Amorphous Polymers by Ryan Cassaro
What are amorphous
polymers?
The term amorphous refers to the morphology of polymeric materials. In this case, the carbon
chains are long and unorganized, intertwining to create a glasslike material. Due to the lack of
organization or ability to organize, no crystallinity is observed in amorphous polymers, making their strengths
temperature dependant. Basically, as the temperature increases, the amorphous polymer will
soften gradually. The defining temperature for amorphous polymers is the glass transition
temperature, or Tg. Below this temperature, the amorphous chains become immobilized
and rigid and behave like glass.
What are common properties of
amorphous polymers?
Due to their intertwining chains, amorphous polymers experience viscous flow when heated. They
also have a decreased chance of warping and shrink less during molding than semi-crystalline
plastics. Many amorphous polymers may also exhibit rubber-like properties, able to stretch and
deform without fracturing.
What are common examples of
amorphous polymers?
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