Path: bloom-beacon.mit.edu!grapevine.lcs.mit.edu!uhog.mit.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!sundog.tiac.net!wizard.pn.com!satisfied.elf.com!rpi!newsserver.pixel.kodak.com!newsserver.rdcs.Kodak.COM!mtx51b.tex.emn.com!user From: jcoffey@emn.com (Jim Coffey) Newsgroups: sci.polymers,sci.answers,news.answers Subject: FAQ: Sci.Polymers Followup-To: sci.polymers Date: Mon, 17 Oct 1994 14:16:26 -0600 Organization: Texas Plastics Lab; Eastman Chemical Co Lines: 437 Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU Message-ID: Reply-To: jcoffey@emn.com NNTP-Posting-Host: 166.116.56.37 Summary: This posting contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions and their answers about polymers. It should be read by anyone who wishes to post to the sci.polymers newsgroup Xref: bloom-beacon.mit.edu sci.polymers:1237 sci.answers:1693 news.answers:27635 Archive-name: polymers-faq Posting-Frequency: monthly Last-modified: October 17, 1994 _____________________________________________________________ This FAQ was compiled by Jim Coffey with numerous contributions by readers of sci.polymers Please feel free to send me info that you'd like to see included. It would be most helpful if your comments are structured so I can merely cut and paste them into the body of the faq. i.e. keep the line lengths short, uses spaces instead of tabs, and use a monospaced font like courier If you would like to see more information on a topic, but you're not qualified to write up the info yourself... then post a request to the group. Someone will probably come forward with their expertise. Please don't just send me a request for information. If I know the answer, it's already in the FAQ. Input is needed from YOU in your area of expertise. I see one of the primary purposes of this document as a pointer to information as opposed to trying to put the entire body of polymer knowledge into the FAQ. Thus, any info on excellent books, magazines, professional societies, universities, research centers etc are needed. Please include phone numbers, net addresses, mail addresses, ISSN/ISBN numbers, etc for all organizations, books, magazines, etc. This will help others locate the information and cut down the number of "help me find ..." questions. >> Changes, additions, comments, suggestions and questions to: <<<< Jim Coffey - Eastman Chemical Co jcoffey@emn.com _____________________________________________________________ Contents: (NEW Information is flagged as NEW) +++Where to find this FAQ +++What is a "Polymer" +++Abbreviations for Common Polymers +++Professional organizations +++Properties of Common Polymers +++Common Methods of Processing Polymers into Consumer Goods +++Recycling +++Conferences and Conferences +++Publications of Interest on Polymers +++Polymer Manufacturing Companies - (NEW) info +++Universities with Degree Programs in Polymers - +++Graduate programs in polymers +++The Dr. Pepper Question! +++The Polymer WWW Page +++ Summary of Methods of Locating Internet Info (NEW) +++Acknowledgements (UPDATED) ____________________________________________________________________ +++Where to find this FAQ If you haven't done so, new users on the net should read news.announce.newusers. In particular, the following posts are a good idea (they tend to be posted once a month...be patient): A Primer on How to Work With The Usenet Community Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Usenet Hints on Writing Style for Usenet If I have done everything correctly this FAQ should be archived in the standard archive places under the name polymers-faq. --------------- Subject: How to get a current copy of this document A current copy of this document can be obtained by anonymous FTP to ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/polymers-faq If you don't know what FTP is, read news.answers or ask your sysadmin. If you can't use FTP, send email to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with send /pub/usenet/news.answers/polymers-faq as the only text in the