Polymer Science and Engineering The Shifting Research Frontiers (1994) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
1. National Issues
1. National Issues
Pages 9-31
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 9... ...
This widespread use is a gratifying confirmation of the success of the polymer science and engineering community, but it carries with it the need to continually focus on maintaining the research and development effort that will keep the United States at the forefront of this dynamic field. The word "polymer" is derived from the Greek roots "poly" and "mer," which mean "many parts." Polymeric substances are composed of many chemical units called monomers, which are joined together into large molecular chains consisting of thousands of atoms.
|
From page 10... ...
As a consequence of molecular size alone, an enormous change in physical properties is observed from gases, to fluids, to waxy solids, to tough and durable building materials of many uses. Cotton, linen, hemp, wool, and natural rubber are examples of polymers that occur in nature, while synthetic (or man-made)
|
From page 11... ...
industrial R&D, 1961 to 1993. Funded by industry, shaded squares; funded by government, solid triangles; total, solid circles.
|
From page 12... ...
The committee also finds it difficult to reconcile the positive statistical evidence for research and development support by industry with committee members' direct knowledge of layoffs and large reductions in the research staffs of industrial laboratories in the early 1990s. Virtually all of the top spenders in the polymer research areas (and this includes most of the major industrial research organizations)
|
From page 13... ...
Applied research industry funded, solid squares; applied research industry performed, shaded squares; basic research industry funded, solid circles; basic research industry performed, shaded circles. SOURCE: Data from National Science Board (1993~.
|
From page 14... ...
University funded by industry, shaded squares; nonprofit funded by industry, solid triangles; total, solid circles. SOURCE: Data from National Science Board (1993~.
|
From page 15... ...
($M) Polymers 83 83 93 Bio/Biomolecular materials 144 166 187 Composites 185 183 207 Ceramics 137 132 151 Electronic materials 172 162 177 Optical and photonic materials 143 133 139 TOTAL 864 859 954 SOURCE: Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology (1992)
|
From page 16... ...
The 70 billion pounds of plastic and other polymeric materials produced by the United States annually represent well over half the world's output and more than double the product of the European Community (Chemical & Engineering News, 1993, pp.
|
From page 17... ...
The Institut fur Kunststoffverarbeitung in Aachen, Germany, for example, teaches polymer processing at all levels and develops equipment and processing methods in cooperation with the large German chemical companies. Will nationalism and regional trade advantages combine to give the large chemical companies in such countries a competitive advantage in developing new polymer applications through close association with the equipment manufacturers?
|
From page 18... ...
Because of the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of modern polymer science, professionals trained in traditional academic fields cannot be immediately productive upon moving into polymer research or engineering. To fill the need for more professionals with expertise in polymers, the education of future scientists and engineers will have to be modified, and ways will have to be developed for practicing researchers to become aware of rapid progress in macromolecular synthesis, processing, and applications.
|
From page 19... ...
POLYED, the joint education committee of the ACS divisions of Polymer Chemistry and Polymeric Materials, has begun a textbook project in which textbook authors and polymer faculty will be encouraged to cooperate. Course development could be facilitated by providing opportunities for interaction between polymer and nonpolymer faculty to help the latter to learn about polymers.
|
From page 20... ...
Polymer chemistry only, solid squares; total polymers (in chemistry, physics, and engineering) , shaded squares.
|
From page 21... ...
Another program has been developed by the Intersociety Polymer Education (IPED) Task Force, representing the Society of Plastics Engineers and the Polymer Chemistry, Polymeric Materials, and Rubber divisions of the ACS.
|
From page 22... ...
Several methods already exist for supporting awareness of industrial research problems in the polymer field: (1) University-industry centers have been established at a number of research universities to investigate research problems of interest to the industrial partners.
|
From page 23... ...
Polymers are organic materials that are usually manufactured from petroleum feedstocks using processes that are environmentally benign or that can be made more environmentally compatible without crippling economic consequences. The polymer industry has successfully adopted many environmentally favorable processes, providing advantages over competing materials as described in the vignette "Paper or Plastic?
|
From page 25... ...
One outstanding example is polyester soda bottles, whose recycling has been aided by "bottle bills" that encourage their return in relatively uncontaminated form. Labeling of plastics at the time of manufacture has been initiated to facilitate separation, and methods of automated recognition and separation are now being sought.
|
From page 26... ...
Demonstration houses already exist in Massachusetts and New Jersey that showcase an impressive array of uses, as pointed out in the vignette "Plastic Houses." As the acceptance of factory-built (prefabricated) structures grows, economies of scale will arise that will strongly favor the use of polymeric materials in many areas.
|
From page 27... ...
All of these forms of transportation depend heavily on oil as the basis for fuel. Polymers play a significant role in energy and transportation, primarily through the savings in weight that are possible as polymers replace steel and
|
From page 28... ...
28 POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING aluminum in vehicle structures. Polymer composites are 5 to 7 times less dense than steel and 2 to 3 times less dense than aluminum.
|
From page 29... ...
Structures such as tents, huts, and bridges are made of polymers, as are aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval structures. As in civilian aircraft, the use of polymers in military aircraft would reduce their weight, thereby conferring the key competitive advantage of longer range and increased payload (for armaments, ammunition, and electronic equipment)
|
From page 30... ...
The high skin temperatures that are generated at supersonic speeds present another challenge, but there are many new high-temperature matrices that, used with carbon fibers, could provide novel solutions. The leverage obtained by using polymers is greater for ground-based military vehicles than for aircraft, because polymer-based composites are being substituted for steel, which is about 5 to 7 times as dense as the composites.
|
From page 31... ...
Aircraft need a low radar reflective surface. Ships and particularly submarines need a low sonar reflective surface.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.