lower strength, hardness, stiffness, density, and temperature
resistance compared to metals. In addition, polymers have low electrical and thermal conductivity.

8.4

What does the degree of polymerization indicate?

Answer. The degree of polymerization indicates the average number of mers or repeating units in the
polymer molecule.

8.5

What is cross-linking in a polymer and what is its significance?

Answer. Cross-linking is the formation of connections between the long-chain molecules in a
polymer. It causes the polymer structure to be permanently altered. If the amount of cross-linking is
low, the polymer is transformed into an elastomer; if cross-linking is significant, the polymer is
transformed into a thermoset.

8.6

What is a copolymer?
Answer. A copolymer is a polymer made up of two different types of mers, such as ethylene and
propylene.

8.7

Copolymers can possess four different arrangements of their constituent mers. Name and briefly
describe the four arrangements.
Answer. The four possible arrangements of the mers along the chain are: (1) alternating, in which the
mers repeat every other position; (2) random, in which the mers are in random order; (3) block, in
which mers of each type group themselves into long segments along the chain; and (4) graft, in which
mers of one type are attached as branches to a main backbone of mers of the other type.

8.8

What is a terpolymer?
Answer. A terpolymer is a polymer with three different mer types. An example is ABS
(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) plastic.

8.9

How are a polymer's properties affected when it takes on a crystalline structure?

Answer. Density, stiffness, and melting temperature increase.

8.10 Does any polymer ever become 100% crystalline?

Answer. No.
8.11 What are some of the factors that influence a polymer's tendency to crystallize?
Answer. The factors that influence a polymer's tendency to crystallize are the following: (1) only
linear polymers can form crystals; (2) copolymers do not form crystals; (3) stereoregularity - isotactic
polymers always form crystals, atactic polymers never form crystals, and syndiotactic polymers
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Solutions for Fundamentals of Modern Manufacturing, 3/e (published by Wiley) MPGroover 2007

sometimes form crystals; (4) slow cooling from the molten states promotes crystal formation; (5)
plasticizers inhibit crystal formation; and (6) stretching the polymer tends to promote crystallization.
8.12 Why are fillers added to a polymer?
Answer. Fillers are added to increase strength or simply to reduce the cost of the polymer.
8.13 What is a plasticizer?
Answer. A plasticizer is a chemical added to the polymer to make it softer and more flexible. It is
often added to improve the polymer's flow characteristics for shaping.
8.14 In addition to fillers and plasticizers, what are some other additives used with polymers?
Answer. Other additives include (1) lubricants - to reduce friction and improve flow; (2) flame
retardents; (3) colorants; (4) cross-linking agents, (5) antioxidants, and (6) ultraviolet light absorbers.
8.15 Describe the difference in mechanical properties as a function of temperature between a highly
crystalline thermoplastic and an amorphous thermoplastic.
Answer. A highly crystalline TP retains rigidity during heating until just before its Tm is reached. An
amorphous TP shows a significant drop in deformation resistance as its Tg as temperature is raised; it
becomes increasingly like a liquid as temperature continues to increase.
8.16 What is unique about the polymer cellulose?
Answer. Cellulose is a polymer that grows in nature. Wood fiber contains about 50% cellulose and
cotton fiber is about 95% cellulose.
8.17 The nylons are members of which polymer group?
Answer. Polyamides.
8.18 What is the chemical formula of ethylene, the monomer for polyethylene?
Answer. The chemical formula of ethylene is C2H4.
8.19 What is the basic difference between low density and high density polyethylene?
Answer. LDPE has a branched structure and is amorphous. HDPE is linear and highly crystalline.
These differences account for HDPE having higher density, stiffness, and melting point.
8.20 How do the properties of thermosetting polymers differ from those of thermoplastics?
Answer. Thermosets are more rigid, brittle, capable of higher service temperatures, and cannot be
remelted.
8.21 Cross-linking (curing) of thermosetting plastics is accomplished by one of three ways. Name the
three ways.
Answer. The three ways are (1) temperature-activated systems, in which elevated temperatures
accomplish curing; (2) catalyst-activated systems, in which small amounts of a catalyst cause
cross-linking; and (3) mixing-activated systems, in which two reactive components are mixed and
curing occurs by their chemical reaction.
8.22 Elastomers and thermosetting polymers are both cross-linked. Why are their properties so different?
Answer. Elastomers are lightly cross-linked, whereas thermosets are highly cross-linked. Light
cross-linking allows extensibility; a highly cross-linked structure makes the polymer rigid.
8.23 What happens to an elastomer when it is below its glass transition temperature?
Answer. An elastomer becomes hard and brittle when its temperature is below its Tg.
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Solutions for Fundamentals of Modern Manufacturing, 3/e (published by Wiley) MPGroover 2007

