Category Polymers

Which polymer is used to make wetsuits?

           Do you enjoy watching water sports like scuba diving or river rafting? If you do, you should know about neoprene, the polymer used to make wetsuits.

           Neoprene is a polymer made out of chloroprene monomers and has a wide variety of uses. This polymer shows good resistance to wear and tear and can be used in any weather. It is thermally stable and also resists heat and flames. Neoprene is buoyant; it has a tendency to remain afloat in water. It is highly flexible and can be stretched out easily. It is therefore used to make wetsuits.

           Neoprene is not a very expensive material and is used to make a range of other products like safety equipment such as gloves, laptop sleeves, knee and elbow supports, conveyor belts and children’s toys.

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How is zylon connected with Formula One racing?

            Zylon is a thermoset fibre that was developed in the 1980s. How would this polymer have connection with Formula One racing, the highest class of single seater auto racing?

           Zylon is one of the strongest man-made organic fibres. In fact, it is ten times stronger than steel. This polymer shows high flame resistance and would remain unaffected by most of the chemicals. It is therefore used to make Formula One racing cars.

           Zylon is used to attach the wheels of race cars used in Formula One to the chassis that is the framework of the vehicle. This prevents the wheel from falling into a crowded area, in case of an accident. The driver’s cockpit is also covered with special panels made of zylon. Nowadays, the helmets used in the race are also lined with zylon to reduce hazardous injuries.

           Zylon has other application too; it is used to make sports equipment like tennis racquets and table tennis blades. It also has some medical applications and is a preferred fibre in the manufacture of high altitude balloons. However, zylon is very expensive and is used only in highly demanding applications.

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Do solar cooking stoves and nail polish have something in common?

           You would be thinking that it is ridiculous to ask something like this. But, solar cooking stoves and nail polish have something in common- a polymer called Mylar.

           Mylar is a special type of stretched polyester generally known as BoPET. It is also known as Melinax and Hostaphan. Don’t be confused with too many names. It is made of polyethylene terphtalate (PET) monomers. It is transparent and chemically stable. It also provides good electrical insulation.

           Mylar is used for making packaging and lids for food products. It is also used as a covering over paper or clothing. This coating gives a shiny surface and a protective coating. It is used in a range of other products like the diaphragms of headphones.

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Why is Teflon used to make non-stick cookware?

           When you pour the dosa batter on a non-stick pan, the flour is sticky. But you can easily take out the dosa from the pan with a wooden spatula once it’s cooked. You don’t have to smear the pan with oil like the traditional ones. Wonder why? This would not be possible if not for the Teflon coating in the pans.

          Teflon does not melt easily. It has a high melting point and is also stable at very low temperatures. Teflon is extremely resistant to corrosion. It cannot be dissolved by most of the materials. In addition to this, it is very slippery and has high resistance corrosive chemicals. Therefore, Teflon provides a perfect coating material for cooking utensils that resists heat, friction and wear and tear. Teflon is also used widely in carpets, wall coverings, paints and as weatherproofing on outdoor signs.

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What is the chemical name of Teflon?

           Teflon is familiar to all of us from the advertisements of non-stick cookware and paints. But, Teflon is just the brand name. Polytetrafluoroethylene is the chemical name of Teflon. Quite a mouthful, right?

           Teflon is a compound made of tetrafluoroethylene monomers. The discovery of Teflon was not deliberate. A young scientist named Roy Plunkett who worked at Du Pont accidentally made Teflon while he was working on a refrigerant compound. He combined hydrochloric acid with tetrafluoroethylene to obtain a new compound.

           The gas formed in the reaction cooled down and transformed to a white powder overnight forming the new material – Teflon.

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Are there other fibres like kevlar?

            Kevlar belongs to the aramid family of fibres. So is twaron. Twaron shares many similarities with kevlar. It has a high tensile strength and shows great thermal stability just like kevlar. Twaron neither burns, nor melts. It also shows high resistance to chemical substances.

           Twaron was invented by a Dutch company named AKZO in the 1970s. But, it was not commercially produced until 1986, because of financial troubles. When it was first produced, twaron was called ‘fibreX’. Now, a company called Teijin produces twaron.

           Twaron too is used for making bulletproof body armour. It is also used to make optical fibre cables and substitutes for asbestos.

Picture Credit : Google