Comparison Between Tg and Tm Polymers
S.No |
Characteristics |
Tg Polymers |
Tm Polymers |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Definition | Tg of polymers is the glass transition temperature | Tm of polymers is the melting temperature |
2. | Temperature | It ranges below Tg to room temperature | It ranges from room temperature to above Tm |
3. | Phase of Matter | The matter phase converts from a solid to a rubbery state. | The matter phase converts from solid to liquid/crystalline |
4. | Molecular Arrangement | Amorphous | Can be amorphous or semi-crystalline |
5. | Properties | Flexible, soft, and ductile | Strong, rigid, and tough |
6. | Examples | Polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, etc. | Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, etc. |
Difference Between TG and TM Polymers
Tg and Tm are two significant parameters used to understand how polymers behave. Tg stands for glass transition temperature whereas Tm stands for melting temperature. How stretchy and strong it is determined by the property of the polymers. The properties of the polymer are varied by many things such as molecular weight, flexibility, and crystallinity. Understanding these properties will help us to understand how different polymers behave in different situations.
If a polymer has different melting points then it is made up of multiple components with different molecular weights or structures this means Tg is typically lower than Tm and it is rigid at room temperature. If Tg is higher than Tm that means it doesn’t have a distinct melting point and on heating shows a transition from solid to a rubbery state.