| Cyclic Olefin Copolymer | |
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Other names
Ethylene Copolymer; COC; |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 26007-43-2 |
| ChemSpider | 147357 |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
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| Properties | |
| Appearance | Clear Resin |
| Density | 1.02 g/cm³, solid |
| Hazards | |
| MSDS | COC MSDS |
| (verify) (what is: /?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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| Infobox references | |
Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) is an amorphous polymer made by several polymer manufacturers. COC is a relatively new class of polymers when compared to polypropylene and polyethylene. This material is primarily used in applications requiring glass-like clarity including lenses, vials, monitors, and medical devices.
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In 2005 there were "several types of commercial cyclic olefin copolymers based on different types of cyclic monomers and polymerization methods. Cyclic olefin copolymers are produced by chain copolymerization of cyclic monomers such as 8,9,10-trinorborn-2-ene (norbornene) or 1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanonaphthalene (tetracyclododecene) with ethene, TOPAS Advanced Polymer's TOPAS, Mitsui Chemical’s APEL, or by ring-opening metathesis polymerization of various cyclic monomers followed by hydrogenation (Japan Synthetic Rubber’s ARTON, Zeon Chemical’s Zeonex and Zeonor)."[1] These later materials using a single type of monomer are more properly named cyclic olefin polymers (COP).
COCs have a transparency similar to glass in its natural form. Typical COC material will have a higher modulus than HDPE and PP. COC also has a high moisture barrier for a clear polymer along with a low absorption rate. In medical applications, COC is noted to be a high purity product with low extractables. COC is also a halogen-free product.
Some properties will vary due to monomer content. These include glass transition temperature, viscosity, and stiffness. The glass transition temperature of these polymers can exceed 150 °C.[1]
COCs and COPs are generally attacked by non-polar solvents, such as toluene. COCs show good chemical resistance to other solvents.
COC can be extruded with both cast and blown film equipment. These films are then used in consumer applications including food and pharmaceutical packaging. Commercial structures of COC used in blister packs are typically coextruded with a thick COC core and thin polypropylene skin layers. PVC and PvDC can also be placed on the skins via lamination.[2] Profile extrusion is another method that can be used to make COC reinforced tubes or pipes.
While there are many different types of molding, COC is primarily used in injection molding. Its natural clarity makes it useful in lenses for cameras, projectors and copiers. COC has little to no extractables which make it useful in diagnostic and medical devices. Most COC grades can also undergo sterilization by gamma radiation, steam, and ethylene oxide.
COC has unique electrical properties that resist dielectric breakdown and have a very low dielectric loss over time. Because of this COC is used in filter media that require a charge retention to work properly.[3]