8.24 What is the primary polymer ingredient in natural rubber?

Answer. The primary polymer ingredient in natural rubber is polyisoprene whose mer has the
chemical formula C5H8.
8.25 How do thermoplastic elastomers differ from conventional rubbers?
Answer. TPEs are different in two basic ways: (1) they exhibit thermoplastic properties, and (2) their
extensibility derives from physical connections between different phases in the polymer rather than
cross-linking.

Multiple Choice Quiz

There is a total of 20 correct answers in the following multiple choice questions (some questions have
multiple answers that are correct). To attain a perfect score on the quiz, all correct answers must be given.
Each correct answer is worth 1 point. Each omitted answer or wrong answer reduces the score by 1 point,
and each additional answer beyond the correct number of answers reduces the score by 1 point. Percentage
score on the quiz is based on the total number of correct answers.
8.1

Of the three polymer types, which one is the most important commercially: (a) thermoplastics, (b)
thermosets, or (c) elastomers?
Answer. (a).

8.2

Which one of the three polymer types is not normally considered to be a plastic: (a) thermoplastics,
(b) thermosets, or (c) elastomers?
Answer. (c).

8.3

Which one of the three polymer types does not involve cross- linking: (a) thermoplastics, (b)
thermosets, or (c) elastomers?
Answer. (a).

8.4

As the degree of crystallinity in a given polymer increases, the polymer becomes denser and stiffer,
and its melting temperature decreases: (a) true or (b) false?
Answer. (b). Melting temperature increases with higher degree of crystallinity.

8.5

Which one of the following is the chemical formula for the repeating unit in polyethylene: (a) CH2,
(b) C2H4, (c) C3H6, (d) C5H8, or (e) C8H8?
Answer. (b).

8.6

Degree of polymerization is which one of the following: (a) average number of mers in the molecule
chain; (b) proportion of the monomer that has been polymerized; (c) sum of the molecule weights of
the mers in the molecule; or (d) none of the above?
Answer. (a).

8.7

A branched molecular structure is stronger in the solid state and more viscous in the molten state than
a linear structure for the same polymer: (a) true or (b) false?
Answer. (a).

8.8

A copolymer is a mixture of the macromolecules of two different homopolymers: (a) true or (b)
false?
Answer. (b).

8.9

As the temperature of a polymer increases, its density (a) increases, (b) decreases, or (c) remains
fairly constant?

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Solutions for Fundamentals of Modern Manufacturing, 3/e (published by Wiley) MPGroover 2007

Answer. (b).
8.10 Which of the following plastics has the highest market share: (a) phenolics, (b) polyethylene, (c)
polypropylene, (d) polystyrene, or (e) polyvinylchloride?
Answer. (b).
8.11 Which of the following polymers are normally thermoplastic (four best answers): (a) acrylics, (b)
cellulose acetate, (c) nylon, (d) phenolics, (e) polychloroprene, (f) polyesters, (g) polyethylene, (h)
polyisoprene, and (i) polyurethane?
Answer. (a), (b), (c), and (g).
8.12 Polystyrene (without plasticizers) is amorphous, transparent, and brittle: (a) true or (b) false?
Answer. (a).
8.13 The fiber rayon used in textiles is based on which one of the following polymers: (a) cellulose, (b)
nylon, (c) polyester, (d) polyethylene, or (e) polypropylene?
Answer. (a).
8.14 The basic difference between low density polyethylene and high density polyethylene is that the latter
has a much higher degree of crystallinity: (a) true or (b) false?
Answer. (a).
8.15 Among the thermosetting polymers, the most widely used commercially is which one of the
following: (a) epoxies, (b) phenolics, (c) silicones, or (d) urethanes?
Answer. (b).
8.16 The chemical formula for polyisoprene in natural rubber is which of the following: (a) CH2, (b) C2H4,
(c) C3H6, (d) C5H8, or (e) C8H8?
Answer. (d).
8.17 The leading commercial synthetic rubber is which one of the following: (a) butyl rubber, (b) isoprene
rubber, (c) polybutadiene, (d) polyurethane, (e) styrene-butadiene rubber, or (f) thermoplastic
elastomers?
Answer. (e).

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