Klarinet Archive - Posting 000099.txt from 2003/03

From: b1rite@-----. Rite)
Subj: Re: [kl] cork grease and legere reeds
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 11:14:35 -0500

<><> Sue wrote:
Someone out there could probably explain what "olefin copolymer" (found
in the little blue bottle of STP I have in front of me here) is?

An "olefin" is a chain of carbon atoms, often a short chain, with
hydrogen atoms hanging from it and with an "unsaturated" or "double"
bond between two of the carbon atoms. The molecule's physical
structure causes the unsaturated bond to be reactive, sometimes quite
reactive.

A "polymer" is a long chain of repeated units.

Thus "ethylene" is an olefin, and it reacts with itself to form long
chains of the plastic material that we call "polyethylene".

A "copolymer" is a polymer that is built from more than just one kind of
repeating unit. Therefore STP is a polymer built from more than one
kind of olefinic repeating unit.

In short, "olefin copolymer" covers a lot of territory --- sort of like
saying "passenger vehicle".

Cheers,
Bill

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