Polymer selection
Polymer selection
(OP)
Dear Forum memeber,
I have two questions:
1. Can one suggest me two polymers with known young's modulus between 2GPa - 15 GPa. And procedure or source to make it.
2. I am planning to make PMMA but not able to find the right curing temp. or procedure on internet. I have PMMA powder and toluene. I know I have to first disolve the PMMA in toluene, but, don't know the right curing tempreture.
Any comments??
Best,
Dhwajal
I have two questions:
1. Can one suggest me two polymers with known young's modulus between 2GPa - 15 GPa. And procedure or source to make it.
2. I am planning to make PMMA but not able to find the right curing temp. or procedure on internet. I have PMMA powder and toluene. I know I have to first disolve the PMMA in toluene, but, don't know the right curing tempreture.
Any comments??
Best,
Dhwajal





RE: Polymer selection
You can search all polymers by modulus for free at www.matweb.com
Unfilled polymers tend to top out around 3 GPa (polystyrene and SAN are two). For higher than that you're looking at adding fillers in most cases.
Making PMMA is usually a two step process because if you do it in one step the heat build up is too high and dangerous. First you make a prepolymer, then let it cool, then do the rest of the cure. I don't know the details though. You will have a lot of work to do in order to remove all that toluene.
Chris DeArmitt PhD FRSC CChem
www.phantomplastics.com
Consultant to the plastics industry
RE: Polymer selection
Above from this article:
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Take care - you only have one liver (iirc, thats what it affects - could be others)
H
www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk
RE: Polymer selection
As stated by others, PMMA can be cast from pre-polymers. That is how they make cast PMMA sheet. It must be carefully controlled as to little heat will not fully cure and to much will boil the pre-polymer and cause at least the pre-polymer to boil and create bubbles and at worst a fire or explosion.
Regards
Pat
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RE: Polymer selection
P.S. Well ...I am mechanical engineer (and not specialist of this field) and want to test some polymers. Hence posted on this forum.
RE: Polymer selection
You'd be better off curing some epoxy prepreg for example. Less likely to explode or gas yourself.
Chris DeArmitt PhD FRSC CChem
www.phantomplastics.com
Consultant to the plastics industry