Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
analysis. The various instruments that can be employed to measure these properties
are listed in
Table 6.2
. This is not an exhaustive list.
Table 6.1 Properties of polymers
Mechanical
properties
Electrical
properties
Optical
properties
Chemical
properties
Surface properties
• Tensile strength
• Stiffness
• Hardness
• Embrittlement
• Elongation
• Weight loss
• Impact
resistance
• Dielectric
strength
• Arc resistance
• Dielectric
constant
• Optical
transmission
• Haze
• Water
vapour
transmission
• MW
• Functional
groups
• Crystallinity
• Roughness
• Morphology
• Cracks
• Hydrophobicity
• Colour
• Gloss
Table 6.2 Various techniques and tools for polymer characterisation
Properties/analysis
Techniques
Description
Surface
analysis
Physical
Microscopic techniques:
SEM, transmission electron
microscopy, CLSM and
AFM
Changes in morphology, roughness,
appearance of cracks, pits and
crevices
Chemical
FTIR, NMR, XPS and
XRD
Changes in chemical composition,
functional groups, crystal structure
and oxidation state
Mechanical
Tensile and mechanical
testing, dynamic,
mechanical, thermal
analysis
Measures tensile strength, elongation
at break, elongation percentage and
elasticity
Contact
angle
measurement
Goniometer
Change in hydrophobicity or
wettability of the polymer surface
Bulk
properties
Weight loss/
gravimetry
−
Robust method, good for isolation
of degrading microorganisms.
Disintegration or deterioration
cannot be differentiated from
biodegradation
