Polycarbonate Vs. Acrylic

In this report I go forth thoroughly converse the chemical substance properties, makeup and trenchantness of the polymers polycarbonate and acrylic fiber resin. I will evaluate the ongoing use of each and conclude which is founder and more cost-efficient in various situations. To understand this topic, a full taste of polymers is required. A polymer is more commonly referred to as a ductile. The simplest translation of a polymer is manything that has been made by umteen units although they be more than more complex than this. A polymer is more than like a kitchen commit; each link of the cooking stove is the monomer or al-Qaida unit. This monomer or base unit is usually made of carbon, atomic number 1, oxygen and/or silicon. The chain is tranquil of umteen of these monomers polymerised together, or in this analogy, many links of the chain join together. Polymerisation is simply the linking of the monomers to form the polymer (Ameri bunghole Chemistry, 200 7). There argon twain man-made polymers much(prenominal) as the plastic in plastic bottles and natural polymers such(prenominal) as tortoise shell and horns. Many common polymers be composed of hydrocarbons (See Diagram 1). As piece of tail be seen, carbon makes up the backbone of the molecule and hydrogen atoms argon bonded off the Carbon. nigh examples of polymers that contain only carbon and hydrogen molecules are polypropylene, poly be attitudesene and polystyrene. Polymers come many, many uses in today?s society. Polycarbonate is a polymer which alike has many uses in today?s society. Polycarbonates are long-chain linear polyesters of carbonic acid and dihydric phenols, such as bisphenol-A (A spotter to polycarbonate in general, 2007). Polycarboante is form when phosgene gas reacts with bisphenol-A (Jeannot, 2003). This completed result (chemical body twist of polycarbonate) fecal matter be seen leftover in figure 2. To full understand the properties of polycarbo nate, one mustiness understand why the prop! erties are the way they are. To the left is a diagram of the chemical structure of bisphenol-A. In this diagram ii six-sided honeycomb shaped structures move be seen. These are called phenyl groups. cardinal groups labelled CH3 can also be seen. CH3 represents methyl groups. The posture of the phenyl groups on the molecular chain and the dickens methyl side groups contribute to molecular hardship in the polycarbonate. The properties of polycarbonate are for the most stir up affected by the inclementness cause by this combination. This is through with(p) by first; the magnet among both of the phenyl groups between different molecules helps to ?fix in place? the individual molecules. The resulting incident is skinny thermal resistor but relatively high viscosity during processing. The inflexibility and the omit of mobility prevent polycarbonate from developing a hearty crystalline structure. This want of crystalline structure allows for motivelessen transparency (A send to polycarbonate in general, 2007). Polycarbonate is naturally transparent, to the highest degree as transparent as glass. It has senior high strength, toughness, heat fortress, and elegant dimensional and colour stability. Flame retardants can be added to polycarbonate without significant loss of properties. One of the biggest advantages of polycarbonate is its high violation strength. The diagram in a higher place compares the shock strength of polycarbonate to various separate polymers (Paying particular assist to the variation between polycarbonate (PC) and acrylic fiber). Although this is an outstanding polymer for a material body of uses, it does have its disadvantages. It has only fair chemical resistance and is attacked by many organic solvents. It is also fairly costly compared to new(prenominal) plastics. Some of the many uses of polycarbonate include be an sample technology plastic due to its ease of world moulded, flack moulded and extruded in cluding having good electric caral insulating proper! ties. This means it is applied in electric measuring stick housing and covers. As well as this polycarbonate is utilise as casket hardware, portable tool housings, safety helmets (due to its extemely high tint strength), computer parts and even vandal proof windows and type sack proof windows utilize in large bank safes. The encourage of polycarbonate makes it more satisfactory for application mainly in engineering. some other big use of polycarbonate that hasn?t been mentioned is plastic lenses in shades due to its high transparency and impact resistance. acrylic fiber refers to a family of synthetic polymers that contain one or more derivatives of acrylic acid. The most common of these is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). PMMA is a tough, super transparent veridical giving it many similarities to polycarbonate which is why the two are in competition. Acrylic has excellent resistance to invisible radiation and weathering. It can be coloured, moulded, cut, drilled, and formed. Acrylic polymers are formed by the reaction of a monomer, the most common being methyl methacrylate with a atom smasher.

Organic Peroxide would be a typical catalyst. The catalyst provides the activation energy required to start the polymerisation but does not become part of the polymer. The chemical structure of Acrylic can be seen in the diagram to the left. Acrylic, being nearly crystal clear is an excellent option for display cases. The thicker Acrylic material can screen out against beta radiation. Acrylic is visible(prenominal) in a wide place of forms and colours as well as being machineable and b endable. It can be used in a wide range of applicatio! ns such as aquariums, picture frames, shelves and cabinets. Compared to polycarbonate, acrylic has a grapple lower impact resistance, cannot be bulletproof within a reasonable thickness, less(prenominal) bendable and formable and is harder to work with but on the other reach out compared to acrylic, polycarbonate is more likely to scratch, the clarity isn?t as high, yellows afterwards time due to the UV light whereas Acrylic doesn?t and is a lot more expensive. The facts presented have proved that at that place is no definite dissolve to which is better, Acrylic of Polycarbonate. The truth is both polymers are more suitable in the other depending on the various applications which they are being used for. Both products are more effective at some tasks and less effective at some tasks than the other. BibliographyA guide to polycarbonate in general. (2007). Retrieved exhibit 6, 2009, from Polymer engineering and Services: http://www.ptsllc.com/polcarb_intro.htmAmerican Chemistry. (2007). Plastics: the basics of polymer chemistry. Retrieved certify 6, 2009, from AmericanChemistry: http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_plastics/doc.asp?CID=1102&DID=4664Baird, R. J. (1986). In Industrial Plastics. The Goodheart-Willcox Company. Choo, D. (2007). Acrylic (Plexiglas) vs. Polycarbonate (Lexan). Retrieved serve 6, 2009, from HEMINEKO.NET: http://hemineko.net/wp/acrylic-plexiglas-vs-lexan/Dynalab. (n.d.). Plastic Properties of Polymethylmethacrylate (ACRYLIC) . Retrieved March 6, 2009, from Dynalab: http://www.dynalabcorp.com/technical_info_acrylic.aspJeannot, M. A. (2003). Baffled By the Baby Bottle. Retrieved March 6, 2009, from trip article of belief Notes: http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/baffled/baffled_notes.html If you want to get a full essay, decree it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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