Properties of Polymers

A process where a liquid polymer is spun to create hollow, large parts.

Polymer solutions or melts are poured into a mold and allowed to solidify.

A polymer's ability to withstand different chemicals.

Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene) is highly resistant to most acids, bases, and solvents.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resists dilute acids and alkalis but is vulnerable to some solvents.

The ability of a polymer to withstand pulling forces before breaking.

The stress at which a polymer begins to deform plastically.

Temperature where a polymer transitions from solid to liquid or solid to rubbery state.

Molten polymer injected into a mold to create a part.

Melting and forcing polymer through a die to create shapes.

How resistant a polymer is to breaking down due to heat.

Amount a polymer stretches before breaking, in percentage.

Techniques used to shape polymers into desired forms.

The ability of a polymer to allow light to pass through it, often due to its ordered structure or large amorphous domains.

The hue of a polymer, which can be intrinsic to its chemical structure or added through pigments during processing.

The measure of how light bends as it passes through a polymer, impacting its use in lenses and optical fibers.

The ability of a polymer to absorb light at various wavelengths (UV, visible, or near-infrared), affecting its optical properties.

The deflection of light in various directions when passing through a polymer, influenced by fillers, voids, or imperfections in its structure.

The phenomenon where a polymer has different refractive indices along different axes, often due to its crystalline structure or oriented molecular chains.

The ability of certain polymers to emit light after being excited by light of a different wavelength, found in conjugated polymers used in optoelectronic applications.

The property where a polymer absorbs light differently depending on the direction of polarization.

The ability of a material, like some polymers, to change its electrical conductivity when exposed to light.

Higher molecular weight polymers often lead to reduced scattering of light, making them more transparent.

Crystalline regions in polymers can affect transparency and optical anisotropy, meaning light travels differently in different directions.

Polymers with low optical losses are used in optical fibers for telecommunications and data transmission.

Pigments added to polymers can change their color, transparency, and scattering properties.

Some polymers are used in lenses because their specific refractive index and transparency make light bend predictably.

Polymer-based displays utilize photoluminescence and electro-optical properties to create images.

Photoconductive polymers are used in sensors to measure light intensity and other optical parameters.

The ability of a material to store electrical energy when an electric field is applied. This is associated with the polarization of molecules within the material.

The ability of a material to generate an electric charge in response to mechanical stress, and conversely, to deform when an electric field is applied.

Ceramics often resist chemical attack by many acids, bases, and corrosive substances.

Porosity, the presence of pores in a ceramic material, can influence mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. It generally reduces the strength of the material and increases its permeability.

Some types of ceramics are transparent, allowing light to pass through. This property makes them useful in optical lenses and windows.

Ceramics are very resistant to scratches and abrasion due to strong atomic bonds.

Ceramics are strong under compression (pushing) but weak under tension (pulling), leading to brittle fracture.

Many ceramics have very high melting points, meaning they can withstand extreme heat.

Ceramics are poor conductors of heat, making them good insulators.

Most ceramics act as electrical insulators, preventing electric current flow.

The strong, rigid bonds in ceramics make them resist deformation, leading to sudden fracture under stress.

Adding toughening particles like zirconia can improve a ceramic's toughness by absorbing energy before fracturing.

A high elastic modulus means the ceramic is very stiff and resists deformation under stress.