Polystyrene

Polystyrene is a thermoplastic produced by the polymerization of styrene. The electrical insulating properties of polystyrene are outstandingly good and it is relatively unaffected by water. Typical applications include light fixtures, toys, bottles, lenses, capacitor dielectrics, medical syringes, and light-duty industrial components. Extruded sheets of polystyrene are widely used for packaging, envelope windows, and photographic film. Its resistance to impact can be improved by the addition of rubber modifiers. Polystyrene can be readily foamed; the resulting foamed polystyrene is used extensively for packaging.

4. Polythene (polyethene, polyethylene)

Polythene (polyethene, polyethylene) is a plastic made from ethane. It is one of the most widely used important thermoplastic polymers. It was first developed by the polymerization of ethane at a pressure of 2,000 bar at 200°C. This produced low-density polythene (LDPE). A relatively high-density form (HDPE) was synthesized in the 1950s using a complex catalyst. Polythene is a white waxy solid with very low density, reasonable strength and toughness, but low stiffness. It is easily moulded and has a wide range of uses in containers, packaging, pipes, coatings, and insulation.

Vocabulary:

adhesion — прилипание

adhesive — клей

bond — связи, узы

insulation — изоляция

casting — литье

void — пустота

solid — твердое тело, твердый

acid — кислота

alkali — щелочь

to obtain — доставать, получать

granule — гранула

solution — раствор

lattices — латексы

paste — паста

yield — выход

durable — прочный

rubber — резина, каучук

garment — предметы одежды

lens —линза

capacitor — эл. конденсатор

syringe — шприц

light-duty — неответственный

envelope — зд. обрамление

impact — удар

improved — улучшенный

modifiers — модификаторы

addition — добавление

readily — легко, с готовностью

foam — пена

catalyst — катализатор

wax — воск

reasonable — приемлемый, неплохой

coating — слой, покрытие

General understanding:

1. What are the types of plastics?

2. What are the features of the epoxy resin?

3. What is epoxy resin used for?

4. What is PVC usually used for?

5. What are the typical applications of polystyrene?

6. When was polyethylen synthesized?

7. Under what conditions is polyethylen synthesized?

8. What sorts of polyethylen can be synthesized?

Exercise 5.3. Translate into Russian:

1. Polythene is a plastic made from ethane.

2. Epoxy resins have outstanding adhesion, toughness and resistance to attack from chemicals.

3. PVC is a colourless solid with outstanding resistance to water, alcohols, and concentrated acids and alkalis.

4. Polystyrene is a thermoplastic produced by the polymerization of styrene.

5. Polythene is a white waxy solid with very low density, reasonable strength and toughness but low stiffness.

Exercise 5.4. Translate into English:

1. Эпоксидная смола затвердевает когда смешивается с отвердителем и пластификатором.

2. Эпоксидные смолы используются в качестве клея, а с добавками — в строительстве лодок и спортивного снаряжения.

3. ПВХ — бесцветное твердое вещество с выдающейся устойчивостью к воздействию воды, спиртов, концентрированных кислот и щелочей.

4. ПВХ широко используется при производстве изоляции для проводов.

5. Выдувка непластифицированного ПВХ используется при производстве прозрачных бутылок для напитков.

6. Полистирол легко вспенивается и используется для упаковки.

7. Полиэтилен — воскообразное вещество белого цвета с очень низкой плотностью и малой жесткостью.

Text С: «COMPOSITE MATERIALS»

The combinations of two or more different materials are called composite materials. They usually have unique mechanical and physical properties because they combine the best properties of different materials. For example, a fibre-glass reinforced plastic combines the high strength of thin glass fibres with the ductility and chemical resistance of plastic. Nowadays composites are being used for structures such as bridges, boat-building etc.

Composite materials usually consist of synthetic fibres within a matrix, a material that surrounds and is tightly bound to the fibres. The most widely used type of composite material is polymer matrix composites (PMCs). PMCs consist of fibres made of a ceramic material such as carbon or glass embedded in a plastic matrix. Usually the fibres make up about 60 per cent by volume. Composites with metal matrices or ceramic matrices are called metal matrix composites (MMCs) and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), respectively.

Continuous-fibre composites are generally required for structural applications. The specific strength (strength-to-density ratio) and specific stiffness (elastic modulus-to-density ratio) of continuous carbon fibre PMCs, for example, can be better than metal alloys have. Composites can also have other attractive properties, such as high thermal or electrical conductivity and a low coefficient of thermal expansion.

Although composite materials have certain advantages over conventional materials, composites also have some disadvantages. For example, PMCs and other composite materials tend to be highly anisotropic — that is, their strength, stiffness, and other engineering properties are different depending on the orientation of the composite material. For example, if a PMC is fabricated so that all the fibres are lined up parallel to one another, then the PMC will be very stiff in the direction parallel to the fibres, but not stiff in the perpendicular direction. The designer who uses composite materials in structures subjected to multidirectional forces, must take these anisotropic properties into account. Also, forming strong connections between separate composite material components is difficult.

The advanced composites have high manufacturing costs. Fabricating composite materials is a complex process. However, new manufacturing techniques are developed. It will become possible to produce composite materials at higher volumes and at a lower cost than is now possible, accelerating the wider exploitation of these materials.

Vocabulary:

fibreglass — стекловолокно

fibre — волокно, нить

reinforced — упрочненный

expansion — расширение

matrix — матрица

ceramic — керамический

specific strength — удельная прочность

specific stiffness — удельная жесткость

anisotropic — анизотропный

General understanding:

1. What is called «composite materials»?

2. What are the best properties of fibre-glass?

3. What do composite material usually consist of?

4. What is used as matrix in composites?

5. What is used as filler or fibers in composites?

6. How are the composite materials with ceramic and metal matrices called?

7. What are the advantages of composites?

8. What are the disadvantages of composites?

9. Why anisotropic properties of composites should be taken into account?

Exercise 5.5. Find equivalents in the text:

1. композитные материалы

2. уникальные механические качества

3. полимерные матричные композиты

4. составлять 60% объема

5. углепластик

6. привлекательные качества

7. структура, подвергающаяся воздействию разнонаправленных сил

Exercise 5.6. Translate into Russian:

1. PMC is fabricated so that all the fibres are lined up parallel to one another.

2. Forming strong connections between separate composite material components is difficult.

3. Fabricating composite materials is a complex process.

4. Composite materials have certain advantages over conventional materials

5. Nowadays, composites are being used for structures such as bridges, boat-building etc.

6. Continuous-fibre composites are generally required for structural applications.