message (leave the subject blank). A current hypertext version of this document can be obtained from http://irc.leeds.ac.uk/spfaq/ ====================== +++What is a "Polymer" From the Greek "poly" meaning many, and "meros", parts. A polymer is a group of many mers. Typically you polymerize a monomer. Polymer is often used as a synonym for "plastic", but many biological and inorganic molecules are also polymeric. All plastics are polymers, but not all polymers are plastic. Plastic actually refers to the way a material melts and flows. Homopolymers results from polymerizing only one kind of monomer. Copolymers - 2 monomers, Terpolymers - 3, etc. +++Abbreviations for Common Polymers PE - polyethylene see also: HDPE - high density PE LDPE - low density PE LLDPE - linear low density PE VLDPE - very low density PE HMW-HDPE - high molecular weight HDPE UHMWPE - ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene PP - polypropylene, subdivided as homopolymer, random impact and block copolymers PS - polystyrene EPS - Expanded Polystyrene HIPS - high impact polystyrene ABS - acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer PC - polycarbonate PI - polyisoprene, PBD - polybutadine, PEG - polyethylene glycol PS-b-PI - polystyrene/polyisoprene block copolymer EVA - ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer PET - poly(ethylene terephthalate) PVC - poly(vinyl chloride) also called "vinyl" PMMA - poly(methyl methacrylate) commonly called PLEXIGLAS(tm) RUBBER EPR - ethylene propylene rubber SBR - styrene butadiene rubber EPDM - ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber +++Professional organizations SPE - Society of Plastics Engineers 14 Fairfield Drive, Brookfield Center, Connecticut 06805 ACS - Am.Chem.Soc (Division of Polymer Chemistry; Division of Polymer Materials Science and Engineering) PINZ - Plastics Institute of New Zealand P.O.Box 76378, Manakau City, Auckland, New Zealand. phone +64 9 262 3773 Composites Association of New Zealand, 5 Balmacewen Road, Dunedin, New Zealand. phone +64 3 467 2514. CANZ promotes health and safety, employment contract issues, technological advances, etc. to its members and holds a biannual conference on new technologies (26-28 August 1994, at Blenheim. PIA - Plastics Industry Association [from Australia] (Est. 1947) 41-43 Exhibition Street Melbourne Vic 3000 AUSTRALIA Ph. +61-3-654-2199 Fax. +61-3-654-2384 +++Properties of Common Polymers There are too many polymers to even attempt to list properties here. We'll try instead to point you to good sources of information. 1. Contact a company (or person) who makes the resin you are trying to use. They usually have data sheets on their standard products. 2. General info can be found in many textbooks such as: "Principals of Polymer Systems" Rodriguez, McGraw Hill, New York, NY "Fundamental Principles of Polymer Materials" Rosen, John Wiley and Sons, ISBN 0-471-08704-1 3. Contact the SPE and get their catalog. +++Common Methods of Processing Polymers into Consumer Goods Each of the areas below have their own technical sub societies and publications. Contact the SPE for details. Injection Molding Blow Molding Injection Blow Molding Gas Assisted Injection Molding Reaction Injection Molding (RIM/SRIM) Stretch Blow Molding Blown Film Cast Film Cast/Slit Film (tape or strapping) Thermoforming Compression Molding Extrusion Coating and Laminating Extruded Profiles and Pipes Fiber Spinning Melt Blown Nonwoven Fiber production +++Recycling All thermoplastics can be reheated and reformed into usable articles. The trick is to get a clean source of recycled resin. Currently in the USA we have good infrastructure for PET soda bottles, and HDPE milk bottles. Other programs are underway and the SPE is very active in promoting recycling. Europe supposedly (can someone confirm this) has a good collection infrastructure for polypropylene, but not PET. This lack of infrastructure leads Europeans to conclude that PP is easier to recycle than PET, while US Citizens/regulators/etc