Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Polymer Science / 1
1.1 Introduction / 1
1.1.1 Writing Formulas for Polymeric Macromolecules / 1
1.1.2 Properties of Macromolecules / 3
1.1.3 Three Factors that Influence the Degree of Crystallinity / 4
1.1.4 Regio and Stereo Isomerization in Macromolecules / 6
1.2 Synthesis of Addition Polymers / 7
1.2.1 Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization / 8
1.2.2 Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization / 10
1.2.3 Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization / 10
1.2.4 Ziegler-Natta Catalytic Polymerization / 11
1.3 Copolymers / 12
1.3.1 Addition Copolymerization / 12
1.3.2 Block Copolymerization / 13
1.4 Condensation Polymers / 13
1.4.1 Characteristics of Condensation Polymers / 13
1.4.2 Thermosetting vs. Thermoplastic Polymers / 16
1.5 Structure-Property Relationship / 17
1.5.1 Linearity, Branching and Networking / 17
1.5.2 Molar Cohesion, Polarity and Crystallinity / 18
1.5.3 Role of Molecular Symmetry / 18
1.5.4 Role of Chemical Modification in Effecting Internal Plasticization / 19
1.5.5 Copolymerization and Internal Plasticization / 19
1.5.6 Effect of Inclusion of Flexible Inter-unit Linkages and Rigid Bulky Groups / 19
1.5.7 Effect of Temperature / 21
1.5.8 Survey of Deformation Patterns in the Amorphous State / 21
1.5.9 Transitions and Rubbery and Flow Regions / 22
1.5.10 Property Demand and Polymer Applications / 23
1.6 The Age of Plastics / 25
1.7 The Law of Unintended Consequences / 26
1.8 Recycling and Disposal / 27
1.9 Biodegradable Polymers / 29
Chapter 2 Plastics and Plasticizers / 33
2.1 Plasticizers: an Introduction / 33
2.2 Early Plasticizers / 34
2.3 Theory: Mechanism of Plasticizer Effect on the Polymer / 34
2.4 Phthalate Plasticizers / 35
2.5 The Phthalate Plasticizer Market / 35
2.6 Health Issues in the Use of Phthalate Plasticizers: Are They Safe? / 37
2.6.1 Evidence? / 38
2.6.2 What's Being Done in the Meantime? / 39
2.7 Health or Hype? / 39
2.8 Plastics in Packaging / 40
2.8.1 Introduction / 40
2.8.2 Types of Plastics Used in Packaging / 42
2.8.3 Plastic vs. the Alternatives / 48
2.8.4 Reusing Plastic Packaging / 49
2.8.5 Recycling Plastic Packaging / 49
2.8.6 Conclusion / 51
Chapter 3 Polymer Materials Used in Automobiles / 53
3.1 Introduction / 53
3.2 Uses of Polymer Materials in an Automobile / 53
3.2.1 Fuel Tank / 53
3.2.2 Exterior / 55
3.2.3 Interior / 58
3.2.4 Polymers in Car Engine Manifolds and Power Trains / 59
3.2.5 Conclusion / 60
3.3 Car Tires / 61
3.3.1 Introduction / 61
3.3.2 Tire Production / 62
3.3.3 The Chemistry of Tires / 65
3.3.4 Brass Wire Adhesion / 67
3.3.5 Disposal and Recycling of Used Tires / 69
3.3.6 Tread Separation Problem Overview / 69
3.3.7 Lawsuit Against Firestone and Ford Motor Co. / 71
3.3.8 Conclusion / 72
3.4 Kapton(r) Wiring / 72
3.4.1 Introduction / 72
3.4.2 Properties of Kapton(r) / 74
3.4.3 Uses of Kapton(r) / 74
3.4.4 Degradation of Kapton(r) and Other Polymers / 76
3.4.5 Insulation Requirements for Wires / 77
Chapter 4 Polymer Materials in Medicine / 79
4.1 Introduction / 79
4.2 Polymer Materials in Medicine / 80
4.2.1 A Brief History of Polymer Materials in Medicine / 80
4.2.2 Cellophane / 81
4.2.3 PGA, PLA, and PLGA / 82
4.2.4 Polydimethyl Siloxane (PDMS) / 83
4.2.5 Polyethylene and Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) / 84
4.2.6 Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) / 84
4.2.7 Polyurethane / 85
4.2.8 Conclusion / 86
4.3 Contact Lens Polymers / 86
4.3.1 The History of Contact Lenses / 87
4.3.2 How Contact Lenses Work / 87
4.3.3 Why Do People Wear Contact Lenses / 88
4.3.4 Biocompatibility and Contact Lens Comfort / 89
4.3.5 Manufacturing of Contact Lenses / 90
4.3.6 Hard Contact Lenses / 91
