Available online
Description
The programme looks at polymerisation and the properties of man-made polymers. Three of the polymers produced on the largest scale, polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon 66, are used as examples.
The programme looks at polymerisation and the properties of man-made polymers. Three of the polymers produced on the largest scale, polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon 66, are used as examples.
| Module code and title: | S101, Science: a foundation course |
|---|---|
| Item code: | S101; 17 |
| First transmission date: | 30-06-1979 |
| Published: | 1979 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:00 |
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| Producer: | David Jackson |
| Contributor: | David Roberts |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | ICI Wilton; Nylon 66 |
| Subject terms: | Polyethylene glycol; Polymers; Polypropylene; Macromolecules |
| Footage description: | Over shots of a hot air balloon in flight, Dave Roberts introduces the programme. Roberts explains how the polymer polyethylene was discovered at ICI during the l930's. He goes on, over shots of the experiment being performed, to describe the process by which polyethylene is produced in the laboratory. Animated captions showing the formula for the polymerisation reaction and an animated temperature/pressure graph illustrate some of the points. Roberts briefly examines a model of an industrial polyethylene plant. Shots of the ICI polyethylene plant at Wilton, Teeside. Roberts, on the site, points out some of the components such as the compressors, the reaction vessels, etc. He explains how the process works. Roberts describes and demonstrates, in the laboratory, a low pressure method for producing polyethylene. He then compares a sample made by this method with one produced by the high pressure method and contrasts their properties. An experiment to produce polypropylene by the low pressure method is carried out in the laboratory. Commentary by Roberts explains the process. Roberts briefly lists some of the uses of polypropylene and polyethylene. Shots of a milk crate, a beer crate, and a coil of rope. Shots of climbers on a cliff. Shots of equipment used to demonstrate the production of nylon fibres in the laboratory by the melt spinning process. Shots of the experiment in progress. Commentary by Roberts, aided by animated captions, he explains the process. Roberts goes on to demonstrate, in the laboratory, the industrial method of producing nylon fibres. Over film of the ICI nylon plant at Wilton, Roberts points out how nylon is produced on an industrial scale. Roberts sums up the programme. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT/72983 |
| Production number: | FOUS017A |
| Videofinder number: | 1192 |
| Available to public: | no |
