Abstract
Not the least remarkable and useful of the properties of polyethylene is its chemical inertness. PE is unaffected by prolonged contact with those strong acids (including hydrogen fluoride) which attack many metals, highly caustic alkalis which rapidly damage glass, as well as most organic substances. Yet the pure polymer weathers rapidly when exposed outdoors to the atmosphere, burns easily and may be affected by common detergents. These properties are all aspects of the chemical behaviour of the material, the subject of this chapter. The contrast between the inertness of PE and some other polymers towards many aggressive reagents, including solvents, and its sensitivity to atmospheric degradation warn us to expect some complexity in the chemical properties of polymers. We shall discuss a number of agents of chemical change which are of engineering importance for polymer materials. These are solvents, environmental agents (producing weathering and aging), fire, radiation, and biological organisms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Suggestions for Reading
Solubility and Permeability
Bixler, H. J., and Sweeting, O. J., ‘Barrier properties of polymer films’, in O. J. Sweeting (Ed.), The Science and Technology of Polymer Films, vol. 2, ch 1 (Interscience, New, York, 1971).
Burrell, H., and Immergut, B., ‘Solubility parameter values’, in J. Brandrup and E. H. Immergut (Eds), Polymer Handbook, ch IV-15, 2nd edn (Interscience, New York, 1975).
Hennessy, B. J., Mead, J. A., and Stening, T. C., The Permeability of Plastics Films (Plastics Institute, London, 1966).
van Krevelen, D. W., Properties of Polymers: Correlations with Chemical Structure (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1972).
Nemphos, S. P., Salame, M., and Steingiser, S., ‘Barrier polymers’, in Encyclopaedia of Polymer Science and Technology, suppl. vol. 1, pp. 65–95 (Wiley, New York, 1976).
Ninnemann, K. W., ‘Measurement of physical properties of flexible films’ in O. J. Sweeting (Ed.), The Science and Technology of Polymer Films, vol. 1, ch 13 (Interscience, New York, 1968).
Stannett, V., and Yasuda, H., ‘Permeability’ in R. A. V. Raff and K. W. Doak (Eds), Crystalline Olefin Polymers, pt II, ch 4 (Interscience, New York, 1964).
Yasuda, H., Clark, H. G., and Stannett, V., ‘Permeability’, in Encyclopaedia of Polymer Science and Technology, vol. 9, pp. 794–807 (Wiley, New York, 1968).
Degradation
ASTM D1693-70, Environmental stress-cracking of ethylene plastics (American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, Pa.).
ASTM D1435-75, Outdoor weathering of plastics (American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, Pa.).
BS 4618: Part 4: 1972, Environmental and chemical effects.
Charlesby, A., Atomic Radiation and Polymers (Pergamon, Oxford, 1960).
Dole, M., (Ed.), The Radiation Chemistry of Macromolecules, 2 vols (Academic Press, New York, 1972, 1973).
Hawkins, W. L., (Ed.), Polymer Stabilization (Wiley, New York, 1972).
Howard, J. B., ‘Fracture: long-term phenomena’, in Encyclopaedia of Polymer Science and Technology, vol. 7, pp. 261–291 (Wiley, New York, 1967) (environmental stress cracking).
Institute of Metals, ‘Environmental cracking of polymers’, in Mechanics of Environment Sensitive Cracking of Materials, pp. 213–259 (London, 1977).
Jellinek, H. H. G., (Ed.), Aspects of Degradation and Stabilization of Polymers (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1978).
Kamal, M. R., (Ed.), Weatherability of Plastic Materials, Applied Polymer Symposia no. 4 (Interscience, New York, 1967).
Lanza, V. L., ‘Irradiation — properties changes’, in R. A. V. Raff and K. W. Doak (Eds), Crystalline Olefin Polymers pt II, ch 7 (Interscience, New York, 1964).
Rånby, B., and Rabek, J. F., Photodegradation, Photo-oxidation and Photo-stabilization of Polymers (Wiley, London, 1975).
Reich, L., and Stivala, S. S., Elements of Polymer Degradation (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1971).
Rosato, D. V., and Schwartz, R. T., Environmental Effects on Polymeric Materials, 2 vols (Interscience, New York, 1968).
Scott, K., ‘Plastics’, in J. W. Simpson and P. J. Horrobin (Eds), The Weathering and Performance of Building Materials, ch 6 (MTP, Aylesbury, 1970).
Winslow, F. H., ‘Environmental degradation’, in J. M. Schultz (Ed.), Treatise on Materials Science and Technology, vol. 10, pt B, ch 6 (Academic Press, New York, 1977).
Fire Properties
Fabris, H. J., and Sommer, J. G., ‘Flammability of elastomeric materials’, Rubber Chem. Tech., 50 (1977) 523–569.
Fenimore, C. P., and Martin, F. J., ‘Burning of polymers’, in The Mechanisms of Pyrolysis, Oxidation and Burning of Organic Materials, pp. 159–170, National Bureau of Standards Special Publication no. 357 (Washington, D.C., 1972).
Hilado, C. J., (Ed.), ‘Smoke and Products of Combustion’, in Fire and Flammability, vol. 2 (Technomic Publishing Co., Westport, Conn., 1973).
Kuryla, W. C., and Papa, A. J., (Eds), Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials, 5 vols. (Dekker, New York, 1973-g).
Lewin, M., Atlas, S. M., and Pearce, E. M., (Eds), Flame-retardant Polymeric Materials (Plenum, New York, 1975).
Stuetz, D. E., Diedwardo, A. H., Zitomer, F., and Barnes, B. P., ‘Polymer combustion’, J. Polymer Sci., pt A, 13 (1975) 585–621.
Medical Engineering
Frazza, D. J., ‘Sutures’, Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology (Wiley, New York, suppl. 1 (1976) 587–597.
Halpern, B. D., and Karo, W., ‘Medical Applications’, Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology (Wiley, New York), suppl. 2 (1977) 368–402.
Kronenthal, R. L., Oser, Z., and Martin, E., (Eds), ‘Polymers in Medicine and Surgery’, in Polymer Science and Technology, vol. 8 (Plenum, London, 1975).
Wilhams, D., (Ed.), Bio compatibility of Implant Materials (Sector Publishing, London, 1976).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1981 Christopher Hall
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hall, C. (1981). Chemical Properties. In: Polymer Materials. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-10187-0_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-10187-0_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-46379-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-10187-0
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)