Types of Polymers



There are two main types of polymers; Organic (Natural) and Inorganic (Synthetic) Polymers



History of polymer chemistry - At the beginning of the nineteenth century, chemists generally thought that compounds obtained from living organisms were too complex to be obtained synthetically. According to the concept of vitalism, organic matter was endowed with a `vital force`. They named these compounds `organic` and directed their investigations toward inorganic materials that seemed more easily studied.



Over the course of the first half of the nineteenth century, it was realized that organic compounds could in fact be synthesized in the laboratory.

Most commonly used polymers in the car care industry are synthetics. All polymers are long chain molecules made up of many repeated units of a basic building block or monomer, formed by the chemical union of five or more identical combining units called, monomers. Silicones and resins can be generalized then, as "polymers."



These products start with "poly" followed by another word. Examples of polymers include: polyethylene, polyurethane or poly (tetrafluoroethylene).

So what you have, for example, are many units of ethylene. For example, most of the thickeners used in waxes and sealants are polymers. So the marketing people can "honestly" say in their marketing and put on the label that "this product contains space-age polymers.”



Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPUR)



Since urethane clear coat paint is both an inorganic polymer and has porosity, a durable bond is formed and provides the intended protection. A polymer forms a molecular bond with other polymers in a chain-like structure or polymerization, which involves the formation of chains of monomers to form a polymer. It cannot form a bond with an organic (natural) organic Carnauba wax as they do not contain polymers ;( inorganic (synthetic) waxes however, are formulated with polymers, which enable molecular bonding or polymerization



Organic Polymers



Modification of natural polymers (Cellulose - the structural component of the primary cell wall of green plants, and Natural rubber - an elastomeric (an elastic hydrocarbon polymer) found in the sap of some plants); many commercially important polymers are synthesized by chemical modification of naturally occurring polymers. Prominent examples include the reaction of nitric acid and cellulose to form nitrocellulose and the formation of vulcanized rubber by heating natural rubber in the presence of sulphur.



Melanin is a class of compounds found in the plant and animal kingdoms, where it serves predominantly as a pigment. The class of pigments are derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine. Many melanin’s are insoluble salts and show affinity to water.



Inorganic Polymer



Materials such as nylon, urethane, polyethylene, Teflon, and silicone have formed the basis for a huge and ever expanding polymer industry. Most commercially important polymers today are entirely synthetic and produced in high volume on appropriately scaled organic synthetic techniques. Polymers are widely used as adhesives and lubricants, as well as in urethane paint, clear bras, paint sealants, synthetic waxes, and other car care products



The development of modern polymeric sealants coincided with the development of the polymer industry itself; sometime in the early 1930’s. A synthetic sealant is a man-made product developed with special manufactured chemicals. Synthetic sealant provides longer lasting protection to paints due to the fact that chemical labs can manipulate the chemicals in the product to reach the desired product characteristics.



Common sealants include silicones, acrylics, urethanes, butyls and other polymeric types. Since the bonding or cross-linking of polymers increases the toughness and strength of the material, it makes sense that the cross-linking of polymers is an essential element of modern synthetic automobile sealants.



There is a notable difference between inorganic polymer sealants and organic Carnauba waxes that contain polymers. Paint sealants are made entirely of polymers. Inorganic ‘carnauba’ waxes are made up of an organic Carnauba-polymer matrix, in which there is a very high concentration of Carnauba. The polymers only exist as a bonding agent, but they do not in any way inhibit the performance of the wax.



(Reactive-type) Amino functional Inorganic polymers



Amino acids are molecules containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group and a side chain that varies between different amino acids Amino acids can be taken as examples of single monomer reacting with identical molecules to form a polyamide. A reactive-type amino-functional silicones, bond with the paint surface and then cross-link with each other, they exhibit a high detergent resistance



This is a silicone fluid that has been slightly modified (the polymer content differs) the ‘amino’ portion is what causes the silicone to cross-link, which forms the basis of most sealants and physically attach to the paint surface. This cross linking capability is what makes a paint sealant more durable than a typical wax. It is the inclusion of amino-functional silicone fluids that give us a paint sealant



Hydrogen bonding significantly influences the properties of primary and secondary amines. Hydroxide (Hydroxyl) is often used to improve the molecular bonding capabilities of a polymer sealant as it causes the polymer molecules to become uniformly dense, giving improved bonding and a greater surface reflectance with very little optical distortion. Due to its dense molecular structure it is hydrophobic causing water to `run`, thereby creating ‘water sheeting` (See also Polymer Catalyzing Additives)



Nanotechnology -crystalline Inorganic polymers



The significance of a polymer nano-coating is that is can form a very tight bond with the surface of most materials; including glass, paint, plastic, rubber, aluminium, chrome, stainless steel, fabrics, and leather will have surface imperfections i.e. peaks and valleys, micro-fissures when viewed under high magnification. These undulations allow a nano-coating polymer to form a tight molecular bond with the surface it’s applied to.