feel that PET is easier than PP. The reality is that all thermoplastics can technically be reground, washed, and remelted many times IF, someone is willing to go to the trouble to collect, sort, wash, and grind a particular type of resin. Depolymerization back into feedstocks is also an option for certain polymers. Note: the applications below are only a partial list. All resins tend to end up in a multitude of molded, formed, or extruded widgets, films, and the like. SYMBOL - RESIN NAME (thanks to Ed Stokes and Robert Hutchins) Note: the use of the recycling symbol is now politically incorrect in some circles...this is due to the fact that many of these polymers are not being recycled because of a lack of infrastructure...sigh. 1 - PET (polyethylene terphthalate) beverage containers, boil-in food pouches, processed meat packages 2 - HDPE (high density polyethylene) milk bottles, detergent bottles, oil bottles, toys, plastic bags 3 - V (polyvinyl chloride) food wrap, vegetable oil bottles, blister packaging 4 - LDPE (low density polyethylene) shrink-wrap, plastic bags, garment bags 5 - PP (polypropylene) margarine and yogurt containers, caps for containers, carpet fiber, wrapping to replace cellophane 6 - PS (polystyrene) 7 - Other multi-resin containers "I'll put my GE hat on now. Some of the most inherently recyclable (even reusable) plastic containers fall in the category of "7 other". GE Lexan (polycarbonate), for example, is used to make returnable, reusable milk, water, and juice bottles. In our area (upstate NY), we can (and do) buy milk in returnable reusable polycarbonate bottles at a local convenience store chain called "Stewarts". Look for these in your area." (Ed Stokes ebstokes@crd.ge.com) +++Conferences and Shows ANTEC - American National Technical Conference (annual) RETEC - Regional Tech. Conf. (multiple RETEC'S exist in different parts of the country for special interest groups such as automotive, polyolefins, color, etc) K-Show - Dusseldorf...biggest plastics show in the world Division of High Polymer Physics (March meeting/American Physical Society (condensed matter divisions,etc.). +++Publications of Interest on Polymers Plastics News (address?) Plastics World (address?) Modern Plastics 1211 6th Ave. New York, NY 10020 Plastics Technology 355 Park Avenue South, New York, NY10010 ISSN 0032-1257 Polymer (a research Journal) Macromolecules (ACS Journal) J. Polymer Science Polymer Physics Edition (ACS) J. Polymer Science Polymer Chemistry Edition Makromoleculare Chemie Plastics News International Pub: The Editors Desk Ltd PO Box 546 Mt Eliza, Vic 3930 AUSTRALIA Ph. +61-3-775-2139 Fax. +61-3-787-6105 Plastics Design Forum (free to qualified subscribers) Fax:(218)723-9437 7500 Old Oak Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio, USA 44130 Polymer Engineering and Science. (NZ?? address???) +++Polymer Manufacturing Companies Most of the big oil companies make PE and/or PP Himont is the largest producer of PP General Electric is a large producer of ABS and, PC Eastman is a large PET producer (smaller in polyolefins) Union Carbide is a large PE producer DuPont makes Kevlar, PET (Mylar) Rohm and Haas makes Plexiglas(tm) and other acrylic (Acryloid (tm)) emulsion polymers. +++Universities with Undergraduate Degree Programs in Polymers U of Southern Mississippi (address below) UMass at Lowell (address below) Virginia Polytech (address below) Case Western Reserve University (address below) +++Outstanding Graduate programs in polymers (send me info) University Contact Address/Phone ____________ ________ ______________ University of Mass Dr. Rudolph Deanin Univ. of Massachusetts Lowell Graduate Coordinator 1 University Ave. Dept. of Plastics Lowell, MA 01854 Engineering University of Michigan Dr. Frank Filisko University of Michigan Graduate Comm. Chair Ann Arbor, Michigan Program in Macromol- 48109 ecular Sci. & Engr. University of Tennessee Dr. J.E. Spruiell University of Tenn. Head, Dept. of Mate- Knoxville, TN rials Sci. & Engr. 37996 University of