4.3.7 Soft Contact Lenses / 93
4.3.8 Problems Caused by Contact Lens Use / 94
4.3.9 Conclusion / 95
4.4 Silicone Implants / 95
4.4.1 History / 96
4.4.2 Silicone Implants / 96
4.4.3 Advantages / 97
4.4.4 Disadvantages / 97
4.4.5 Concerns / 99
4.4.6 Companies Involved in the Production of Silicone Breast Implants / 100
4.5 Tablet Coating / 100
4.5.1 Drug Release Paterns / 101
4.5.2 Types of Coatings / 103
4.5.3 Polymers Used for Film-Coatings (Film Formers) / 104
4.5.4 Equipment / 106
4.5.5 The Coating Process / 109
4.5.6 Spray Variables / 112
4.5.7 Formulation of Polymeric Coatings / 116
Chapter 5 Polymer Processing / 120
5.1 Extrusion / 120
5.2 Film Blowing / 121
5.3 Sheet Thermoforming / 122
5.3.1 Thin-gauge and Heavy-gauge (thick) Thermoforming / 124
5.3.2 Engineering / 124
5.4 Blow Molding / 125
5.4.1 History of Blow Molding / 126
5.4.2 Typologies of Blow Molding / 126
5.5 Compression Molding / 128
5.6 Transfer Molding / 130
5.7 Injection Molding / 131
5.7.1 Injection Molding Process / 133
5.7.2 Methodology of Unit Process Life Cycle Inventory Model (UPLCI) / 136
5.7.3 Injection Molding Process Energy Characteristics / 136
5.7.4 Parameters Effecting the Energy Required for Brake Forming / 137
5.7.5 Method of Quantification for Mass Loss / 142
5.7.6 Manufacturers Reference Data / 144
5.7.7 Problems Encountered in Injection Molding / 145
5.7.8 Summary / 145
5.8 Paints and Coatings / 146
5.8.1 Paint / 146
5.8.2 Clear Finishes / 151
5.8.3 Other Coatings / 152
5.8.4 Surface Cleaning / 153
5.8.5 Superior Performance Aerospace coatings / 155
5.9 Developments in Polymer Coatings for Dipped Goods / 157
5.9.1 Key Requirements to Consider / 159
5.9.2 Polymer Coating Choices / 159
5.9.3 Manufacturing Considerations / 161
5.9.4 Simple Tests of Coating Effectiveness / 162
5.9.5 Latex Clothing / 163
5.10 Choosing Polymers for Centrifuges / 165
5.10.1 Life before Polymers / 165
5.10.2 Types of Polymers / 166
5.10.3 Jar Testing, Mixing Small Quantities of Polymers / 169
5.10.4 Polymer Trials / 177
Chapter 6 Nanotechnology In Polymer Materials / 181
6.1 A Unit of Length: A Nanometer--the Millionth Part of A Millimeter / 181
6.1.1 Small Particles, Large Surface Areas / 182
6.1.2 Does Nano Equal New? / 183
6.1.3 Move into the Nano Era / 184
6.1.4 Nanotechnology at an Overview / 185
6.1.5 Value-adding Chain of Nanomaterials / 186
6.1.6 The Research Verbund / 186
6.1.7 Nanoparticles Offer Protection from the Sun / 187
6.1.8 Ideas for Innovation from New Business Areas / 188
6.1.9 Multidisciplinary Nature of Nanotechnology / 188
6.2 Nanoparticles in Megatons: Wide-Ranging Applications for Polymer Dispersions / 189
6.2.1 Large Production Volume for Aqueous Polymer Dispersions / 190
6.2.2 Water-like Viscosity Despite High Solids Content / 190
6.2.3 Four Ways of Creating Diversity / 191
6.2.4 The Goal: High Solids Content and Good Processability / 192
6.2.5 Multiphase Polymers / 193
6.2.6 Nanocomposites with Different Morphologies / 194
6.2.7 Major Advance: Dispersions Containing Butadiene / 195
6.2.8 New Catalysts for Tactic Polymers / 196
6.2.9 Virtually Limitless Range of Applications / 197
6.3 The "Eyes and Fingers" of Nanotechnology: Analysis Leads the Way to the Nanocosm / 198
6.3.1 Atomic Force Microscopy: Uphill and Downhill in the Nanoworld / 199
6.3.2 Nanoinstrumentation: Tweezers, Heaters and Pipettes / 199
6.3.3 Computer Simulations are Often Helpful / 201
6.3.4 BASF Has Its Own Ways to Analyze Nanoparticles / 202
6.3.5 Particle Collider Data / 202
6.3.6 A Special Variation on TEM: Heavy Atoms in the Spotlight / 204
6.3.7 Light, Raman Scattering and Fluorescence / 206
6.3.8 Nanoanalysis: at the Forefront of Chemical Nanotechnology / 208
6.4 Nanostructures through Self-Organization: Color without Dyes, Taking a Lead from Nature / 208