Surfaces sealed with Nanotechnology sealants repel water, oil and dirt, have antistatic characteristics and protect against chemical and biological damage. Water, oil and dirt can be removed easily, but if the car is very dirty it can be cleaned with a high pressure hose and a microfiber cloth.



1. Nanotechnology polymers form a very tight matrix chain-link structure, which forms both a very strong bond and one that is not easily breached by chemicals or detergents.



2. This type of nanotechnology coating with its small particulate size are much smaller than those of water; making them hydrophobic (water resistant)



3. Due to their size they fill any surface irregularities (micro fissures) which results in a flat surface, one that reflects light without hindrance



Acrylic polymers



Acrylate polymer (acrylic acid (ethyl) [: an organic compound primarily used in the preparation of various polymers] [1]



A German industrialist Carl Shortage (Klasse in US) was among the first to use an acrylic polymer (polyethylene). European Autoglym formulated acrylic resin products. Mercedes-Benz dealerships favoured the Klasse products, while Jaguar and a number of other English car makers (Jaguar, Aston-Martin, Rolls Royce and Bentley) favoured Autoglym products.



When two different types of monomers are joined in the same polymer chain, the polymer is called a copolymer. An acrylate (acrylic) polymer is a copolymer (ANM) of acrylic acid ester and acrylonitrile; they are noted for their transparency and resistance to breakage and elasticity, also commonly known as acrylics or polyacrylates.



Acrylic resins are a group of related thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic substances derived from acrylic acid, meth acrylic acid or other related compounds. Acrylics resist acids better than other polymers



a) Acrylic resins are a group of related thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic substances derived from acrylic acid, meth acrylic acid or other related compounds. Polymethyl acrylate is an acrylic resin used in an emulsified form for lacquer, textile finishes, and adhesives, mixed with clay, to gloss paper. Another acrylic resin is Polymethyl methacrylate which is used to make hard plastics with various light transmitting properties.



b) Synthetic resins are materials with similar properties to natural resins—viscous liquids capable of hardening. They are typically manufactured by esterification or soaping of organic compounds.



Both are basically resin based but may be mixed with similar or other dissimilar ingredients



Acrylic polyaminosiloxane or polyethylene-acrylic car care products (Klasse, Jeff Werkstatt or Duragloss #105 Total Performance Polish) are acid-based so they hold up better to acidic pollutants (acid rain, bird excrement, industrial fallout (IFO) and etc there is no cross-linking capability with this technology, however an acrylic acid causes minor etching of the paint, which enables a modified ‘molecular’ bonding with the paint surface, which in turn results in durability versus just using a polyethylene based products



Polymer Sealants



A product can only be classified as a synthetic if it’s chemically altered at a molecular level; refining, distilling, crystallising etc, does not qualify a product to be a synthetic.



Sealants are typically made using some form of silicone polymer. They can just be simple silicone polymers, or they can be co-polymers, reaction silicones or amino functional silicones, the top of the range being the amino functional co polymer silicone.



What is an amino functional silicone?



An amino functional silicone (is a regular silicone fluid that has been modified slightly. Every so often, instead of a dimethyl siloxane unit, an amino functional siloxane unit has been substituted.



Aminopropyl-terminated siloxanes are used to form a variety of block copolymers including olyamides, polyurethanes and polycarbonates. The generic structure of an aminopropyl terminated silicone fluid is represented above. These silicones are employed to produce silicone modified epoxy resins. They also have improved adhesion to both painted and unpainted metal surfaces allowing use in corrosion resistant coatings and polishes.

Amino functional silicones are reactive additives to both epoxy and urethane formulations.



Aminoalkyl functional T-structure polymers demonstrate the same range of chemical reactivity as the aminopropyl-terminated siloxanes (reactivity with epoxides, isocyanates, carboxylic acids, etc.). The branched polymers are more likely to find application as formulative additive rather than as pre-polymers. Typical applications include detergent polishes, leather finishes, and as internal mould releasing agents.



The amino functional unit creates a space in the chain where cross linking can occur. So an amino functional silicone can form a durable cross-linked network that achieves maximum strength within 24-48 hours of the application (avoid moisture until fully cured)



Unlike waxes sealants can crosslink or cure, and contain elements which bond to the surface of the paint and therefore increase durability. A good quality sealant will offer greater protection and durability than any wax. Some manufacturers add a wax to the sealant to give a little extra depth and shine