1. NONMETALLIC STRUCTURAL MATERIALS
Polymers (plastics)
Ceramics
Glass (amorphous materials)

2. Plastics: composition
Binding material
Filling material (powder, fibers, sheets)
Stabilizers
Plastifiers
Hardeners
Special additives (dyes, greases, antistatics, additives against burning, against a mildew)

3. Plastics: properties Low density High unit strength σT/γ
Chemical durability
Electrical insulators
Heat insulators
Less labour input of processing (a product and a material are made simultaneously; finishing operations are not necessary)
Little waste (material utilization rate not less than 0.9)

4. Plastics: basic lacks
Limited thermostability (the maximum temperature of operation for thermoplastics is 250 °С, for thermosets nearby 400 °С)
Low stiffness E and toughness KCU
Propensity to ageing (properties change eventually)

5. Structure of polymers Macromolecules: Scheme of linear macromolecula
polyethylene polyvinyl-chloride
Structure of macromolecules:
а – linear;
b – branched;
c – cross-linked;
d – network а b c d

6. Structure of polymers Rotation of segments in a macromolecula:
Chain-packed structure:
Crystals:
Various crystal shapes:
spherolith fibrillas

7. Behaviour of polymers upon heating
Thermomechanical curves:
а) amorphous thermoplastic;
b) crystalline thermoplastic;
c) thermosetting polymer

8. Behavior of polymers under loading (tension diagrams)
а) amorphous thermoplastic;
b) thermosetting polymer;
c) crystalline thermoplastic