Polymers

Polymers: What are they?

Different Types
Uses and Applications
Chemical Make-up
Polymers - What are they?

Polymers are a special kind of

macromolecule
The word polymer comes from the Greek
words poly, meaning many, and
meres, meaning parts or repeating
units
A Polymer consists of a large chain of
repeating molecules (monomers) that are
attached in an end to end fashion
Description of Polymers

Imagine a string of beads

Each bead is identical (for example, red
sphere)
Represents the mer
The string can contain 100s of beads
Represents the poly characteristic
The string in between the beads represents
the chemical bond between monomers
Length of Polymers

Polymer chains are HUGE!

Polymers typically consist of between
20,000 and 40,000 individual monomers
If each bead on the string of beads were one
inch apart, one polymer molecule could be as
long as 10 football fields!!!
This chain length is what gives the
polymer most of its desirable
characteristics
Description of Polymers

Polymer chains are flexible, and usually

clump together into a smaller shape
This enables the individual chains to
interact and become entangled
This helps to give a polymer its strength
and flexibility
Types of Polymers

There are two main types of polymers

Natural
(cotton, silk, wood, leather)

Synthetic
(plastics, nylon, latex)
Synthetic Polymers

There are two basic types of synthetic

polymers
Thermoplastics (plastics, Styrofoam)
These can be softened by heating and hardened by
cooling - easily recycled
Can easily be cast into various shapes
Thermosets (epoxys, adhesives)
These harden after being heated
Can easily be cast into different shapes
Cannot be reformed
Types of Polymers -
Copolymers

Most polymer chains are made up of one

type of monomer (for example, red
beads)
However, some polymers are made up of
different types of monomers (for example,
blue and red beads) - these are called
copolymers
Copolymers

There are four main types of copolymers

The different monomers can be arranged
either in an alternating or random fashion
Alternating
...-red-blue-red-blue-red-blue-red-blue-red-
Random
-blue-red-red-blue-red-blue-blue-red-blue-
Copolymers

There are also block copolymers and graft

co-polymers
Block
-R-R-R-R-R-R-B-B-B-B-B-B-R-R-R-R-R-R-
Graft
-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-
|
B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-
Polymers - Pros and Cons

A polymer has many very advantageous

properties. Polymers are:
Lightweight
Strong and durable
Cheap
Easy to manufacture
Unfortunately, polymers do not easily
biodegrade and end up producing large
amounts of waste
Uses of Polymers

Polymers are incorporated into nearly

every aspect of daily life
Entertainment
Sports
Clothes
Hobbies/Toys
Household products
Automotive
Polymer Chemistry

A polymer chain is built on a Carbon

backbone
A monomer unit consists of a small
carbon chain attached to a specific type of
functional group
The functional group is what gives each
polymer chain its individual characteristics
Polymer Chemistry

As previously stated, polymer chains

interact with one another, becoming
entangled
Polymer chains also form cross-links with
adjacent chains, which allows the polymer
to hold its shape and gives added
strength
Summary

Polymers are made up of large chains of

repeating units, called monomers
Individual chains interact to form a
stronger overall substance through
entanglements and cross-links
Polymers are incorporated into almost
every aspect of daily life
Polymers are lightweight, strong, and
inexpensive