6.4.1 The Three-dimensional Photonic Crystal / 210
6.4.2 Matrix of Polymer Material / 210
6.4.3 Crystallites of Polystyrene Particles under a Scanning Laser Microscope / 213
6.4.4 Using Particle Size to Achieve the Entire Range of Colors / 213
6.4.5 The One-dimensional Photonic Crystal / 214
6.5 Nanostructures through Self-organization: Rubber Laser with Variable Optical Properties / 215
6.6 Nanostructures with the Lotus Effect: Building Blocks for Superhydrophobic Coatings / 219
6.6.1 Dual Structure Fights Dirt / 220
6.6.2 Water Droplets Have Nothing to Hold on to / 221
6.6.3 Lotus Spray in the Pipeline / 222
6.6.4 Much Research Needs to Be Done / 224
6.7 Nanotubes: Small Tubes with Great Potential / 224
6.7.1 Introduction / 224
6.7.2 Synthesis and Purification of SWCNTs / 226
6.7.3 Structural and Physical Properties / 226
6.7.4 Defect-group Chemistry / 228
6.7.5 Covalent Sidewall Functionalization / 228
6.7.6 Noncovalent Exohedral Functionalization / 230
6.7.7 Endohedral Functionalization / 231
6.8 Sinking One's Teeth into Nanotechnology: Hydroxyapatite and Tooth Repair / 231
6.8.1 Big Market for Dental Care Products / 232
6.8.2 Fundamental Technology Shift in Dental Care / 233
6.8.3 Nanoparticles with a Huge Surface Area / 234
6.8.4 Extensive Know-how in the Bottom-up Process / 234
6.8.5 Self-organization in Film Formation / 235
6.8.6 On the Road to Marketability / 236
6.9 Nanocubes as Hydrogen Storage Units: The "Battery of Tomorrow" for Laptops and Cell Phones / 236
6.9.1 Hydrogen Instead of Methanol / 237
6.9.2 The Next Big Idea: Metal-Organic Frameworks / 238
6.9.3 Encouraging Storage Results / 239
6.9.4 The Advantage of Physisorption / 240
6.9.5 Energy Densities Compared / 241
6.9.6 Great Prospects for Specific Applications / 242
6.9.7 Helpful Know-how from Catalyst Production / 243
6.10 Nanoscale Tree Molecules: Dendrimers for New Printing Systems and Car Paints / 243
6.10.1 Protecting Group Techniques for Tree growth / 244
6.10.2 Polymer Building Blocks / 245
6.10.3 Hyperbranched Polymers Give New "Tree Species" / 247
6.10.4 Synthesis Control by Reactive Groups / 248
6.10.5 Making Their Mark on Plastic / 249
6.10.6 Automotive Coatings: Scratch-resistant yet Flexible / 250
6.10.7 Parquet Floors: Keep Your Stilettos on / 251
6.11 Economic Perspectives of Nanotechnology: Enormous Markets for Tiny Particles / 252
6.11.1 Nanotechnology as Enabling Technology / 252
6.11.2 Market Expectations: Euphoria or Reality? / 254
6.11.3 Extreme Differences Between Market Estimates / 254
6.11.4 Nanoparticles: Large Surface-to-Volume Ratio / 255
6.11.5 High Consumption in Electronics and Information Technology / 256
6.11.6 Major Growth Expected from Start-ups / 257
6.11.7 Nanocomposites: Innovative Fillers for Plastics / 257
6.11.8 Nanocoatings: Big Business in Germany / 259
6.11.9 Conclusion and Outlook: the Bottom Line / 260
6.12 From University Research to the Chemical Industry: How Much Hype Is There in Nanotechnology? / 260
6.12.1 Nanosciences at the Universities and in Research Networks / 262
6.12.2 An Intermezzo: How Much Hype is There in Nanotechnology? / 265
6.12.3 Which Areas of Nanotechnology will be Successful in the Short and Medium Term? / 266
6.13 A Great Future for Tiny Particles / 272
6.13.1 Nanotechnology also Has a Major Impact on BASF's Traditional Business Areas / 272
6.13.2 Opening up New Markets with Nanotechnology / 273
6.13.3 Nanotechnology Means Learning from Nature / 273
6.13.4 Open to New Impulses for Innovations through Cooperative Ventures / 274
Appendix 1 Nanoanalytical Methods at BASF (excerpt) / 276
Appendix 2 Nanoanalysis at BASF (excerpt) / 277
Appendix 3 Glossary of Basic Terms in Polymer Science / 278
Appendix 4 Conversation Tables / 295