Akron Dr. James White University of Akron Head, Dept. of Akron, Ohio Polymer Engineering 44325-0001 San Jose State University Dr. Gerald Selter San Jose State Univ. Graduate Advisor San Jose, CA Dept. of Chemistry 95192 Georgia Inst. of Technology Dr. A.S.Abhiraman Georgia Inst. of Tech. Coordinator, Program Atlanta, GA in Polymers. School 30332 of Chemical Engr. Univ. of South. Mississippi Dr. Robert Lochhead Univ. of South. Miss. Chair, Dept. of Pol- Hattiesburg, MS ymer Science, College 39406 of Science & Tech (601) 266-4868 Univ. of Mass Amherst name?? Univ. of Mass/Amherst. Chair, Dept. of Pol- Amherst, MASS ymer Science. 01003 Case Western Reserve Univ. Dr. John Blackwell 10900 Euclid Avenue Chair, Dept. of Macro- Cleveland, OH 44106 molecular Science. 216-368-4450 LeHigh University Dr. Mohamed S. El-Aaser 111 Research Dr Director, Center for Lehigh University Polymer Sci and E Bethlehem, PA 18015 The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Polytechnic University Prof Eli Pearce or Allan S. Myerson of Brooklyn Polytechnic University Six Metrotech Center Brooklyn, New York 11201 (718) 260-3620 amyerson@robling.poly.edeu University of Missouri - Rolla Virginia Polytechnic and State University VPI or Dr. Garth Wilkes 120 Patton Hall Virginia Tech Chairman Blacksburg, VA 24061 +++The Dr. Pepper Question! "Polyethylene glycol is polymerized ethylene glycol. Dr. Pepper reportedly uses it as an antifoaming agent." jterry@ssrl01.slac.stanford.edu (Jeff Terry) "Ethylene glycol (commonly called antifreeze): HO-CH2-CH2-OH, is a small, toxic compound which dissolves readily in water and lowers its freezing point. Polyethylene glycol HO-CH2CH2-O-CH2CH2-O-CH2CH2-O-.. is a very large, inert, gelatinous compound which can be used to thicken foods. It's completely non-toxic, probably indigestible" curry@hpl.hp.com (Bo Curry) +++The Polymer WWW Page David Bick, a graduate student at Leeds University, England; has volunteered to set up this FAQ in HTML format for the World Wide Web. http://irc.leeds.ac.uk/spfaq/ +++ Summary of Various Methods of Locating Internet Info +++ NEW As the amount of information available over the networks has been increasing, so have the methods by which this information can be obtained. No longer is direct usage of FTP the only, or even the most frequent, method of obtaining data; we now have Gopher, Wais, and WWW, as well as many site-specific interfaces. Because the information itself may be accessible in many different ways, this FAQ will identify resources in terms of URLs (Uniform Resource Locators). This will also help us convert this FAQ to a hypertext document, so that it can be used with a WWW browser to go directly to any of the listed sources. Here's a glossary, so you can decode the URLs if necessary to reach the sites: ftp://host.name.domain/directory/[filename] ftp site http://host.name.domain/directory/[filename] www server telnet://host.name.domain telnet site gopher://host.name.domain gopher server wais://host.name.domain wais server news:newsgroup.name newsgroup So, for example, if a document is available at ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/polymers-faq it means that you should ftp to rtfm.mit.edu, and the information is in the pub/usenet/news.answers/ directory. If you don't know what these information retrieval methods are, watch the news.answers group for FAQ's on FTP, Gopher, WWW, etc. or contact your system administrator. +++Acknowledgements (let me know if I left anyone out...sorry) Dr. Ulrich Seitz, Ramesh Lakshmi Narayan, David O Hunt, Jeff Vavasour, George D Ryerson, Abe Verghis, milty@engin.umich.edu, Dave Ingram, Mike Greenfield, Sami Mohammed, Paul D. Whaley, Tom Brady, Bob Hutchins, Ed Stokes, Larry Dodd, Mike Stewart, Russell Schulz, David Bick, Tony Foiani, Mike Pollard, Steve Baxter, Tony Tweedale, Kevin Patterson, Thomas Pierce -- Jim Coffey (jcoffey@emn.com) => maintainer sci.polymers FAQ Texas Plastics Lab; Eastman Chemical Co. The opinions expressed above are my own, not my employer's.