High temperature polymers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

High temperature polymers - Essay ExampleIntroduction Polymers or most unremarkably known as plastics is used abundantly in a wide range of applications. In fact, they be seen almost anywhere in our daily lives. Polymers are those substances that are composed of individual monomers cross united with long chains and bonds. They are composed of a long chain of carbon backbone effected with other elemental contributions such as O,N,S,F, Si and S. Polymers are organic materials. Generall(a)y, their basic properties include lightweight, true(p) insulation properties, ductile, low strength, and good noise and vibration dampers. There are plastics used widely in legion(predicate) industries and can even be seen in everyday lives. Majority of the packaging materials seen today uses polymers with varying densities. Polymer molecular structures are large with complex bonds and chains. There are soaring tautness polymers and low density polymers. As per molecular structure, these polyme rs differ in their chain length, chain branching and the inter-chain bonds (Reusch). As a normal misconception, polymers are said to be applied in low temperatures as they are known to tear down immediately with the presence of hot pants and exposure to high temperature. There is however, a special kind of polymer- the high temperature polymer that exudes exemplary properties greatly superior than ordinary ones. Their applications are slowly introduced in the market and little by little replace the more conventional structural materials. High Temperature Polymers Definition and Properties Plastics as considered with their physical look are not known to be used in high temperatures due to misconception that they easily evanesce with application of heat. This may be true somehow as most plastics found in temper are easily destructed with high temperature. However, there are some kinds of plastics that are designed differently from all the rest. Indeed, there are plastics and pol ymers that are resistant with temperatures and they are guaranteed to be of best application when high temperature and heat are concerned. High temperature polymers are those plastics that can withstand temperatures above 135oC. They are known as the trade good plastics and at the moment, it has increased in the percentage in the total plastic usage (Performance 1). These are still plastic materials derived through and through lengthy and vigorous research works and innovative inventions of brilliant minds that walked through this career that prove that the synthetic chemistry field has reached maturation. Applications of these materials range widely as there are many technologies where these polymers are used. It is important to whole tone that high temperature polymers have properties that bypassed those ordinary ones. Heat transfer is mostly through conduction. Specific heats have a range of 0.7-2.5 kJ/kg-K. Polymer composites on the other hand have variable special(prenomin al) heats depending on the average weight of the components. Thermal conductivity ranges from 0.1 -0.2 W/m-K (Tant et al 4). It is also important to note that the value may differ when there is incorporation of other particles in the materials (5). The maximum tensile filter out application can reach from 455 kPa or 1820 kPa (6). Properties of composite polymers that are applicable for high temperatures have high values as compared to other materials. High temperature